Annabelle Has Pancreatitis--again

[P Hudson]

Just an update. Anna's vet prescribed Hills I/D low fat Digestive Care and we picked some up at PetSmart's Banfield vet. To my surprise and relief both dogs ate the kibble that night without a problem. I also gave them some of the canned Hills food, which they loved.

The next night I recalled with a gasp that you are always supposed to switch a dog's diet slowly, so I've been mixing rice with the canned food for one or two meals a day and am gradually decreasing the rice. So far, so good.

It's such a relief. I'm going to be very careful and, with fingers crossed, am hoping that she doesn't have another attack.

Thank you all for your support.

[ladyjane]

I think the switch will be fine. When dogs are sick in the hospital, I/D is often the food that they are given.

She really should do well on it....but if it is the lower fat one, they both could lose weight. There are two I/D formulas. Both are low fat, but the one is lower and one of my pups who has had pancreatitis was losing weight on the lower fat one so they put him on the other. In the end, I changed him to Purina EN which is pretty much the same food.

So glad things are looking better for Annabelle!!

[P Hudson]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I think the switch will be fine. When dogs are sick in the hospital, I/D is often the food that they are given.

She really should do well on it....but if it is the lower fat one, they both could lose weight. There are two I/D formulas. Both are low fat, but the one is lower and one of my pups who has had pancreatitis was losing weight on the lower fat one so they put him on the other. In the end, I changed him to Purina EN which is pretty much the same food.

So glad things are looking better for Annabelle!!

Thanks. I'll watch for weight loss.

Funny, a low fat diet had the opposite effect on me. Of course with human food they often add sugar to low fat foods. I doubt they do that with dog food.

[dottiesyrky]

Thanks so much for the update. Yes the Hills ID low fat seems to be the go to food for P dogs. Glad you were able to get the Hills from Banfield and that both your dogs eat it ok. I have never dared to go to the Hills ID but stick with the ID Low Fat variety.
When my dog got sick on regular kibble and I had to change to the Hills, I have never had any issue with an abrupt transition....usually to the canned ID first. When I converted to the ID kibble mixed with the canned, again no problem. Nor with the kibble alone.
I think the ID food is so bland that the dogs accept it without a problem.
My dog had the opposite effect, he is always hungry and tends to put on weight. I later added the small amount of chicken and rice to try and add some components that would take longer to digest than the ID. I think I have it down now as his weight is fairly constant. Interesting to see how your dogs react to the Hills diet.
Hoping Annabelle does well on the restricted diet and that she stays in good health. Please keep in touch to let us know how both dogs are doing.

Just a note, the first ingredients in the kibble anyway is mainly carbs.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by P Hudson

Thanks. I'll watch for weight loss.

Funny, a low fat diet had the opposite effect on me. Of course with human food they often add sugar to low fat foods. I doubt they do that with dog food.

LOL...nope.

[matese]

I use Greenie pill pockets, I buy the Capsule size, cut it in quarters for small pills, cut it in 1/2 for capsule pills.

[P Hudson]

Originally Posted by dottiesyrky

Thanks so much for the update. Yes the Hills ID low fat seems to be the go to food for P dogs. Glad you were able to get the Hills from Banfield and that both your dogs eat it ok. I have never dared to go to the Hills ID but stick with the ID Low Fat variety.
When my dog got sick on regular kibble and I had to change to the Hills, I have never had any issue with an abrupt transition....usually to the canned ID first. When I converted to the ID kibble mixed with the canned, again no problem. Nor with the kibble alone.
I think the ID food is so bland that the dogs accept it without a problem.
My dog had the opposite effect, he is always hungry and tends to put on weight. I later added the small amount of chicken and rice to try and add some components that would take longer to digest than the ID. I think I have it down now as his weight is fairly constant. Interesting to see how your dogs react to the Hills diet.
Hoping Annabelle does well on the restricted diet and that she stays in good health. Please keep in touch to let us know how both dogs are doing.

Just a note, the first ingredients in the kibble anyway is mainly carbs.

Annabelle is doing fine. My other dog, however, woke my husband up to take him out in the middle of the night and didn't make it to the door. Very loose stool, which my husband threw paper towels over and left for me.

I opened a different can, which I mix with rice for one meal, so maybe it was the difference or the amount I fed them. I have trouble knowing how much to give them because they've always been on self feed with kibble. Anna's about 9 lbs. and Turner's about 13. They're both bigger than their mother and father. Turner's bigger than both put together. They're not fat but could be more fit. We play fetch with them every day--usually more than once--but we live on a narrow, busy road with no sidewalks and have to drive somewhere to walk them, so they don't get walked every day.

Could also be that I changed the ratio of canned food to rice and went too heavy on the canned food. He seems to be okay today. I let him go 12 hours without feeding and then mostly rice.

He's enjoying a kibble snack right now and I'm keeping an eye on him. He seems to feel fine. Annabelle says he's a wuss.

[sandy simpson]

I want to share this info about my Spud and his pancreatitis. He had a really bad bout last Christmas. I cried at our Christmas party I was so upset. My vet after meds, put him on a strict Hills Science Diet zd dog food. He gets the wet canned food and I grind up the dry food also. There are biscuits that are in the zd diet he gets. Now, after much prayer my Spud has been well for this whole year. He has not had any trouble. I hope this helps someone who is struggling with this awful disease. I do believe in the power of prayer and when you pray I know the Lord Jesus hears and grants favor. He did it for me and my sweet dog, Spud. He can hear your prayer and your hearts desire too!

[P Hudson]

Originally Posted by sandy simpson

I want to share this info about my Spud and his pancreatitis. He had a really bad bout last Christmas. I cried at our Christmas party I was so upset. My vet after meds, put him on a strict Hills Science Diet zd dog food. He gets the wet canned food and I grind up the dry food also. There are biscuits that are in the zd diet he gets. Now, after much prayer my Spud has been well for this whole year. He has not had any trouble. I hope this helps someone who is struggling with this awful disease. I do believe in the power of prayer and when you pray I know the Lord Jesus hears and grants favor. He did it for me and my sweet dog, Spud. He can hear your prayer and your hearts desire too!

Thank you for caring. I'm so glad that Spud had been doing well and that you care so much for him.

[P Hudson]

Originally Posted by matese

I use Greenie pill pockets, I buy the Capsule size, cut it in quarters for small pills, cut it in 1/2 for capsule pills.

Thank you. Just saw this post. I've been able to take a little piece of meat from the canned Hills, hide the pill in it, and then follow it quickly with another piece of meat. They swallow the first one quickly because they're eager to get the next piece. Thanks for your suggestion though. It was getting hard to give them pills before I got the canned Hills.

[P Hudson]

Originally Posted by P Hudson

Thank you for caring. I'm so glad that Spud had been doing well and that you care so much for him.

Oops. Meant to say "has" been doing well.