My 3yr old daschund just spent 5 days @ the vets form vomitting. The only thing they could find was that his pancreas was a little inflamed. I got him to eat 2-4 morsels of food and he I did get about half a dog biscuits down him last night and it has all stayed down. But this morning he won't eat any thing. He has been drinking though. Any suggestions? Any questions to ask the vet?

I have a dog that has had 2 bad pancreatitis attacks since late November. I was told not to persuade her to eat, to let her system rest.

She continued to drink water.

Is she on medication?

I have no experience with pancreatitis but if my dog was in the vet's kennel for 5 days and is still sick I would either leave him at the vets or start considering a speciality vet for a second look at the problem. Read this, especially half page down where it describes treatment. Dog Pancreatitis: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments (http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-pancreatitis-symptoms-and-treatment) Stop feeding your guy and call the vet to maintain his fluid balance.

Usually dogs who are having issues with their pancreas are on special low fat diets. Has your vet recommended any special diet or eationg routine? A lot of times dogs with underlying medical issues like chushings will develop issues with their pancreas, but in smaller dogs a lot of the cause can be narrowed down to high fat meals, lots of table scraps and "treats". Mild pancreatitis produces loss of appetite, depression, intermittent vomiting, and diarrhea and weight loss. So him not eating isn't that un-common. Making sure he drinking water on a regular basis is very important. Diabetes is one of the most common developments AFTER a pancreatic attack, so the symptoms for this is something to be on the watch for.

The most important step in treating pancreatitis is to rest the gland completely. This usually means not feeding the dog for several days and maintaining hydration and electrolyte balance either naturally or via IV. Is your dog on anti biotics now? If he is unresponsive to at home treatment his gland will need to be drained through surgery.

I would call the vet and ask about diet. You don't necessarily need to buy the food the vet is promoting, but ask about how much fat vs protein they should be taking in each day.

Usually dogs who are having issues with their pancreas are on special low fat diets. Has your vet recommended any special diet or eationg routine? A lot of times dogs with underlying medical issues like chushings will develop issues with their pancreas, but in smaller dogs a lot of the cause can be narrowed down to high fat meals, lots of table scraps and "treats". Mild pancreatitis produces loss of appetite, depression, intermittent vomiting, and diarrhea and weight loss. So him not eating isn't that un-common. Making sure he drinking water on a regular basis is very important. Diabetes is one of the most common developments AFTER a pancreatic attack, so the symptoms for this is something to be on the watch for.

The most important step in treating pancreatitis is to rest the gland completely. This usually means not feeding the dog for several days and maintaining hydration and electrolyte balance either naturally or via IV. Is your dog on anti biotics now? if he is unresponsive to at home treatment his gland will need to be drained through surgery.

I would call the vet and ask about diet. You don't necessarily need to buy the food the vet is promoting, but ask about how much fat vs protien they should be taking in each day.

They did a round of antibiotics while he was there. They did not recommend any type of diet. But I suspect it was his diet. He is not on any meds. They did not really say much other than his pancreas seemed inflamed. Thank you for the info. It has been very helpful. How long should I become worried for him not eating. He is drinking and it is staying down.

they did a round of antibiotics while he was there. they did not recommend any type of diet. but i suspect it was his diet. he is not on any meds. they did not really say much other than his pancreas seemed inflamed. thank you for the info. it has been very helpful. how long should i become worried for him not eating. he is drinking and it is staying down. his vet said he feeds his animals purina dog food.

I'm not a fan of commercial brands as they are usually high fat and all filler. I would look for a low fat natural food. Are you in the US? You could try a bland diet for a few days of boiled rice and boiled chicken or lean hamburger. No added fat or salt. Seeing as your dog is a young adult stage, a senior diet may not be the best choice, but something with a moderate protein and low fat intake.

It was an inflammation of the pancreas and the dog isn't on a special food? I've had two rounds of this - and anything containing fat is absolutely forbidden for my dog.

I would call the Vet and ask.

Judy, what foods are you feeding? Can you recommend a good brand?

Mine eats - let me go and look at the bag - Hills ID prescription diet for gastrointestinal something-or-other. It's a kibble. She also eats the same thing canned (which she absolutely hates). She can have Hills biscuits as treats but I actually tasted one and they're like cardboard and not a big hit in my house.

It's hard when there are two dogs to keep one on such a restrictive diet but until the rest of her lab work comes back, she's stuck with it.

