Grain-free, bad for dogs with Pancreatitis?

So, do you think it would be a bad idea to feed him one of the grain-free foods (because of the 16-22% fat contents)? ...  Any suggestions?  Thanks.  [] 

ORIGINAL: audkal

22% is more than a 1/3 more than 16%.  If your dog is prone to pancreatitis I would stay away from the higher fat foods or go with an even lower fat kibble (like Natural Balance) and add lean meat.  What is the reason you are leaning towards grain-free?
 
[linkhttp://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=grain_free]www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=grain_free[/link]

I'm looking into grain-free because they tend to have higher protein.  I just read an article in the WDJ about older dogs benefitting from a higher protein diet (my dog is almost 9 years).

Thanks for the info and link. [] 

I'm looking into grain-free because they tend to have higher protein.

ORIGINAL: audkal

My dog has trouble with the high gluten grains (barley, wheat etc) but not millet.  Nature's Logic is not grain free but is higher in protein than most kibbles.  You may want to consider that. 
 
In another thread a week or two ago there was a discussion of the commonly available 15-20% discounts for PetFoodDirect.com.  The discount basically covers shipping and they have a very wide selection.

Grain free foods are a BAD idea for a dog w/ pancreatitis.  The high fat content will be a big problem.  Foods like EVO and BATM are high in fat for regular dogs, muchless a dog that has pancreatitis. 

  Jessie is 8 and I supplement the protein in her diet, which is 23%, by replacing one third of her calories with some Nature's Variety raw medallions. On a dry matter basis they are high in protein, but of course that means they're also higher in fat; if you only fed a few that may work. Interestingly, her normally firm stool is actually firmer when she gets the medallions. Perhaps adding canned EVO or Nature's Variety, which are 95% meat, to your dog's kibble may work. You can also add a little lean meat to your dog's food, adding 250mg of calcium for every 3.5 ounces of meat to maintain a good calcium-phosphorus balance. You can use powdered calcium carbonate or calcium citrate or tablets, but the tablets have to be crushed. The Whole Dog Journal is a little behind in this; companies like Eukanuba, Purina, Waltman, and Eagle Pack have had senior foods with less fat and more protein for a few years.

Grain free foods are a BAD idea for a dog w/ pancreatitis. The high fat content will be a big problem.

ORIGINAL: papillon806

Grain free does not automatically mean high fat or high protein.  Natural Balance Potato & Duck Formula and their Sweet Potato & Fish Formula are both grain free but on the low side in protein and fat (21% & 10%).

Just where is the "high fat" dividing line?  Is 15% considered high?

A question that I think is important that no one has asked yet is what is he eating now, and what is the fat %?

ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d
A question that I think is important that no one has asked yet is what is he eating now, and what is the fat %?

Right now he is eating Blue Buffalo-Adult Lamb and is doing just fine on it.
Protein: 22%
Fat: 12%

Thanks all for your info/suggestions. Adding meat sounds like a good (probably better) idea. I would still like to hear more opinions on this though. []

if you're going to add meat, my suggestion would be to add a non-fatty meat like fish or goat (I believe that goat is a relatively lean meat).

the reduced fat EVO is only 15% fat. I would think that would be fine for a dog prone to pancreatitis.

If Kayla had made it through her pancreatitis and I knew what I know now I would be feeding her California Natural. 
 


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*It has very few ingredients.  11% fat.
 
[linkxsl=//product%5B@id='1326'%5D]http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=product-detail&xsl=//product%5B@id='1326'%5D[/link]>http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=product-detail&xsl=//product%5B@id='1326'%5D]http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=product-detail&xsl=//product%5B@id='1326'%5D[/link]

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

the reduced fat EVO is only 15% fat. I would think that would be fine for a dog prone to pancreatitis.

 
15% is still a pretty high fat content for "at risk" dogs. 10 - 12% would be more appropriate for these dogs. Also, the protein levels should be alot lower than what most of the grain-free foods contain. Higher carbs diets are usually best for dogs who have had pancreatitis in the past.
 
 
[linkhttp://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1444902]http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1444902[/link]

Four months later, the dog was readmitted to the VTH after vomiting 5 to 6 times that afternoon. During the previous week, the owner had started to supplement the dog#%92s diet with a bone and raw food (BARF) diet (hamburger patty and ground bone). The owner believed that the dog had just gone into heat, as she had seen her licking at her swollen vulva. On physical examination, the dog#%92s abdomen appeared to be nonpainful and her weight was stable at 2.11 kg. Based on her previous history, it was speculated that the change in diet and ingestion of a high level of protein and fat in the raw food had caused a recurrence of the pancreatitis.

 

The pivotal component in management of an animal with either acute or chronic pancreatitis or colitis is dietary adjustments ([link4>http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1444902#b1-pg475]1[/link]–4). The goal is to decrease pancreatic stimulation but still provide adequate nutrient levels ([linkhttp://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1444902#b1-pg475]1[/link]). Initially a food with high carbohydrate content such as rice, pasta, potatoes, can be given, as protein and fat are more potent stimulators of pancreatic secretion and will increase the likelihood of relapse ([linkhttp://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1444902#b4-pg475]4[/link]). Then an exclusive low-fat gastrointestinal maintenance diet (Hill#%92s Prescription i/d, Medi-Cal Gastro Formula, or Waltham#%92s/Royal canin low fat) should be introduced gradually and fed for life. Such a diet contains more easily digested protein and carbohydrate sources, is supplemented with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, and antioxidants, such as vitamin E. One of them (Medi-Cal Gastro Formula) also has added fructo-oligosaccharides and digestive enzymes that are stated “to improve digestion, maximize nutrient benefit and reduce the likelihood of diarrhea.” If hyperlipidemia or obesity should be a contributing factor, a diet with a fat content below 10% dry matter (DM) is recommended. The composition of protein, lipid, and fiber in these diets are compared in [linkhttp://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1444902&rendertype=table&id=t1-pg475]Table 1[/link].

 
 
 
 

The only grain free diet I know of that I would consider for a dog prone to pancreatitis is Natural Balance (either the duck & potato or fish & sweet potato). I think the fat level for both of them is around 12%.

Thanks all. []

If I do decide to add meat, would you suggest raw or cooked?