If your dog has spent the last few days in the veterinary hospital’s intensive care unit because of pancreatitis and you’re not sure what to feed it, we’re here to help!
To spare your dog the discomfort of nausea and diarrhea, you should avoid feeding him certain foods. But if you’ve been thinking about giving them carrots as a tasty snack, by all means do so!
This article will help you better care for your dog during and after treatment for pancreatitis by explaining what it is, what causes it, the symptoms to look out for, and what your dog should and should not eat.
Can Dogs With Pancreatitis Eat Carrots?
To put it simply, yes. The carrot is one of the few canine treats recommended by veterinarians for dogs recovering from pancreatitis. They won’t make the disease worse because they contain so little fat.
Are Carrots Good for Dogs?
First, let’s forget about pancreatitis. Do you normally feed your dog carrots?
Absolutely!
The low-fat vegetable is a great low-calorie treat for your dog. It’s a treat they really enjoy and it can stand in for their regular dog biscuits.
Carrots, you see, are an excellent source of all three vitamins A, C, and fiber. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and even help prevent some types of cancer in dogs, while vitamin A is great for maintaining a healthy skin and coat, enhancing eye health, and bolstering the immune system. Last but not least, fiber aids in regular bowel movements.
Not that it should replace regular teeth brushing, but this fantastic vegetable is also helpful for cleaning dogs’ teeth, which is important for their overall health.
Interesting fact: many veterinarians recommend giving a young puppy frozen carrots to help ease the discomfort of teething. It’s something solid they can chew on without posing a hazard to their health.
Therefore, it is clear that carrots are an excellent treat for dogs. But why exactly do they make a healthy treat for dogs suffering from pancreatitis? To understand why this occurs, we must first learn what kind of food dogs with this condition should eat.
What is Pancreatitis?
While the diagnosis of pancreatitis in your dog may come as a shock, it is actually quite common. But that doesn’t make it any less difficult to handle.
Your dog’s pancreas is an important multitasking organ located in its stomach. Digestive enzymes are secreted, which help break down the food your dog has eaten.
Both acute and chronic pancreatitis involve inflammation of the organ, which results in pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Due to the inflammation, pancreatic enzymes are secreted prematurely, causing the organ to begin digesting its own tissue.
Your dog’s symptoms of acute pancreatitis may appear suddenly. The progression is typically slower in chronic pancreatitis. Both types, however, can range from barely noticeable to fatal, necessitating medical attention in either case.
Diet for a Dog With Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis, as you probably already know, is a very dangerous illness. Causes include diabetes mellitus, being overfed, and previous surgical procedures.
However, a high-fat diet or the unusual consumption of fatty foods is the most common cause. As a result, feeding the dog a healthy diet is crucial for its recovery.
If your dog has been diagnosed with pancreatitis, what kind of diet should it follow?
Modern medicine has recognized a spectrum from mild to severe pancreatitis. Due to the complexity of your dog’s condition and the specific nature of his treatment, only your vet can recommend a specific diet for him.
The worst time for a dog with pancreatitis is when he is not feeling well enough to eat. Because of the potential for pain and sickness associated with eating, your dog may avoid anything you put in front of him.
Even so, it’s best if he starts eating as soon as possible. Once your dog’s pancreatitis has stabilized, these are some foods that are typically recommended by veterinarians for canines with this condition. The foods featured here are those that will be discussed in detail.
This article’s sole intent is to educate its readers. Though our information has been verified by a licensed veterinarian, you should always check with your own veterinarian before feeding your dog, especially if he is experiencing pancreatitis.
In general, dogs with this condition should eat a diet that is low in fat and easy on their digestive systems.
Dogs with pancreatitis can benefit from the following snack options:
- Both Rice and Pasta
- Turkey, chicken, or beef patty without the skin boiled and sliced
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Plain yogurt or cottage cheese, both low in fat
It’s best to test your dog’s reaction to new foods by starting with a small amount and increasing the serving size if necessary. While this is true for all dogs, it is especially crucial for those who may not be in perfect health right now.
When dogs with pancreatitis are ready to eat again, it is recommended that they begin with rice, potatoes, or pasta because these foods are low in fat and easy to digest when cooked thoroughly.
Later on, when you’re ready to give your dog some protein, skinless chicken breasts, turkey, and boiled hamburger meat are all great additions to his diet.
As your dog begins to feel better, he can gradually resume his regular diet, provided it contains no high-fat foods. Keeping this in mind can greatly reduce the likelihood of relapse.
How to Feed Carrots to a Dog With Pancreatitis
Dogs may have trouble digesting raw carrots. It’s not uncommon to find bits of uneaten carrot in your dog’s poop, as is the case with many other vegetables.
Dogs experience this problem because their digestive system is not evolved to process these foods in the same way that ours is.
In most cases, this is not a problem, but when a dog has pancreatitis, the food it eats needs to be very easy to digest so that the pancreas can heal.
So, you can feed your dog carrots, but it’s best to boil them and then cut them into small pieces.
