Best Treats For Dogs With Pancreatitis: An Essential Guide

Key Takeaways

• Pancreatitis in dogs involves the inflammation and swelling of the pancreas, which can show symptoms such as vomiting, lack of appetite, and diarrhoea. Then, what causes pancreatitis in the dog? Scroll down to read more.
• Treats for dogs with pancreatitis should be made up of more high-protein, low-fat foods. Learn through Wild Antler's guide on how to find the best dog food for pancreatitis that keeps your pet nutritionally well-fed.
• Explore a range of low fat treats for dogs that we offer, made from 100% British venison and free from gluten, wheat, dairy, soya, and grains. Take advantage of free next-day shipping on orders over £29.99!

What Is Pancreatitis In Dogs?

The pancreas is that small organ aside from the stomach and small intestine, secreting enzymes that help digest food alongside hormones like insulin, which helps maintain blood sugar levels. If the dog falls sick, the enzymes may be activated inappropriately and may start digesting the pancreas, the very organ that performs digestion, thus causing inflammation.

Pancreatitis in dogs. Source: blissanimalhospital.com

The course of the disease may vary from a mild one to a very serious form; in cases of severe symptoms and complications, pancreatitis could become a life-threatening condition. The two forms of pancreatitis are acute and chronic.

Acute pancreatitis: It is, by far and away, the most common form of pancreatitis in dogs. This disease consists of a sudden onset of severe symptoms, including extreme abdominal pain followed by frequent vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, high fever, lethargy, and inability to either stand or walk.

Chronic pancreatitis: It develops over time, and its signs are intermittent. Abdominal pain is sporadic, and sometimes, it may be attended by vomiting and diarrhoea that could lead to dehydration. Weight loss follows, and the dog can develop a poor coat.

If all these are seen in your dog, then you need to take them to the vet for ultrasounds and blood tests so that there will not be any delays in timely treatment.

What Causes Pancreatitis In Dogs?

The causes are mostly unknown; however, pancreatitis might be related to diet and health problems.

The diet consumed could be made up of greasy foods, table scraps, garbage, or poisoned foods that can create pancreatitis. The second point could be regarding a sudden switch in the dog's diet- the sudden change that acts as a shock to the gastrointestinal systems of the dog and can, therefore, result in pancreatitis.

Diabetic, hypothyroid, overweight, and highly stressed can also be vulnerable to the disease. Infection caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites of the pancreas can also be one of the reasons for inflammation. Pancreatitis can also be a result of Corticosteroids and certain chemotherapy agents.

Best Treats For Dogs With Pancreatitis

Fortunately, pancreatitis doesn't mean a completely food-free life. We're here to let you know there are lots of healthy dog treats for pancreatitis that your buddy may indulge in. The focus needs to be on foods low in fat-10 per cent or less, and easily digestible. Here is what should stock up your refrigerator or pantry:

Venison 100%: What dogs actually require in case of pancreatitis is lean protein, and for that, one of the best options could be venison since it will generally hold very little fat and cholesterol. Besides, it generally holds very useful nutrients such as B vitamins, zinc, iron, and omega-3. Take a look at some of the variations that we have:

• Soft Venison Sticks: These are made from 100 per cent pure, human-grade air-dried venison, locking in that gamey flavour your furry pal will love. Each stick contains 79% protein with just 8% fat, and it has no gluten, dairy, soy, or any of the common allergens.

Soft Venison Meat Sticks 200g by Wild Antler

• Air-Dried Venison Sausages: These purely consist of 100% venison sausage and venison intestine. They have a high value of 78.8% protein and only 7.6% fat. One can actually chop them up into smaller pieces; hence, they will be good for all breed sizes to use or use as training rewards.

Premium Air Dried Venison Sausages 150g by Wild Antler

• Venison Paté: The fat is only 10.7%, and no additives are added. Thus, our paté is the perfect soft treat for dogs with pancreatitis, whether they are puppies or adult dogs. This paté would be great to use as a reward during training, in filling toys, on a licking mat, or masking the odour of pills.

Venison Paté 400g/Pack by Wild Antler

Delicious Vegetables: Sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, broccoli, and pumpkin are great options for providing plenty of vitamins and fibre. The same vegetables cooked or steamed will be better digested afterwards.

Sweet potatoes headline a lot of gourmet dog foods due to their being positively bursting with fibre and vitamins A, B6, and C. Looking for the scoop on the safest ways to share sweet spuds with your hound? Check out "Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes?"

Natural Chews: Gnawing on treats entertains your dog and his jaw muscles and cleans his teeth. Our 100% natural Venison Tendons are low in fat, gluten-free, hypoallergenic, and hence the best way to keep your dog happy when they are sick.

Venison Tendons (Deer Sinew) by Wild Antler 

Fruit Treats: Let your dog have small pieces of apples or mulberries from time to time; they are cool and rich in antioxidants. However, you should only indulge your dog with a few fruits because they contain a high sugar level.
Supplemental Food: Light enough for when your dog is experiencing a pancreatic flare-up, our Deer Antler Powder contains as much as 40% protein with only about 0.4% fat. It's a wonderful addition to your dog's regular diet. What's more, it's cruelty-free and made from naturally shed antlers of free-range deer.

100% Natural Deer Antler Powder to supplement many minerals, including Calcium and Magnesium by Wild Antler

What Food Should I Avoid For A Dog With Pancreatitis?

While low fat dog treats for pancreatitis are great, high-fat, spicy, highly processed and hard-to-digest food can exacerbate pancreatitis or increase the chance of its recurrence. Following are the foods that dogs with pancreatitis should completely avoid:

• Fatty foods: Greasy, high-seasoned foods. Examples include chicken skin, bacon, bacon fat, ham, and greasy deli meats.
• Fried foods: Foods that are fried or greasy in their entirety.
• Human snacks: Examples include potato chips, nuts, and peanuts, especially those with added sugar or fat.
• Dairy products: High-fat foods include butter, cheese, and ice cream.
• Onions, garlic, and spicy foods: These are toxic to your dogs and further elevate the inflammation of pancreatitis even more because of an added irritation to the pancreas.
• Sugary foods: Cakes, cookies, and candy are some examples.
• Fatty fish: Examples include salmon, sardines, and mackerel.
• Grains and legumes: Examples include corn, peas, and beans. These are difficult for some dogs to digest.

These grain-free foods will, in most instances, heal stomach issues and diarrhoea or constipation for the dog. Take a moment to read "Benefits of Grain Free Dog Food" and learn additional ways you can use grain-free foods for your dog.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good treats for dogs with pancreatitis?

Low fat dog treats pancreatitis should be prepared with lean meats, high in protein and low in cholesterol, free from preservatives or additives. Examples are natural air-dried pure venison or even venison tendons. Besides this, among the supplements in dietary nutrition, one includes antler powder added into the food to give mild nutrition to dogs in their course of medication.

What should I feed a dog with pancreatitis?

Adding low-fat and lean sources of proteins, like venison, lean beef, or chicken breast, is advisable because they will not put an additional load on the pancreas.  Some added steamed vegetables like carrots, green beans, broccoli, or sweet potatoes also enable them to add more fibre to their food, hence easily digesting it.

Secondly, marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids may decrease the inflammation sometimes associated with supplementing EPA and DHA. Thirdly, you should discuss the best low fat treats for dogs with pancreatitis with your veterinarian based on how severe your pet's condition is.