Best Foods for Dogs with Pancreatitis: What Should You Feed Your Dog?

A pancreatitis diagnosis can be scary for pet parents.

While most dogs recover and live long, healthy lives, it’s important to remember that pancreatitis can reoccur, especially if a dog is fed fatty treats.

Carefully monitoring your pet’s diet can reduce your pup’s risks of repeat bouts of pancreatitis.

What Is Pancreatitis in Dogs?

Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas, a small fluffy organ that lies alongside the intestine, becomes inflamed.

The pancreas is responsible for many things in the body, including producing insulin and digestive enzymes that help break down food.

During an episode of pancreatitis, these enzymes can leak into your dog’s abdomen and cause inflammation of the pancreas and other abdominal organs.

Affected pups may experience:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Fever

• Diarrhea

Sometimes these signs become severe and require hospitalization, while milder cases can be managed by pet parents at home.

Dogs who have experienced pancreatitis in the past may develop repeat bouts in the future.

Many affected dogs will struggle with chronic pancreatitis, especially if they are fed fatty table scraps.

Because of this, addressing your dog’s diet is an important part of managing their pancreatitis.

What Causes Pancreatitis in Dogs?

While we don’t know the exact cause of pancreatitis, it’s often triggered by a fatty meal, glucocorticoid (steroid) administration, or stress.

Pancreatitis can also be caused by high blood levels of calcium or triglycerides (fats) over prolonged periods.

However, pancreatitis sometimes occurs spontaneously with no known cause.

Dogs of any breed, sex, or age can be affected, but pancreatitis is common in Schnauzers and English Cocker Spaniels. Miniature Schnauzers may have a mutation in a specific gene (the SPINK gene) that explains their increased risk for pancreatitis.

Why Do Dogs With Pancreatitis Need Special Diets?

About two-thirds of pancreatitis cases in dogs are classified as chronic, rather than acute.

These dogs are more likely to develop the disease more than once, especially if they are not fed a fat-restricted diet or are given fatty treats.

Because fatty foods are linked to pancreatitis development, prescription diets for chronic pancreatitis patients contain lower amounts of fat.

If a dog previously diagnosed with pancreatitis doesn’t follow their prescribed diet, they are at an increased risk of having another bout of pancreatitis.

If this occurs, pet parents can expect to see a return of vomiting, lethargy, fever, and diarrhea.

These signs can range from mild to severe and can result in prolonged hospital stays. To avoid recurrence, pet parents of dogs with pancreatitis must remain vigilant in feeding the recommended diet.

Best Foods for Dogs with Pancreatitis

The best diet for a dog with pancreatitis is one that is low in fat and contains moderate protein.

The following prescription diets are often recommended for dogs with chronic pancreatitis:

• Hill’s® Digestive Care i/d Low Fat

• Royal Canin® Gastrointestinal Low Fat

• Purina® Pro Plan® Enteric (EN) Low Fat

• Blue Buffalo™ Veterinary Diet GI Low Fat

• Square Pet® VFS Digestive Support Low Fat Formula

Best Treats for Dogs with Pancreatitis

While it’s fun to give your pup treats, it’s important to ensure you’re avoiding any fatty treats if your dog has been diagnosed with pancreatitis.

There are several prescription treats specially formulated with a lower fat content that can be given to your pup.

There are also some good non-commercial treats and human food options you can try.

A few commonly recommended treats for dogs with chronic pancreatitis include:

• Baby carrots

• Green beans

• Hill’s® Prescription Diet Treats

• Purina® Pro Plan® Gentle Snackers