Holistic Diet for Canine With Pancreatitis

The pancreas produces enzymes that help a dog digest food and produces insulin that regulates the dog's blood sugar level. Pancreatitis in a dog happens when the pancreas becomes inflamed from too many fats or too much calcium in the diet. Canines that eat a lot of cooked meat or human food tend to develop pancreatitis much more than those who don't. A holistic diet might help a dog avoid pancreatitis.

  1. Feeding Schedule

    • Many canines eat one or two large meals every day. Instead of feeding the dog this way, try splitting the meals into five or six smaller meals. This will spare the digestive system one or two large workloads and will also maintain a more consistent level of blood sugar levels.

      Start with the feeding schedule in the morning, and use either homemade dog food or high quality (low-fat) store-bought food. There should be two other meals, one in the midday and the other in the evening, and two snacks in between.

    Items to Eliminate

    • Any cooked meat or fatty meat should be eliminated from your dog's diet so the lipid count in its body will decrease. Pig ears are often given to dogs, but these should be eliminated as well. Avoid any foods with a lot of fillers, whether human food such as hot dogs, or low-quality canine food with lots of grains.

      Any food that contains preservatives or has more fillers--such as corn, wheat, barley, rye, or other such grains--than actual meat should not be fed to a dog with pancreatitis.

    Items to Add

    • Giving the canine raw meat offers them extra enzymes that will help them to digest their food properly. Cooking the meat actually kills many of the natural enzymes that dogs can use although while the dog is ill you may want to give it food that is more readily digested. Boiled chicken without skin and bones can be given to the dog. Giving the dog small amounts of water throughout the day will also help, especially if the dog is vomiting. You may have to give the dog hydration therapy if it is dehydrated. A vet might recommend enzyme tablets. This can help with digestion and thus the dog can retrieve more nutrients from its diet for healing.