Food Recipes for Dogs with Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a condition in which the pancreas become inflamed and start producing many digestive enzymes. The release of these enzymes is triggered by certain gastrointestinal hormones like gastrin, secretin, and cholecystokinin (CCK), which are further activated by fatty acids and certain amino acids. It usually occurs when the diet tends to lean towards richer and fattier foods. Pancreatitis can range in severity from being very mild to extremely dangerous. It can be either acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis occurs once and causes lasting damage to other organs. Chronic pancreatitis, however, is a recurring condition that occurs due to a high fat diet or certain medications. Trauma to the pancreas, middle age, obesity and high risk breeds can be some other causes for pancreatitis in dogs. Apathy, loss or irregular appetite, aggressiveness and vomiting are some symptoms that can be observed in the dogs suffering from pancreatitis.

The best way to avoid or control pancreatitis is following dietary management. Pets who have a history of pancreatitis or are vulnerable to developing this condition, should be given a low-fat diet. Concentrate on weight loss for obese pets. A veterinarian will prove to be the best guide when it comes to deciding a good diet for dogs with pancreatitis.

A canine pancreatitis diet should be a low-fat diet. In fact, less than 9% of the energy should come from the fat. The diet should be rich in carbohydrates, as these have a weak effect on the gastrointestinal hormones, which trigger the pancreatic enzymes. Rice is highly digestible, rich in carbohydrates and can be fed to the dog in small amounts. Along with rice, you can add low-fat cottage cheese or boiled skinless chicken breast. According to dog nutritionists, a canine pancreatitis diet may include white meat chicken, lean and low-fat ground beef, beef heart, beef kidney, beef liver, egg whites, non-fat plain yogurt, oatmeal, barley and cottage cheese. Cooked vegetables such as winter squash and sweet potatoes can also be considered, as these foods contain low amounts of phosphorus and fat.

Food Recipes for Dogs with Pancreatitis
Given below, are some food recipes that can be fed to your dog in three to four portions daily.

Recipe #1
Ingredients

• 2 ½ cup rice flour
• 6 tbsp low sodium, low-fat chicken broth
• 1 cup cooked squash and sweet potato (ground up)

Directions
Combine all the ingredients and add some water to make dough. Roll the dough, having ½ inch thickness and cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes and then allow it to cool.

Recipe #2
Ingredients

• 1 cup of boiled lean ground beef, fat drained
• ¼ cup of cooked kale
• ½ cup boiled beef kidney, fat trimmed
• ½ cup of yellow crookneck squash
• ¾ cup of oatmeal

Directions
Combine all the ingredients and serve it to your dog.

Recipe #3
Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked stew meat or cut up lean roast, fat drained
• ¾ cup cooked barley
• ¼ cup cooked zucchini
• ½ cup low or non-fat cottage cheese
• ½ tsp of Berte's Digestion Blend

Directions
Combine all the ingredients and serve it to your dog.

These food recipes for dogs with pancreatitis, along with an exercise program, can minimize the risk of problems in the future. Make sure the food given to the dog is low in fat as fatty foods can cause further inflammation of the pancreas.