3 Simple Tips on Comforting a Dog with Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a health condition that you would never wish for your dog to go through. The pancreas is the organ in the body that serves many important functions, such as secreting digestive enzymes and producing hormones like insulin. If you suspect any sort of symptoms then you must take your dog to the vet for a diagnosis.

How to Comfort a Dog with Pancreatitis

Aside from giving the dog the appropriate treatment and medication, here are some other things you can do to comfort your dog as much as possible and to have him recover quickly.

1. Feed the Dog a Super Bland Diet

The vet will most likely suggest this as well but it’s important to feed your dog a bland diet during the first one or two weeks of recovery. Ideally, you are looking to provide your dog food that they can easily digest. The easiest bland diet you can prepare for your dog consists of boiled chicken white meat and white rice. It’s important, however, to not over-do this diet as it lacks a nutritional balance.

As soon as your dog shows progress of recovery, you can gradually swap out the bland food with proper dog food filled with nutrients. When you are giving your dog his meal, make sure to serve in smaller amounts. The purpose of this is to reduce the strain on the inflamed pancreas.

2. Stop Feeding Your Dog Human Food

If you have been feeding your dog some human food then this is the time to put a stop to that. Human food, especially ones that are high in fat, can be extremely problematic for dogs and those that are fed a high-fat diet are typically the ones that end up with pancreatitis.

3. Make Sure Your Dog Leads a Healthy Lifestyle

In addition to providing your dog a health diet, it’s also important to give him regular exercise if you haven’t already been doing so. Pancreatitis tends to be also more common among overweight dogs so a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise will play a big part in preventing pancreatitis from happening again.

Common Questions About Dogs with Pancreatitis

Here are some common questions that dog owners ask about pancreatitis.

Can Pancreatitis in Dogs be Cured at Home?

The severity of pancreatitis can range from mild to severe, so some dog owners may feel they can have their dog cured at home, especially if he is not showing serious symptoms. We strongly advise you don’t go with this route.

Pancreatitis can become a life-threatening condition if it isn’t treated properly at an early stage so it’s important to take your dog to the vet to be properly diagnosed. The vet will also administer treatment that will reduce the risk of pancreatitis from developing into a more serious condition.

Is Sweet Potato Good for Dogs with Pancreatitis?

White rice would be our primary choice of carbohydrate to feed your dog, but you can also offer sweet potato as an alternative. Make sure to peel off the skin before you feed the dog.

How Long Does it Take for a Dog to Recover from Pancreatitis?

This depends on the severity and the type of pancreatitis the dog is suffering from. Mild cases may only take a few days of recovery as long as the dog goes through a good prognosis. More serious conditions may require a few weeks of recovery.