High-Carb Foods & Canine Pancreatitis: The Link Explain

1. Amylase, a digestive enzyme found in the saliva of omnivores and herbivores alike, plays a crucial role in breaking down plant carbohydrates. This enzyme is released by the pancreas, ensuring the digestive process is efficient. When your pet eats, the food travels through the stomach and intestines before reaching the duodenum. Here, the cat's pancreas releases additional amylase to fully convert the ingested carbohydrates into sugars.

However, many commercial pet foods are high in carbohydrates, which can overwhelm the pancreas, especially when these are naturally occurring in meat. This overburdens the pancreas, leading to inflammation, as the pancreas struggles to produce enough amylase to handle the high intake of carbohydrates.

2. Another critical aspect is that a dog's pancreas must also work hard to secrete insulin to maintain blood sugar balance. When pets chew on processed meats, they cannot release the enzymes found in raw meat. To compensate, the pancreas has to produce more ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease, placing even more stress on the organ and potentially leading to inflammation.

3. Once a pet develops pancreatitis, it can lead to a deficiency in vitamin E, which is essential for antioxidant functions and the removal of excess fat from the body. But when the pancreas is inflamed, it actually requires more vitamin E to do its job. Unfortunately, the vitamin E content in many pet foods can decrease by 30% after just six months of storage. This is a significant drawback, as overconsumption of such foods can create a harmful cycle, exacerbating pancreatic issues.

II. What to Feed a Dog with Pancreatitis

Some people mistakenly believe that dogs with pancreatitis should be fed a diet low in protein. This is incorrect, as reducing protein intake can increase carbohydrate consumption, which can further burden the pancreas or lead to weight gain in dogs.

Dogs with pancreatitis should avoid foods that overly stimulate the pancreas and should be given fresh, easily digestible meals. For dogs with acute pancreatitis, it's essential to initially withhold food to alleviate the pancreas's burden. Following this, a diet should consist of small, frequent meals of easily digestible foods, including fresh, lowfat, highprotein, and lowcarbohydrate wet food.

Dr. Oxygen Pet Tips: If your dog不幸ly suffers from pancreatitis, adjusting their diet becomes crucial. Avoid giving your pet greasy, highcarbohydrate foods. Instead, provide them with lowfat, highprotein, and lowcarbohydrate, easytodigest meals. For the health of your furry friend, it's essential to pay close attention to their diet every day.