Dog Community

Best food for pancreatic insufficiency?

Posted : 6/7/2006 6:23:52 PM

Hello! I am new here, but am looking for information and suggestions about what would be the best food to feed my dog.

We adoped Gilligan about 3 months ago from a no-kill shelter. He is maybe a schnoodle. He is the sweetest guy, but he has special needs. He weighed only 16 pounds when the shelter received him. When the started to feed him, he just had really loose stools and they spent $1K to determine that he has pancreatic insufficiency. He currently takes 4 pacreas tabs per meal.

He is on Prescription Diet I/D. I don't have a problem purchasing this for him, but he has really just stopped eating it over the past couple of weeks. He acts very hungry, but will not eat this food unless he is just starving. He will leave it sitting for even 2 days before chowing down. Due to his condition, he isn't fed any table or people food, but still won't eat his food regularly. This is a recent development as he has always acted like he liked the food before. Coincidentally, this change occured when we got a new bag of food...so, theoretically, it could be a bad mix of food but I don't know for sure and it is expensive food just to purchase more to see if he likes a new bag better.

So.....what is the best food for this condition? Is Prescription diet I/D the only option or is there something else that someone might recommend for my baby?

Thanks for your opinions!!

Hope Lumbis

Posted : 6/7/2006 8:55:47 PM

First let me say OH WOW WHAT A CUTIE !!!

Alright I am assuming only here that you are not from Canada so therefore I am not sure how much the information I am about to share is going to help because some veterinary diets are not offered in other countries as we have them here.

At the veterinary clinic I work at we have a dog with pancreatitis at the moment is who on a diet called Medi-Cal Gastro Formula. I know Medi-cal is not sold in the states so I am not sure if you would be able to purchase it depending on where you are located but I am sure you could look into that. I have seen great results with this food. We usually recommend for them to be on this food as a can formula but that may however vary.

Just a thought but have you tried the hills i/d in a can formula or to mix the two to give him some kind of varierty or did the vet suggest not going that path ?

As for other diets, although I have no experience with them in using them for dog's with pancreatitis or pancreatic insufficiency it is said that you can purchase Fit and Trin and Cycle Life. I have never heard of these diets before but it was something I was reading so before switching I would look into this. There is also Purina Canine EN formula.
I would definetly check with your vet first before switching however and he or she may also be able to recommend another food diet.

Let me know how it goes and good luck with your little cutie !!!

brookcove

Posted : 6/7/2006 9:40:21 PM

If I were in your situation I would visit a veterinary specialist - ummm, I think that's an endocrinologist you need. You will probably need a referral from your current vet - be firm when you discuss this with them, yes I know he's already diagnosed, thank you, I just want to go get a baseline exam done and talk about finding more diet options for him.

I had a friend who had a dog with this condition. You will be glad you established a relationship with this specialist, down the road. Meanwhile, join an e-mail list for people EPI dogs - here's one:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/k9-EPIGLOBAL/ and browse the files and archives for this specific question. I suspect there is a list of foods that people have used. Bring that to your first endocrinologist visit and discuss some broad guidelines for managing your dog's needs.

Many good wishes to you and I hope it goes well. Thank you for offering your home to this special dog!

krispie

Posted : 6/7/2006 9:47:03 PM

Gilligan is very cute! We adopted a cocker spaniel from our local humane society. She was 14 years old. Like your Gilligan she had pancreatic insufficiency. We live in Canada so we fed her MediCal Gastro food with Pancrease-V powder. She also did well on Eukanuba Low Residue. It is a difficult condition to manage but Molly lived to be almost 17 and we feel very grateful for the almost three years we had with her. [

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Tina Garrison

Posted : 6/7/2006 10:05:43 PM

Thank you so much for your replies! Yes, Gilligan is a very special man! Thank you for your kind words about him. I will check out that list serv that someone pointed out. I will follow up with my vet, but I have always thought that vets were partial to Hills because they get a commission from selling the product...maybe I am cynical [

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Thanks again for your help and keep the ideas coming....just want to take care of my fuzzy man!