All About Holiday Pancreatitis
Vets blame people food for pancreatitis over the holidays but it's actually what dogs eat every day that matters
Oh, the misinformation around pancreatitis is frightening
So, we hope this post can be enlightening
If you’re worried about how your pup will feel,
It’s not one meal, it’s not one meal, it’s not one meal.
This is one of my biggest sources of irritation about dog nutrition and how vets view feeding real food.
REAL FOOD DOES NOT CAUSE DOG PANCREATITIS.
As we shared in the last newsletter, veterinarians are trained to care for all sorts of animals who have different digestive systems and nutritional needs. Unless they are specialized nutritionists as well, on average, they only know slightly more than a regular person.
It’s true that there is a spike in dog illness over the holidays, but the same is true for people. According the American Heart Association, the last week of December is the most deadly time for people to have heart attacks. Some studies indicate there are 25% more heart attacks and 40% more deaths from heart issues during the holidays. So does that mean people should stop having turkey, prime rib or apple pie? Of course not.
Just like heart disease in people isn’t caused by one meal or even five meals, neither is pancreatitis in dogs. One meal might be the tipping point, which is where the confusion lies. “Dog eats X and gets sick, therefore X caused their sickness” is the flawed logic that I often see. We need to be looking at what led to the tipping point (their regular lifestyle and diet). We also need to take into account details like what they ate, how much they ate, their health condition and any underlying illnesses the dog may have. Unfortunately that information is usually ignored because it complicates the situation, and it’s much simpler for vets to just suggest you avoid feeding “human” food entirely.
So what do we know about acute pancreatitis (the kind that comes on suddenly)?
Pancreatitis is the inflammation and malfunction of the pancreas, an organ that makes digestive enzymes.
When enzymes are over produced, the pancreas starts to digest itself. Eww…
Like heart disease in people, pancreatitis is associated with obesity and metabolic disorder in dogs.
In many cases there is an immune reaction called a cytokine storm similar to what happens during a bad Covid reaction.
Pancreatic necrosis, when the pancreas starts to die internally, is most often seen in fatal cases.
What can you do to make sure your dog stays healthy during the holiday season?
Make sure they are a healthy weight and maintain it.
Regularly feed a variety of fresh foods to ensure your dog has a healthy microbiome (the critters that live in their guts).
Make sure holiday guests aren’t feeding your dog things that they shouldn’t be eating. Check out this post for a table of toxic foods:
DON’T OVERFEED! Too much food is a likely culprit of post holiday sicknesses. My dogs will always tell me they’re still hungry—they definitely think they are, but I know they don’t need more food.
If you’re going to feed table scraps (e.g. a piece of the family turkey), soak it in water first to remove extra salt, sugar, and fats. Remember dogs don’t sweat, so they need much less salt than people do.
Consider your dog’s condition. If they are overweight, suffer any medical conditions, or previously had pancreatitis, avoid giving them table scraps at all. Instead, cook them dog friendly foods they love instead.
Enjoy the holidays with your pup. If you’re already mindful about their diets throughout the year, there’s little reason to worry over the holidays.