Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats – Managing Their Diet

• Health Conditions

What is Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas in dogs and cats. The pancreas is an organ located between the stomach and intestines, with a dual role in both the endocrine and exocrine system. Its endocrine function is to produce insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood glucose levels. Its exocrine function is to produce enzymes essential for digestion(1). Additionally, the pancreas secretes bicarbonate, which is important to raise the pH of stomach contents as they move into the intestines. This protects the intestinal lining and supports the function of digestive enzymes and absorption of nutrients.

During a bout of pancreatitis, the secretion of pancreatic fluid decreases, followed by premature activation of digestive enzymes inside the pancreas, rather than the intestines. These enzymes then begin to digest pancreatic tissue, causing damage and inflammation(2).

Acute PancreatitisChronic Pancreatitis
Sudden onset of symptomsSymptoms develop gradually
Abdominal painLip-licking
Loss of appetiteDecreased appetite
VomitingVomiting
DiarrhoeaDiarrhoea
Hunched postureWeight loss
RestlessnessLethargy

Acute pancreatitis is generally considered reversible, so long as the initial triggers of the disease do not persist(3). Chronic pancreatitis symptoms are often milder, meaning that pets may not get diagnosed as quickly. Whilst on the surface, the chronic form may not appear as severe, the condition can gradually progress undetected, causing a decline in functioning pancreatic tissue and increase in scar tissue.

Its very important that pancreatitis is managed under the watchful eye of a veterinary professional.

Are Certain Groups More At Risk?

Most cases of pancreatitis appear suddenly, with no obvious trigger. However, obese dogs are almost twice as likely to develop pancreatitis compared to dogs which are a healthy weight(4,5). Additionally, diabetic dogs are 3.6x more likely to develop pancreatitis, as both conditions involve the pancreas(4). It’s also suspected that certain breeds have a predisposition to pancreatitis, including Miniature Schnauzers(6), Yorkshire Terriers, Dachshunds and Cocker Spaniels.

A pet’s diet can also place them at a higher risk of developing pancreatitis. Dry diets have been shown to promote higher blood fat levels than raw diets(7,8), even if the fat content in the dry diet is lower than that of the raw. Dogs with high blood fat levels (hypertriglyceridemia) are almost 4 times more likely to develop pancreatitis(7). Treating your dog to fatty human scraps can also increase the risk of a pancreatitis flare up(5,6).

Is Fat Bad For Dogs and Cats?

Fat is the most digestible and usable energy source for dogs and cats, however not all fats are equal. The most beneficial fats for our dogs and cats are those which are raw and unprocessed from meat and fish, as nature intended. Fresh fats are necessary to absorb vitamins, control inflammatory responses and maintain hormone balance. However, cooked fats can oxidise rapidly when exposed to air. These cooked fats can become pro-inflammatory. Oxidative stress is known to play a role in development of pancreatitis in a number of species(9).

Dietary Management

Nutrition is considered a key factor in the management of pancreatitis. Appetite loss is common due to nausea. In the early stages, it is important to prioritise at least some nutrition over no nutritional intake(10). The goal is to provide sufficient calories and nutrients, without overstimulating the pancreas(5). Bone broth can serve as a great appetite stimulant and provide essential hydration for poorly pets who need some extra support.

Raw food is highly digestible with good quality, bioavailable protein. Given that pancreatitis causes disruption of normal digestive processes, high digestibility is crucial. Raw diets also contain naturally occurring live enzymes, which further support digestion.  

Dogs

Its generally advised to feed low fat dog food (<8%) as part of the recovery for pancreatitis. Fat can overstimulate the pancreas, particularly if brought on by diet in the first place (11). This is because fat is the most potent stimulator of cholecystokinin (CCK) which triggers the release of pancreatic enzymes(5,8). Feeding leaner proteins, in smaller, more frequent meals help to reduce the workload on the pancreas.

If you are switching your dog from a lower fat kibble to raw, it’s suggested you do so gradually (12), allowing your dog to adjust to the different macronutrient levels.  

Cotswold RAW’s lowest fat meals:

80/20 Beef and Tripe (6.42%)

70/30 Chicken (8%)

70/30 Beef (8.8%)

80/20 Pheasant and Duck (9.2%)

80/20 Rabbit and Venison (9.33%)

Whilst staying on a rotation of leaner meats is ideal, once your dog has recovered, you can slowly re-introduce other proteins. Just keep and eye out for signs of pancreatitis and avoid frequently feeding fatty meats.

Cats

Cats have higher requirements for both protein and fat compared to dogs, making them more prone to protein malnutrition if their appetite is affected. As previously stated, some nutrition is better than none, and it isn’t recommended let cats fast longer than 24 hours due to the risk of fatty liver syndrome (hepatic lipidosis).

Cats are not as sensitive to dietary fat as dogs, and there is no evidence supporting extreme fat restriction in cats with pancreatitis(13). Therefore, its important that cats receive a highly digestible diet with good quality protein and fat, and minimal carbohydrates, to minimise stress on the pancreas.

References

  1. Steiner, J. M. (2018) Pancreatitis And Other Disorders of The Pancreas in Dogs, MSD Veterinary Manual. Available at: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/dog-owners/digestive-disorders-of-dogs/pancreatitis-and-other-disorders-of-the-pancreas-in-dogs
  2. Patton, R. S. (2017) Ruined By Excess Perfected by Lack
  3. Weeth, L. et al. (2016) Feeding Dogs With Pancreatitis, World Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress Proceedings 2016. Available at: https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=19840&id=8249907
  4. Lem, K. Y. (2008) Associations Between Dietary Factors and Pancreatitis in Dogs, American Veterinary Medical Association, 233(9), 1425-1431. Available at: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/233/9/javma.233.9.1425.xml
  5. Elliot, D. (2006) Nutritional Management of Canine Pancreatitis, World Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress Proceedings 2006. Available at: https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?meta=Generic&pId=11223&id=3859024
  6. Xenoulis, P. G. et al. (2010) Association Between Serum Triglyceride and Canine Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity Concentrations in Miniature Schnauzers, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 46(4), 229-234. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20610694/
  7. Algya, K. M. et al. (2018) Apparent Total Macronutrient Digestibility, Serum Chemistry, Urinalysis, and Faecal Characteristics, Metabolites and Microbiota of Adult Dogs Fed Extruded, Mildly Cooked, and Raw Diets, Journal of Animal Science, 96(9), 3670-3683. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29893876/
  8. Cridge, H. et al. (2022) New Insights into the Aetiology, Risk Factors, and Pathogenesis of Pancreatitis in Dogs: Potential Impacts on Clinical Practice, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 36(3), 847-864. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35546513/
  9. Armstrong, P. J. and Williams, D. A. (2012) Pancreatitis in Cats, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 27(3), 140-147. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23148855/
  10. Cridge, H. et al. (2024) Nutritional Management of Pancreatitis and Concurrent Disease in Dogs and Cats, American Veterinary Medical Association, 262(6), 834-840. Available at: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/262/6/javma.23.11.0641.xml
  11. Olson, L. (2010) Raw & Natural Nutrition For Dogs  
  12. Billinghurst, I. (2001) The BARF Diet (BOOK)
  13. Chen, D. L. (2022) Nutritional Management of Acute Pancreatitis, Advances in Small Animal Care, 3(1), 221-227. Available at: https://www.advancesinsmallanimalcare.com/article/S2666-450X(22)00006-2/abstract

Lucy James, BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Science

Looking to enhance your pet’s diet? Take a look at Cotswold RAW’s range of raw dog food and raw cat food, including raw meaty bones, dried treats, and puppy food.