In recent years we’ve started to see a rise in pancreatitis in our pets.
Pancreatitis can cause many uncomfortable symptoms and requires careful management to ensure your pet’s well-being.
Which leads us to a key question ask, what should I feed my dog with pancreatitis?
Dr. Katie Woodley recently answered this question and talked about some key points. Keep reading and watching below…
Video Highlights:
🍖 Pancreatitis is caused by processed food diets
🐶 Raw food diets are recommended but may be hard to transition to
🍴 Go through phases when transitioning to new diets
🌱 Real food and oils are better than processed kibble
💊 Use digestive enzymes to help the pancreas
🌡 Lightly cooking food can help older dogs digest it better
🐾 Raw diets can work for inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and allergies
Processed food diets can contribute to pancreatitis:
Dr. Katie Woodley informs us that processed food diets can cause pancreatitis in dogs because the processing of the omega-3s or fats in that food can become rancid quickly. Pet food companies often spray animal fat on the kibble to make it taste better, but this can become problematic when the fats are exposed to oxygen, causing them to oxidize and become rancid. This can cause inflammation and oxidation in the body, which is not good for pets.
Transitioning to a raw diet requires caution:
While raw food diets are typically the freshest and healthiest for pets, transitioning from a processed diet to a raw diet can be challenging for dogs with pancreatitis. Many of these pets are what is known as spleen chi deficient, meaning their digestive tract is working overtime, causing inflammation. Raw food diets can be very cooling energetically, which may not be ideal for these pets. It’s best to go through phases and start with fresh food, homemade or pre-made brand like ChiDog, which is of amazing quality, and then move to a raw diet using probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes.
Older dogs may need extra help:
Older dogs sometimes have lower digestive fire, and their bodies need extra help breaking down food. When this happens, it’s best to lightly cook the food to make it easier to digest. The video suggests that using real fats, such as flaxseed or green lip muscle, can have a natural anti-inflammatory effect that can help heal some of pancreatitis cases.
Bonus Tip:
Digestive enzymes can be a helpful tool in managing pancreatitis in dogs. By taking some of the workload off the pancreas, these enzymes can help reduce inflammation and improve your pet’s digestion.
Digestive enzymes break down food into smaller, more easily digestible molecules. This means that your pet’s pancreas doesn’t have to work as hard to digest food, which can be especially beneficial if your pet is dealing with pancreatitis.
Conclusion:
By understanding the key points we’ve discussed, including the importance of a high-quality diet, avoiding processed foods, and considering the use of digestive enzymes, you can help support your pet’s pancreas and overall health.