(I buy the dog food at the Vet's office)

Tsk, tsk, spending more money than you need to (teasing). Because I can't offer a better brand, I would look into the brand your vet recomneds, 95% chance it will also be Hills. I thinking the biggest thing is getting something appropriate for gastrointestinal issues.

I still cannot get him to eat.@ judykaytee... How long did it takes yours to get back to eating??

Tsk, tsk, spending more money than you need to (teasing). Because I can't offer a better brand, I would look into the brand your vet recomneds, 95% chance it will also be Hills. I thinking the biggest thing is getting something appropriate for gastrointestinal issues.


There are some people I will offend, notably my friends, family and Physician.

There are some people I will not offend, namely my hairdresser and Veterinarian. The Vet says, "Here, buy this"... and I do!

I still cannot get him to eat.@ judykaytee.... How long did it takes yours to get back to eating?????


She's always been a picky eater and I tried and tried, including hand feeding her the kibble. Last week she had another flare (although I'm waiting for the results of blood tests right now) and the Vet put her on prednisone for inflammation and to increase her appetite. She's eating!

There were nights I went to bed literally in tears because she simply wouldn't eat and was getting weaker and weaker. It was a battle of the wills. I know she hurt when she ate and she connected the two.

It's a long road.

@ judykaytee... Thank you. I can hear his little tummy growling and I know that he is Sooo hungry. He is definitely going on a special diet after this. The research I did says that they will most likely have more flare ups. It's frustrating. I know they said they can give them something to stimulate their appetite. We may have to go with that.

For me - and I don't like steroids, I appreciate they can be dangerous - the answer was prednisone. It works on the inflammation and it increased her appetite. I am presently weaning her dosage down so that she can make an attempt to take her completely off - but if she doesn't eat she has to go back on.

I had no idea how many cases of pancreatitis there are in dogs every year.

I kept thinking my dog would get so hungry that she would eventually eat, but she didn't so, yes, I know what it's like.

Judy, is this the dog with diabetes? Can I do some research for you?

I still cannot get him to eat.@ judykaytee.... How long did it takes yours to get back to eating?????

My boss directed me to this website with info, I'll copy and paste (in italics)

Traditionally, the standard recommendation has been to withhold all oral food and water until symptoms subside, in order to allow the pancreas to rest. If symptoms persisted for more than 72-96 hours, nutrition was given parenterally (intravenously, avoiding the stomach and intestines). It was thought that even the sight or smell of food could trigger pancreatic secretions that would make the problem worse.

Today, though, there is growing evidence in both humans and animals that recovery time is reduced and survival rates increased when patients are fed early in the recovery from pancreatitis. It is now accepted that prolonged withholding of oral food and water for more than 48 hours (including the time before the dog was brought in for treatment) can lead to increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), atrophy of the digestive cells in the small intestine, and sepsis (blood poisoning). In turn, sepsis can contribute to multiple organ failure and decreased survival rates.

The goal in the beginning is to feed a diet with low fat, moderate protein, and high carbohydrates, as carbs cause the least amount of pancreatic stimulation. An easy diet to start with is overcooked white rice made with extra water, combined with a low-fat protein source, such as cooked chicken breast, low-fat cottage cheese, or boiled hamburger (boiling removes most of the fat).

Overcooking starchy foods such as rice or potatoes increases their digestibility. Cooking white rice with extra water creates a type of porridge called rice congee, which is soothing to the stomach and digestive tract, and can help relieve vomiting and diarrhea. To make congee, boil one cup of white rice (not Minute Rice) in four cups of water for 20 to 30 minutes. You can offer the rice congee liquid alone to start with, then include the rice, and next add the protein. This progression can happen over the course of a few hours or a day or two.

At first, feed a higher percentage of carbohydrates, and a lower percentage of protein, such as two-thirds carbs and one-third protein. If your dog is doing fine, the ratio can then be slowly changed to half and half after the first few days.

Whatever you feed, start with small amounts fed frequently, six to eight meals a day or more. Small meals stimulate the pancreas less, and are less likely to trigger vomiting. Small meals are also easier to digest than larger meals, and less likely to cause discomfort. If your dog is able to keep the food down without vomiting or showing signs of pain, you can begin to feed larger amounts at longer intervals, but proceed slowly, especially in the beginning; you don’t want to make changes too quickly and end up with a setback.

