Hi everybody - I’m looking for some advice on what to feed my dog Bella. She is 11.5 yrs old and had a bout of pancreatitis over the holidays. We don’t know what triggered it. Currently I have her on a low-fat diet of Honest Kitchen Zeal and a low-fat kibble. I’m not sure that’s the best long-term though. Can I give her fish oil? I think having some fats and omegas are important for her and I’m not sure where the line is as far as what is ok and what should be strictly avoided.
Thanks for any advice you may have!

 Quote: Matt Lang

Hi everybody - I’m looking for some advice on what to feed my dog Bella. She is 11.5 yrs old and had a bout of pancreatitis over the holidays. We don’t know what triggered it. Currently I have her on a low-fat diet of Honest Kitchen Zeal and a low-fat kibble. I’m not sure that’s the best long-term though. Can I give her fish oil? I think having some fats and omegas are important for her and I’m not sure where the line is as far as what is ok and what should be strictly avoided.
Thanks for any advice you may have!

Hi Matt,

Acute pancreatitis during holiday seasons are so common that there's vet terminology for it: "holiday pancreatitis."

If you google DOGS, HOLIDAY PANCREATITIS, the returns will list common culprits, such as cooked turkey, gravy, stuffing, butter, etc. I've read several authoritative sources who state that an overload of cooked fats is probably the most common culprit, in whatever form.

A quote from Mary Strauss (link below): "Dietary indiscretion, such as eating rancid fatty scraps from the garbage, can also lead to pancreatitis, particularly when a dog accustomed to a low- or normal-fat diet ingests high-fat foods. That’s why pancreatitis incidents are thought to increase after Thanksgiving, when people may feed their dogs a meal of turkey skin and drippings." (Or of course dogs may find such foods on their own and gorge on them.)

I'm a little buried in work right now, but I had saved info from two of the best canine nutrition writers, Mary Strauss and Lew Olson. I believe that your questions are addressed in both. Post back if there's something missing -- I'll make sure to check back here.

https://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/pancreatitis-and-dogs-diagnosis-treatment-and-diet/

https://www.dogaware.com/articles/wdjlowfatdiets.html

https://dogaware.com/articles/wdjpancreatitis.html

There might also be other links in this old LB thread on pancreatitis:
https://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=20214

Thank you Connie! I will read these thoroughly tonight and post back.

 Quote: Matt Lang

Thank you Connie! I will read these thoroughly tonight and post back.