Quote:
Originally Posted by 107barney  Ill take the word of the board certified vet nutritionist as to what will trigger pancreatitis and what won't. Since pancreatitis treatment for a severe case can run upwards of $1,000 a day, I would rather avoid the expense along with my dog's suffering. My understanding is that the hormone CCK leads to pancreatic enzyme secretion, and that it is most responsive to dietary fat. Whether coconut oil down regulates CCK and thus pancreatic secretion is not something I know and I won't gamble with my own dog. Many people feed fish oils to their dogs with a history of pancreatitis too for the anti-inflammatory effects but in our case that tight rope isn't worth walking. I love my dog too much to see him suffer, but that's just me. I love coconut oil, it's one of the few fats I myself will eat, but it's not a great choice to add to a home cooked diet and therefore I only use it occasionally for my non pancreatic dogs. |
Well, since I do know exactly what triggered Peek's pancreatitis, and caught it in time, his treatment ran about $200. He did relapse after two weeks, caught early again, so his meds were extended a bit longer. I don't consider him a 'pancreatic' dog, since he's never had an episode since that time.
When I started him on Coconut oil, I introduced it very slowly into his diet, and I watched him like a hawk for any reactions. He never had a problem with it. To me, the benefits far outweigh the risks, so it was worth the gamble.
I don't like to watch mine suffer either, and I don't. I take them to the vet when they need to go. Probably not the best vets in the world, as family obligations keep me from hopping on a plane to go to the best. I was thinking I wish I could give mine the care you give yours, but then again mine are all fine and doing well. Bright eyes and happy.
They would probably be happier if I allowed them up on the furniture all the time, but I try to prevent them from jumping on and off and hurting themselves... again I love them too much to see them suffer. I've trained them enough now that they can't jump high enough to get on my bed by themselves, they've lost the ability by not using those muscles for that purpose, and they know I will help them up on and down off the bed and they will bark till I come for them. But that's just me.
