chronic pacreatitis flair vs something else???

[Chenza]

Im hoping for some input on my Rigby, 4 yo female 4.6 lbs, who has been having such a hard time over the last 6 months. She started acting depressed and not eating much. We thought it was her teeth, so we had that done and 2 courses of Clinda with improvement, then return of symptoms. I was feeding her high fat table food, (out of ignorance ) so my vet suspected chronic pancreatitis. No vomiting or diarrhea, but elevated Amylase or Lypase, cant remember which. Not very elevated, but still elevated. We started her on Chicken breast, rice (or sweet potatoe) and string beans, with some improvement, but not much. I tried her on a low fat Natures Recipe for small dogs, and she really liked that. Then she started itching and threw up a few times, so vet suspected allergies, so we switched to fish and rice or turkey and rice. Stopped throwing up and itch seemed better. Finally put her on Blue Buffalo limited formula for sensitive dogs, tried turkey then salmon and sweet potatoe. Bag says 12% fat, which is the max my vet said we could use, but after 2 weeks, she is sick again with acting depressed, pain after eating and not wanting to eat at times. She has been to the Veterinary SPecialty Hospital and was worked up for liver shunt and thyroid, and both were negative except slightly elevated T4. Can she just be that sensitive to foods that have fat? She did best on the Natures Recipe low fat chicken as far as acting like her crazy happy little self again, but started sctratching and lost a lot of hair. Any suggestions on how to manage chronic pancreatitis better than I am doing, because I feel like I am not really helping her. An suggestions about a low fat food not made with chicken or turkey? Any meds given for stomach pain after eating? I welcome all input. Thanks so much!

[Britster]

I've heard great things about Royal Canin Gastrointestinal for pancreatitis dogs. It's an RX food, so probably going to be a bit more pricey. Jackson had a sampling of it once during GI upset, and he loved the taste.

Also, California Natural makes some great very very simple and very low fat formulas.

I believe Canine Caviar also has a very low fat food.

Sorry you're going thru this. I hope she feels better soon!

[xFoxyx]

Royal Canine I/D Gastro canned food or Purina EN canned food. Are the last two I've used. I used to use IAMs Low Residue as well, but had to switch. He has to stay with the prescription dog food or anything else makes him have an episode. The people food is what is aggravating the issue. My Presley has been living with this for 10 years and we have had to find out the hard way that he cannot have people food. Even if it is low fat is harder to digest and that can inflame the pancreas. I just finished posting in another thread about this, but please feel free to email me any questions, and I can tell you what I've been through.

[zowiandnikasmom]

i'm so sorry to read that you and rigby are going through this. my zowi was hospitalized last september with pancreatitis. did the vet give you any famotidine (pepcid ac)? something you could ask the dr about if not. zowi was sent home with this for stomach upset. she has been on the blue buffalo dry chicken and brown rice healthy weight formula (yellow bag) which has 6% fat and canned whitefish reduced calorie which has 4% fat and has been going great on that. sorry i don't have any more advice for you but i do truly hope that you can find something that will manage rigby's condition. pancreatitis is so scary! prayers and well wishes for your sweet little rigby!

[yorkieusa]

If your vet has not prescribed a digestive enzyme, then I would ask them to do so. A damaged pancreas cannot and does not supply sufficient enzymes, therefore, a supplemental enzyme is necessary.

This is an excellent article on pancreatitis:

Canine Pancreatitis - Whole Dog Journal Article

[kionini]

Originally Posted by zowiandnikasmom

i'm so sorry to read that you and rigby are going through this. my zowi was hospitalized last september with pancreatitis. did the vet give you any famotidine (pepcid ac)? something you could ask the dr about if not. zowi was sent home with this for stomach upset. she has been on the blue buffalo dry chicken and brown rice healthy weight formula (yellow bag) which has 6% fat and canned whitefish reduced calorie which has 4% fat and has been going great on that. sorry i don't have any more advice for you but i do truly hope that you can find something that will manage rigby's condition. pancreatitis is so scary! prayers and well wishes for your sweet little rigby!

I was told that not all fish can be given to Pancrititis sufferes, that it has to be "cold water fish" because they have less fat Which whitefish can food are you using? 6% sounds great! I'm using Blue Basics (Salmon) 8% protein, but not sure if it's good for my boy

My vet prescribed Famotidine (I didn't know its's pepcid ac) and also Metronidazole, but said that they most be given at least for 5 days every time I used it (I was using only when I thought Nicky was in pain) because they can develop immunity and it will stop working. How often do you use it?

Pancrititis is indeed scary and painful, I can tell on my boy

[kionini]

I pray your baby gets better, I know how frustrating and sad it is to see your baby in pain

[zowiandnikasmom]

Originally Posted by kionini

I was told that not all fish can be given to Pancrititis sufferes, that it has to be "cold water fish" because they have less fat Which whitefish can food are you using? 6% sounds great! I'm using Blue Basics (Salmon) 8% protein, but not sure if it's good for my boy

My vet prescribed Famotidine (I didn't know its's pepcid ac) and also Metronidazole, but said that they most be given at least for 5 days every time I used it (I was using only when I thought Nicky was in pain) because they can develop immunity and it will stop working. How often do you use it?

Pancrititis is indeed scary and painful, I can tell on my boy

hmm interesting about the fish, i never heard that and did discuss zowi's food with her dr after her hospitalization last september. i will have to ask about that again. her main diet is the dry food i mentioned (healthy weight chicken) and the canned food i am just using for giving her meds. this is the one i am using:
BLUE Longevity Natural and Healthy Canned Dog Food
i'm not sure it would be good for your boy either but this is what's working for zowi. definitely something your vet should be able to give you some direction on. i remember how frusterated i was trying to find something that would work for zowi.
zowi was only given the pepcid for 5 days after she came home, so it was temporary. after that we have not needed it thankfully.
hang in there. it sounds like you're doing everything you can for your sweet rigby. you will be both be in my thoughts and prayers. hope he is all better soon!