Transitioning to a normal diet
Once a dog has had an attack of acute pancreatitis, he may be less able to tolerate fat in the future, depending on how much the pancreas was damaged. Some dogs are able to return to a normal diet after they have fully recovered, while others may need a low-fat diet for the rest of their lives to prevent chronic pancreatitis and further acute episodes.

Dogs who experience a single, acute, uncomplicated episode are more likely to be able to return to a normal diet, while dogs with repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis, hyperlipidemia, or steatorrhea (large, greasy, foul-smelling stools caused by fat malabsorption) should be kept on a fat-restricted diet.

Dogs with chronic pancreatitis may also do better on a lower-fat diet. Drugs that predispose dogs to pancreatitis should be avoided if possible in these dogs. If such drugs are needed, e.g., to control seizures, these dogs, too, may benefit from a low-fat diet. Dogs who have had acute pancreatitis should never be fed really high-fat meals, even if they are able to return to a normal diet afterwards.

Is your dog at a normal weight? Many weight loss diets are extremely high in carbohydrates, with low fat and low protein – in fact, some have even less fat than the prescription diets that are recommended for dogs recovering from pancreatitis. A low-fat diet is not required for dogs to lose weight, and higher protein helps dogs lose fat, while low protein can lead to muscle loss. It’s better to feed a diet that has higher protein and moderate amounts of fat and carbohydrates to help your dog lose weight.

Canine Pancreatitis - Whole Dog Journal Article (http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/11_11/features/Canine-Pancreatitis-Symptoms-and-Treatment_16081-1.html)

Judy, is this the dog with diabetes? Can I do some research for you?


No, and this gets confusing. The OTHER dog (my AKC GSD) has the chronic ear infection (and I refused the surgery) and Horners Syndrome.

THIS dog (and she was my late husband's dog) had the pancreatitis attackS and lab work that makes no sense. I did have a diabetic dog, but she died (age age 12). The dog with pancreatitis is the one that just had the blood work done following the diagnosis of gallbladder inflammation. My Vet and the specialist believe she MIGHT have multiple mylenoma. At the moment she takes 2 herbals (thistle and vit E), prednisone, an antibiotic, a multi vitamin, prescription gallbladder medication and a thyroid pill every AM.

BOTH dogs have low thyroid and both are on medication - the Vet said he has never (in all his years of practice) had more than one dog in a household with low thyroid.

Both dogs have had very rough years (to put it mildly). That sound you hear is a cash registered in the background - financially it's been a shock. Emotionally it's a rollercoaster.

At one time I had a diabetic husband and a diabetic dog - so he managed her health care.

I've had my hands full. The GSD is coping. The other one is not.

EDIT: Great website and quote. I printed it out and now I'm reading it over.

Oh dear. I'm sorry! That is one hell of a ride. Did you have any aggression issues with the low thyroid? I am currently going through blood work to see if I can come to a conclusion on Lady's major malfunction.

Have you ever done any research on Hills diet food? How old is "THIS" dog? Breed?

CCJ, here is some additional info on suppliments you also might like to read, same website as listed above:

Supplements
Certain supplements can help reduce the risk of acute pancreatitis or control the effects of chronic pancreatitis.

Digestive enzyme supplements that contain pancreatin may be helpful for dogs who have had acute pancreatitis or suffer from chronic pancreatitis. It is theorized that these may reduce the load on the pancreas and inhibit pancreatic secretion.

These supplements are sold over-the-counter for humans or dogs; the prescription-strength enzymes needed by dogs with EPI can also be tried to see if they seem to reduce pain from chronic pancreatitis. Note that enzymes seem to help some dogs, but not others. If your dog does not respond well to one brand, you can try adjusting the dosage or using a different brand, but don’t continue to give them if they cause any problems.

You can also try feeding small amounts of raw pancreas, giving pancreatic glandular supplements, such as Pancreatrophin from Standard Process, or giving plant-derived digestive enzymes, which may be helpful if your dog has trouble digesting carbohydrates.

Fish body oil, such as salmon oil or EPA oil (not cod liver oil), can help to lower blood lipid levels (both triglycerides and cholesterol) in dogs with hyperlipidemia. Studies have also found it to be beneficial in treating acute pancreatitis, while its effects on chronic pancreatitis are unknown. The dosage needed to treat hyperlipidemia may be as high as 1,000 mg of fish oil (supplying 300 mg combined EPA and DHA) per 10 lbs of body weight. Dogs with normal lipid levels should do fine on that amount per 20 to 30 lbs of body weight daily, preferably split into two doses. If you use a supplement with more or less EPA and DHA, adjust the dosage accordingly. Vitamin E should always be given whenever you supplement with oils – give around 5 to 10 IUs per pound of body weight daily.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in the intestines and help to keep bad bacteria in check. While probiotics are not recommended for dogs with acute pancreatitis, their effect on chronic pancreatitis is unknown. As they are known to help with some gastrointestinal problems, and since their population may be depleted during acute pancreatitis, I think it makes sense to give them once your dog has recovered. You can use products made either for dogs or for people.

