CrazyCresties Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 So poor little Louis now has pancreatitis to add to his IMHA and Glaucoma which have all developed over the past 8 months He seemed fine yesterday morning, ate his food as normal and was bouncy enough. Luckily OH worked at home yesterday as he started getting very unsettled around mid-day and started vomiting and whimpering. She took him to the vet, but there was no reaction at all from Louis to palpations etc, so sent home after a anti-nausea jab. When I came home at 5pm he was obviously not right still, so I took him back and again he showed no response to any manipulation or strong belly palpations. They took bloods to run a full screen and check his PCV, and after spinning down, the serum part looked like pure white fat! Sent home last night with pain killers which pretty much zonked him out. Still obviously uncomfortable this morning with no interest in food or water, so I dropped him off at the vet on the way to work. Blood result back this afternoon - pancreatitis confirmed So now I need to stop feeding Ziwipeak and get him on a low fat diet. Before he was stuffed full of immune suppressant drugs, he was on a raw diet including the Big Dog barf patties. As he is now off his immune suppressant drugs, the vet is happy for him to go back onto this. I have cooked a batch of chicken and rice for him for over the next few days, and then I will slowly introduce the raw patties again. Anyway getting to the point of this post (!) has anyone fed the 'Wellbeing' barf patties and how have your dogs done on it? It is only 6% fat and suggested as being suitable for dogs with pancreatitis. http://www.bigdogpetfoods.com/product-view/wellbeing-barf-43 Any other tips for day to day life with a pancreatic dog welcome :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Can't help with the food CC ... but just wanted to wish you and poor Louis well. The poor lad has really been having such a tough time. Just as well he's a fighter. Apple Isle get well mojo on its way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hankodie Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 No advice here either CC but I'm sending you and little Louis some good vibes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) I have a dog who is prone to Pancreatitis attacks. I feed Big Dog BARF in the Kangaroo variety as it's only 4% fat. I carefully check the fat content of treats and everything that goes in the dogs mouth. I keep the fat content down to 4%. Any higher triggers an attack. I supplement with Enzyplex which is an enzyme complex that was recommended to me for dogs who have Pancreatitis attacks. It might be worth considering this. edited to add info. Edited January 30, 2014 by cavNrott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*kirty* Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Is he on fluids? I just minded a dog with pancreatitis, we put him on fluids for 3 days and it helped so much. He refused all food so we ended up trying My Dog Light and he ate that. I was told to aim for around 4% fat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 If it were me, I'd be going for a hair-DNA sample to direct me onto an appropriate mix of natural supplements that may well prove to support the relevant organs (including immune system) that is currently in distress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Thinking of you and Louis and I hope he's feeling better soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 Thanks Tassie, hankodie and maeby :) I have a dog who is prone to Pancreatitis attacks. I feed Big Dog BARF in the Kangaroo variety as it's only 4% fat. I supplement with Enzyplex which is an enzyme complex that was recommended to me for dogs who have Pancreatitis attacks. It might be worth considering this. Thank you, I'll get some of the roo one as well to give him some variety. I'll have a look into Enzyplex too. Is he on fluids? I just minded a dog with pancreatitis, we put him on fluids for 3 days and it helped so much. He refused all food so we ended up trying My Dog Light and he ate that. I was told to aim for around 4% fat. He had some subq fluids at the vet today, but is drinking on his own now I have him home but I'll watch him closely. If it were me, I'd be going for a hair-DNA sample to direct me onto an appropriate mix of natural supplements that may well prove to support the relevant organs (including immune system) that is currently in distress. Thanks Erny, I'll look into that. He's been on milk thistle, SAMe and the VAN health boost supplement all through the IMHA. He's home now and quiet but has taken fluids, I'll try him on some rice and chicken soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 He wasn't interested in food last night, but had a mostly settled night. He did eat a small amount of chicken and rice this morning and seems a bit more comfortable today at least. For those of you with dogs susceptible to pancreatitis, what do you use for low fat treats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I keep a supply of cooked chicken breasts and use small pieces as treats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stellnme Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 One of mine is prone to pancreatitis and does well on Hills Prescription w/d kibble which is low fat/glucose management/gastrointestinal. I also add a little of the w/d canned food which she thinks is a treat. I also give small pieces of cooked chicken breast like CavNrott suggested, and when she is going well, she can have an occasional Dentastik, as suggested by the vet. Unfortunately I just have to always be careful with what she eats. CavNrott - who stocks Enzyplex, is that a bit pricey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Yes stellnme Enzyplex is pricey but it lasts for sooo long because all the dog needs is a very small pinch of it with meals. I've had mine for so long I can't remember where I bought it but I have a faint recollection it might have been on a horse website or maybe a Greyhound website. If I needed to restock I'd have to Google it. For the teeth, because I can no longer feed raw meaty bones, I give the dogs Whimzees dental chews. They have only a 4% fat content and seem to do a good job of keeping the teeth clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stellnme Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Thank you - I'll have a look for the Enzyplex, also the Whimzees chews, I haven't heard of them before. It's always good to get a few more tips on managing pancreatitis - hope these help you too, CrazyCresties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Thanks for the info CavNrott and stellnme. I'm not overly fond of the Whimzees type chews, but will oven dry some chicken breast or roo meat and hunt around for some other low fat treats as well. I'll speak to my vet about the Enzyplex too, as although it is indicated for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), I have seen mention of it for pancreatitis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Not sure what you mean by Whimzees 'type' chews. Whimzees are not like Greenies if this is what concerns you. I've never given my dogs Greenies. Paragon who made the original dental chews sold out to Whimzees. Paragon chews were very good but now Whimzees have discontinued a lot of the Paragon lines. Paragon dental chews were made of rice and/or potato and were brilliant for teeth cleaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 Louis is so much brighter this morning and trotting around the place rather than lying down uncomfortably. His appetite is also returning steadily :D CnR - I tried those specific chews back in the uk on my cocker with not particularly nice results out the other end! But sounds like they work well for your guys :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I'm glad to hear that Louis is feeling better :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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