Carrot remnants may still be passed even after doing this, but there’s no reason to be alarmed. Cooked carrots are guaranteed to be easier on your dog’s stomach.
As a friendly reminder, before feeding your dog any amount of carrots, you should first get the OK from your vet.
What Causes Pancreatitis in Dogs?
Despite the prevalence of pancreatitis in canines, its root cause is not always clear, especially in severe cases. However, your dog’s development of this disease may be triggered by a variety of factors.
At the outset, some dog breeds are naturally more susceptible to this illness than others. Strains with higher blood fat levels are more susceptible.
These include such popular small dog types as Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, and Schnauzers. This does not mean that all dogs of these breeds will develop pancreatitis at some point in their lives, but they are more likely to do so.
Similarly, all breeds, including those that don’t suffer from hyperlipidemia, are susceptible to this illness. For the same reason that obese people are at risk for pancreatitis, so are obese dogs.
Something as seemingly harmless as feeding a dog scraps from the table can actually cause pancreatitis.
In other words, the fatty bacon slice you gave Fido for breakfast may have caused his pancreatitis.
The medications your dog needs to combat other diseases, like cancer, can also bring on pancreatitis, unfortunately.
You can’t always blame your dog’s pancreatitis on its diet; sometimes it’s the symptom of a more serious problem like diabetes, liver and kidney failure, or Cushing’s Disease. Infections like parvovirus, Babesia canis, etc., can also play a role in its onset.
Getting kicked by a bigger animal or human, or getting hit by a car, can both cause blunt trauma to the abdomen, which can lead to pancreatitis.
Symptoms to Watch Out For
Although it can affect dogs of any age, pancreatitis is more common in senior canines. Pancreatitis symptoms, like those of many other canine diseases, can be easily mistaken for those of other conditions.
If your dog exhibits any of the signs below, you should take them to the vet immediately, regardless of whether you suspect pancreatitis.
Symptoms of acute or chronic pancreatitis include:
- Pain
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Irregular bowel movements and vomiting
- Dehydration
- Shock
- Inability to eat
- Collapse
How To Care for a Dog with Pancreatitis
Depending on the severity of your dog’s symptoms, he or she will need to see a vet and may need to stay in the hospital for a few days.
They need intensive care because the disease causes them to experience pain, nausea, and dehydration.
Sometimes it can take several days of treatment with intravenous fluids for a dog to start feeling better and rehydrate.
You and your dog may return home from the vet with some medication for you to administer over the next few days. You may also be told to withhold food from your dog until he or she stops throwing up.
You should also keep an eye on the amount of fatty foods they consume. It is strongly advised that you refrain from feeding your dog table scraps in the future, and a low-fat diet change is often suggested. Smaller, more frequent meals might help them, too.
Your dog’s recovery from pancreatitis may be the only time these adjustments are required. However, these adjustments will likely need to become permanent for dogs who have had multiple flare-ups.
Why Are Carrots a Good Snack Option?
Carrots are an excellent low-fat treat for your dog with pancreatitis. They’re a lot healthier and cheaper than traditional dog treats. Furthermore, they provide essential nutrients.
Carrots, when frozen, make a great treat for your dog on a hot summer day. These vegetables are great “toys” because they have a crunchy texture that pets enjoy and will keep them busy chewing for a while. Numerous vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, potassium, and fiber, can be found in them.
Carrots can cause choking if they get stuck in a dog’s throat, so always keep an eye on them while they snack and consider cutting them into smaller pieces. If you prefer, you can start by cooking the carrots.
What Other Fruits and Vegetables Can Be Eaten by Dogs with Pancreatitis?
If your dog isn’t crazy about carrots, don’t worry; there are plenty of other wholesome fruits and vegetables he can eat that are low in fat and packed with nutrients. When introducing new snacks, it’s best to start slow. Fruits and vegetables, in general, should be given sparingly.
| Bananas | copper, vitamins, and potassium |
| Cut up apples | Contains vitamin A and vitamin C. |
| Strawberries | Assist in canine teeth bleaching |
| Blueberries | have anti-oxidant properties |
| Cantaloupe | have a high water and fiber content. |
| Cucumbers | Hydrating and full of water. |
| Mangos | Vitamins A, B6, C, and E are present. |
| Oranges | Potassium and vitamin C content is very high. |
| Sliced peaches | contain dietary fiber and vitamin A |
| Sliced pears | loaded with copper, fiber, and vitamins C and K |
| Sliced fresh pineapple | Have bromelain in them. |
| Pumpkin | Amazing for the stomach |
| Broccoli | Vitamin C and fiber content. |
Closing Thoughts
Carrots are an excellent snack for dogs because of the high nutrient density they contain.
Since they are low in fat, they are ideal for dogs healing from pancreatitis. To aid in pancreas recovery, make sure they are cooked thoroughly.
Just a friendly reminder, consult your vet before giving your dog any food or treats while he is recovering from this condition.