Is It Ok To Feed Prescription Diets On A Long-term Basis?

[LDH]

My 11 year old border collie suffered an episode of acute pancreatitis in February last year and ended up spending several days in intensive care before thankfully recovering. At the time it was recommended that I transfer to a prescription diet. I initially started with Royal Canin Low Digestive but found that Hills I/D suited her better. I have since fed her solely this - a combination of tin food and dry food.

Is this ok to continue feeding her on a long-term basis, my main concern being that she gets all her nutrional needs met and of course has no more bouts of pancreatitis. I am happy to keep her on this food as she seems to now be healty and we have had no further episodes of pancreatitis. I just want to make sure she is getting the nutrion she needs. I would be grateful for any advice and comments.

[aussielover]

I personally wouldn't keep a dog on i/d long term. If she is keeping her weight on and seems happy, it could work for you. There is also hills w/d which we often use for pancreatitis dogs as it has less fat. It is quite bland though and some dogs don't like it. The eukanuba low residue is good for sensitive stomachs but I'm not sure about pancreatitis.

[Sheridan]

It's recommended Wheatens with PLN eat nothing but Hills Prescription Ultra ZD.

Edited June 3, 2010 by Sheridan

[Nekhbet]

most of the Hills prescription diets are complete and can be fed long term, I know when I worked at the vet a few dogs were on I/d permanently due to pancreatitis. If she's doing OK on it I wouldnt go rocking the boat

[Stitch]

I agree, don't change if it is working out OK.

You can always phone Hills and get their advice, after all it is their product.

One of mine is on Hills I/D and I have had times that I have tried going onto other foods, including making it myself.

I have to be guided by how my dog is coping at the time.

There was a time she couldn't tolerate the I/D so I switched onto making chicken and rice myself.

Then after a while I had problems with that so I changed to Scottys Nutraroll.....that lasted for about 1 week.

Now we are back on the Hills I/D and it is currently being well tolerated.

So, my advice would be if it is working at the moment, don't change it!

[Staff'n'Toller]

So, my advice would be if it is working at the moment, don't change it!

Totally agree there. It's fine for your dog to be on long term, we have a few of the same dogs at our clinic.

Some have tried using Tucker Time in the past but that's at your own risk.

Pancreatitis is so serious I wouldn't be risking another attack. If you switch to Z/d she may lose weight- you may have to increase the servings.

[Scouty]

So, my advice would be if it is working at the moment, don't change it!

Totally agree there. It's fine for your dog to be on long term, we have a few of the same dogs at our clinic.

Some have tried using Tucker Time in the past but that's at your own risk.

Pancreatitis is so serious I wouldn't be risking another attack. If you switch to Z/d she may lose weight- you may have to increase the servings.

My dog unfortuntely died three days after coming home after sending 5 days in intentive care

I would be doing anything and everything to make sure you don't go back there. You of all people know how bad they can get.

Don't change it.

From memory i was told anything under 11% fat ( i think) dont quote me though. Is good.

We were on RC. But changed to the blue brand - I am pretty sure thats the advance stuff.

good luck

give her a bis hug for me, she is one lucky girl

scout

[D & D]

My 11 year old border collie suffered an episode of acute pancreatitis in February last year and ended up spending several days in intensive care before thankfully recovering. At the time it was recommended that I transfer to a prescription diet. I initially started with Royal Canin Low Digestive but found that Hills I/D suited her better. I have since fed her solely this - a combination of tin food and dry food.

Is this ok to continue feeding her on a long-term basis, my main concern being that she gets all her nutrional needs met and of course has no more bouts of pancreatitis. I am happy to keep her on this food as she seems to now be healty and we have had no further episodes of pancreatitis. I just want to make sure she is getting the nutrion she needs. I would be grateful for any advice and comments.

My last dog had pancreatitis at just under 13 years old. She was on Hills I/D, later changed to Royal Canin digestive, for two and a half years (and was happy and healthy until the day she died). I had Amylase and Lipase bloods done every 6 months just to check she was okay, they were fine.

I'd have no dramas feeding these diets again long-term.

Good luck with your girl.

[TangerineDream]

If it works, I wouldn't rock the boat - stable is good. My previous GSP Cadence could only tolerate 8% fat - anything higher could only be tolerated for 3 days at the most.....

I fed chicken mince (cooked with all the fat skimmed off), Supercoat Adult dry and Weetbix - he lived on that for 8.5 years and did very well on it without another attack.

[LDH]

Thanks so much for all your helpful advice and supportive comments - it is very much appreciated. Sounds like I just need to stick with what I am doing.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I had an Italian Greyhound with IBD, he could ONLY eat Hills Science Ultra ZD or he bled internally and it was just awful, he'd be in pain and so on. He ended up on a drip on several occasions, usually when he'd snaffled food he shouldn't have gotten hold of when people have left it behind in the park etc.

He was on it for about 8-9 years plus medication. Although the vet told me I could not give him anything except the dried food, my dog hated it and it was a challenge to get him to eat every night, won't bore you with the details but suffice to say it was hard on both of us.

I looked it up on the web and found a lady with a dog with IBD who cooked up sweet potato for him to moisten his food. I did that, tried some other vegetables and just did my best to give him some simple additions occasionally to break the boredom. It was a happy day when they released a canned version although he got fed up with that after a while.

Dogs with pancreatitis always have to have a special diet, that was my understanding.

Had another dog on the KD for kidney failure, that was all she could eat for the 12 months, she wouldn't eat the biscuits but liked the canned version luckily.

Hills seems to always be a complete food as far as I know, no need for much else.