Prebiotics are indigestible carbohydrates that feed the beneficial bacteria in the intestines and are often included in probiotic supplements. Certain prebiotics called oligosaccharides have been shown to decrease triglyceride and cholesterol blood levels, which can be helpful for dogs prone to hyperlipidemia. These ingredients may be listed on the label as fructooligosaccharides (FOS), oligofructose, inulin, or chicory. (See “Probing Probiotics,” August 2006, for more information on both probiotics and prebiotics.)

Dogs fed a very low-fat diet may become deficient in the fat-soluble vitamins A and E. Adding fish oil and coconut oil to the diet can help with this. Dogs with damage to the pancreas may also suffer from vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency – in this case, monthly injections may be needed if the dog is unable to absorb B12 when given orally. Chronic pancreatitis may interfere with absorption of vitamin B, so supplementing with B-complex vitamins makes sense.

Human studies suggest that antioxidants, which are found mostly in fruits and vegetables, may help protect against pancreatitis, and reduce the pain of chronic pancreatitis. Vitamin E and selenium (which work synergistically), vitamin C, beta-carotene, and methionine have been found to be effective in helping to prevent pancreatitis in human studies.

Other natural antioxidants sometimes recommended for chronic pancreatitis, though evidence is lacking, include SAM-e (S-adenosyl methionine); alpha lipoic acid (not recommended for diabetics); OPCs, found in grapeseed extract and pycnogenol; resveratrol; and milk thistle. There are a number of combination antioxidant products made for dogs, such as Small Animal Antioxidants and Immugen from Thorne Veterinary, and Cell Advance made by Vetri-Science.

In their book, All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets, Greg Tilford and Mary Wulff-Tilford suggest herbs to support the liver and digestive system. “Dandelion, burdock root, or Oregon grape can help improve digestion and reduce pancreatic stress by gently increasing bile and enzymatic production in the liver.

...Yarrow is said to help reduce pancreatic inflammation and improve blood circulation to the organ.”

Thank you also aurora bell. You ladies have been very helpful. This has been very frustrating. He still is belching at times and now it seems to be greenish. I have called the vet and am currently waiting for them to call me back. To me green bile in not a good sign. The last dog we had growing up that threw up green stuff died. And it too was a daschund. But the vet said that it was gangreen and that he had been bitten in the stomach by another dig. That was possible since he had slipped out the door and was running round the neighborhood with some other dogs.

Yes, green usually does indicate infection. On the other hand expelling this is a good sign too. It's basically a "poison" and your dogs body's natural reaction to get rid of it, this can also be a good sign, think of a sinus infection in humans. I really think the best thing here is to speak with a nutrisionist. I know this can get costly, but I just can not fathom feeding a commercial food such a Purina to a dog with pancreatic issues.

You will be in my thoughts all day today, please keep us posted!

-Bella

Oh, my gosh - yes, let us know.

thank you I will. They kept him and are doing more x-rays and blood work. So maybe they will get to the bottom of it. He might have to stay overnight again. But if they can get to the bottom of it I would rather he stay than watch the little guy suffer.

You're right. I am sure he is in ery capable hands. Good vibes being sent your way!

More good vibes - you really love that dog... and it shows.

o.k. ladies,good and bad news. My daschund has to have surgery. Once they got to looking the barium they did last Friday was STILL there. Which indicates a blockage of some sort. Pray that it is not a tumor. This is where we are now. Got to call and check on him in the morning. Will keep you posted!!

At least they have an idea what's going on. Fingers crossed.

Ok one HUGE step in the right direction! Fingers crossed it's not a tumor. Thank you for keeping us to date. If it is a tumor lets hope it's benign.

OK here is an update on duke(my daschund) he made it though surgery. They found what looked like a nose the size of a walnut from a stuffed animal. The only thing that he had prior to his illness was a duck dog toy. The only thing from that was in the beak of the duck was a round ball like item. So I guess he ate that!! Whew! What an ordeal!! Just watch those dog toys!!

