I read someone was asking what you should feed a dog with pancreatitis and what supplements help other than the usual stuff the vet recommends. I found GREAT help with an animal nutrionist named Susan DAvis who does telephonic consultations and has exclusive products called Probiotic and Lypozyme which helped my siberian husky Bleu immensely. Before I was reffered to her by another friend he still had "cow paddy" stools and culdnt keep weight on. He would also regurgitate after eating. He filled out, his coat thickened and he flouished once we followed her advice and used the supplements. I totally recommend her. Her website is: Askariel.com and she also owns and loves siberian huskies!

[Lara's mom]

Thanks for the info. What exactly causes pancreatitis?

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

Thanks for the info. What exactly causes pancreatitis?

One thing for sure is too much fatty foods!
OK, so I am back already (I'm 'dancing' around with the thunder and lightning!)
Here is what I found in my vet book: It is inflammation and swelling of the pancreas. It can occur in a mild or severe form. The cause of spontaneous pancreatitis in dogs is not well understood (9 yr. old book here!). Dogs receiving corticosteroids are at an increased risk. There is a higher incidence of pancreatitis in dogs with Cushing's syndrome, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and idiopathic hyperlipemia (a disease of Minature Schnauz). These diseases are associated with high serum lipid levels. Pancreatitis is also more prevalent in overweight spayed females and dogs on high-fat diets. An attack may be triggered by eating fatty table scraps or a fatty meal. In a nutshell--to me it sounds like it has mostly to do with a faulty pancreas--which is what diabetes is caused by. (I know because I have diabetes)

[Lara's mom]

Thank you. I know dogs need some fat in their diet. How do you know how much is too much?

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

Thank you. I know dogs need some fat in their diet. How do you know how much is too much?

Hey, I had a reply ready to post right after your above post--went to post it and my computer acted up (because of the storm probably!) and brought up that old 'goodie' you just love to see--Page cannot be displayed! So I will now try again--seems to be working now--I printed the message so at least, now all I have to do is just copy it! I just don't let mine have 'any extras'---I don't give them only a smidgen of chicken skin/fat. (If I remember right--you cook for your dogs, right!!?) I do mostly raw and I think raw fat is more digestible than cooked but I still 'play it down'--I had a slight problem with too much fat with the pure cocker when he was about 1-2 yrs old and I was home-cooking then too (no raw then). Never give any turkey fat/skin. It is the most dense of all the fats! I wouldn't give any pork fat either. Just cook the chicken without skin. (If it were me, I'd say if you were cooking chicken thighs, for example--For every 6-8 thighs I would prob. allow 1 thigh to have the skin on it. BUT I guess it depends on the dog and what problems it might have to begin with! If things were like they use to be (ages ago) and the chickens were 'home-grown' and fed natural stuff and grass--I know that fat would be a healthier fat and good for the dog (us too!---same goes for the beef!) but of course you could overdo and feed too much of that too! I have to make this comment though--- Cooked fat is just plain not digested very well for the dog!
With the beef and pork--I just cut off as much fat as I can before cooking it. Ground beef is another story--especially if feeding raw--you can't cook the grease out of it. I have been feeding a lot of this lately and so far, so good but like to make sure it is at least 85% lean (very hard to do with the high cost of good ground beef these days!) But if you are cooking gr. beef--you can drain the grease or/and rinse some of the grease out--best to rinse after you have drained some of the fat--Don't want all that grease clogging your drain! Then again, maybe just draining the fat with no rinsing is good enough--depends on the dog. Back to the chicken (turkey)--You can cook it with the skin and fat and when done cooking--Take pieces out of pot and cool the liquid enough to put in refrigerator. Put liquid in a 32 oz. yogurt container or whatever (easier to skim off the cold hardened fat then from a pot.) As far as ground turkey--like in the lb. rolls--Check for the ones with the lowest amount of fat--Lol, hint--the less fat, the more you pay! Or you can cook and drain the way it is done with the gr. beef--just drain and rinse well--Remember that turkey fat is the worst fat!! And yes they do need fat--My answer to you is more on how to control the amount you give because I am also wondering if I am giving enough now!! There are some factors to take into consideration. I think one factor is the difference between raw and cooked. Not saying the dog can have all the raw fat it wants without it doing harm either!

[Lara's mom]

I do home cook for my dogs but, I always remove the skin and any fat from chicken or turkey. When I use beef or lamb chunks, I cut off all the fat I can. With ground meat, after it is cooked, I wrap it in a ton of paper towels and change them 2 - 3 times to remove as much fat as possible.

As for vegetables, I believe you mentioned that they should be all ground up. My girls like their food "chunked". When I've blended up the veggies, they really aren't too keen on their food. I generally add sweet potato, rutabaga, carrots, spinich or swiss chard, green beans and either asparagus or peas. I also frequently add a dollop of cottage cheese to their food before serving it to them.

I have been feeding my dog Hill's I/D for many years for GI problems, including pancreatic problems... and have seen a great improvement in her health.

[Lara's mom]

Personally, I don't like any Hills products. I'm glad it's working for you though.