Pancreatitis is a condition that affects humans and dogs alike. It can come on quickly and go away or it can move in for much longer stay. We’ve put together some information for you to help you figure out whether your dog is suffering from this disease and, if so, how dog pancreatitis can be managed with food.
What Is It?
The first thing we should talk about is exactly what pancreatitis is. To answer that question we need to look at what organ is involved. Pancreatitis involves the pancreas, which is the organ that manufactures insulin and helps your dog digest the food you give her. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas is inflamed.
The Symptoms
The symptoms are pretty typical for what you would expect in a stomach disorder. Your dog may not be hungry at all, might even be vomiting and can even have pain in his stomach. While your vet may be able to figure this out just from the symptoms, most likely he’ll have to take a blood sample or have your dog submit to an ultrasound. You’ll want to visit your vet if the symptoms last for longer than a day or if they keep returning.
How to Treat It
In order to get the pancreas to relax and rest – thereby stopping the attack – your vet may suggest to have your dog fast for 24 hours. This doesn’t mean that your dog should not be drinking plenty of water — quite the opposite. You’ll want to make sure that he doesn’t get dehydrated. A low-fat diet that’s easy to digest is the best way to control pancreatitis. For help with food management, consult with your vet, of course. It may be that your dog will only have to stay on this diet for short period of time. If the pancreatitis is severe, you may have to keep her on a low fat diet for life.
What Not to Have
The biggest enemy for a dog with pancreatitis is food that is high in fat. Especially human food from the table. Make sure your garbage can is always closed tightly and stay strong when your dog gives you those “poor me” puppy eyes when begging for a bit of your slice of pizza.
Pancreatitis, while treatable, should not be ignored and can even cause death. Follow veterinarian’s orders to keep your pooch happy and healthy.
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