How they missed that the first round is beyond me!!

Good news indeed - and, yes, how did they miss it? Well, at least they found it this time around!

Good news!

Update,duke is still doing fine. He has to stal until at least tomorrow. They are still feeding him through the i.v.they said that they would start him on solid food late today or in the morning. The vet said that he pulled a pouch the size of a walnut from him. We suspect that it is the sqeaker pouch from a dog toy!! He might get to come home tomorrow. So this is where we are now. Cannot thank you enogh for all the info. I figure that I will still put him on some natural dog food as his pancreas was inflamed from the irritation of the foreign body. This little episode will make his stomach sensitive for a while, I figure. I know that you recommeded the science diet and that is what our vet carried. Our animals do not care for that.I found a brand at our farm supply store that is called taste of the wild. Does anyone know much about that brand. We live in a remote area and the closest pet supply store is at least a 45 minute drive. The research I did on the taste of the wild is that there is no ground corn. But is a little high in the crude fat. What does anyone suggest?//

With pancreatitis you want to AVOID fat. Granted in a case like this chances are he won't have to stay on it for a while, but you should maybe see how low in fat the vet diet is and try to find something comparable..

Did your Vet prescribe a dog food? My dog was on Hills ID - which my Vet suggested.

She's since been switched to something else.

@ judykaytee.. he is still @ the vets recovering. No he has not recommended anything specific. But his pancreas was irritated from the foreign body.

I'm interested in what will be suggested next.

When can he come home?

They said maybe tomorrow. They said that they may start him on mush in the morning. (watered down canned food) and that if he can keep solids down he may let him come home. But I figure late tomorrow afternoon or evening @ the earliest.

Taste of the wild is a holistic food, I am pretty sure Lucky recommends this brand, as she is in the states as well and has had experience with it. Just stuck with a low fat food. Seeing as it's not actually pancreatis, and just inflammation due to a foreign body finding a food with 0 fat isn't life or death. I would talk to your vet of course and see what he recommends, I don't necessarily recommend Science Diet, but JKT has had good luck with Hills, which I believe is made by the same people. You might want to look into Blue Buffalo.

I am SO happy to hear little Duke is on the mend. What a scary ordeal!

@ aura_bell thanks. Our vet uses science diet. Which I'm sure will be what's going to be fed to him but in canned. I've looked @ blue buffalo. Have read that it doesn't agree with some dogs tummys. But every one is different.

I'm sure you'll find the right fit. Finding a good food is trial and error. I've been to the end of the world and back looking for a quality chow that won't leave me homeless. I've even done the BARF or raw diet for a while, but couldn't handle the smell coming from my dogs ;)

@judykaytee and aurorabell... duke is home and TRYING to eat us out of house and home. They had to go into the intestines to remove the squeaker. So he has a incision from below the rib cage to the top of his little penis. But is holding every thing down and WANTING to eat constantly!! We still have to feed several small meals a day until at least the end of the week. He is back to his ever little fiesty self!! Looks like he is on the mend. He doesn't get the stitches out until the first of next week. Thank you AGAIN for all the help and info. I will pass it along when needed too.

I am SO happy for you both - good news I'll be smiling all afternoon.

You are SO lucky to have each other!

Thank you so much for the update! Just remember to choose a quality chow and NO table scraps! :) Glad to hear he is on the mend.

Thank you again. I am so grateful for the info.

I do hope you'll stick around AMHD. You can probably offer some advice from a personal standpoint, very possibly from what you've learned as well as giving hope to people who just don't know where to turn when their animal is sick.

Sometimes just knowing someone has "been there" is sooooo helpful.

Got that right. I am also on Facebook. And I have been on several forums to get the word out there about the dangers of dog toys. So do pass that along for me as well.especially after mine swallowing the darn thing whole!! I will be around from time to time. Or look me up on fb!! Yes he likes to stand on the steering wheel and he even blows the horn!!

Now if you could teach him to vacuum -

CCJ, I'm going to remove your personal info, thanks for sharing it, but this is world wide site, you just don't know who is lurking out there! :)

K. No prob. I don't send out or accept friend requests unless I know you or trust who you are. We are very cautious,because we have teens in our house. I have taught then to be cautious as well. Can never be too careful.

I'm a better safe than sorry kind of gal! Come join in on some of chat threads if you have time! Just jump on it, be cautioned, they move fast! :)