Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Melanie Solomons — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:06:26 GMT

We had a little yorkie recently, 14y old with recurrent pancreatitis and CRF, did well for a long time on Hills DD dry food. Was finally put to sleep due to an inguinal hernia that became worse with compromised SI loops trapped.

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:28:28 GMT

Phosphate is fine, BUN is 17mmol/l >2-9, Crea 155mmol/l >27-124 and slowly deteriorating, not done USG thats why I'm not worried about renal diet too much at the moment. I am inclined to go with Michael's philosophy which is pretty well what we're doing anyway. I've not had any dogs with severe enough CKD to warrant phosphate binders but had little joy with cats with them, either Ipakitine or Kaminox, both seem unpalatable to my patients. I wasn't looking for specific guidance more putting out a feeler for how others deal with multiple conditions. One of my own cats was diabetic, suffered from recurrent pancreatitis, had IBD and urolithiasis - I just fed it on senior cat food as the lowest common denominator. Did have a cat with CKD recently, diagnosed from biochem and UPC ratio, and that got acute pancreatitis on renal diet as well - hadn't considered the calcium link but I think that was normal anyway. Perhaps the RMB boys are right after all.

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

James Allsop — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:17:04 GMT

have you tried phosphate binders - renalzin or Ipakatine, if this controls phosphate levels sufficiently then you can feed whatever food suits the pancreas better

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:06:19 GMT

Martin, It's 17 years old. It's not going to live that much longer - just feed it what it will eat and keep the pancreatitis at bay. The dog will be much happier and I tend to find with kidneys that regular food of any type is better than not eating the kidney diets.

Had a dog on Eukanuba Renal and 6months in was asking owner about palatability, was told he ate it fine, but he does like half a pint of instant gravy on it. I suggested not a good idea, but then he wouldn't eat it.

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Martin Jones — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:56:48 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

no it hasn't had any corticosteroids - my practice is a steroid free zone!

[/quote]

How do you treat undifferentiated illness in 95% of presentations, then? Marvellous stuff, steroid - fortifying and health-giving.

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:56:22 GMT

Direction was just that azotaemia doesn't necessarily equal CRF, and in dogs where CRF is much less common than in cats it's important to check calcium and sodium levels also (both of which can cause inappropriately low SG in the presence of azotaemia without signs of clinical dehydration). Since hypercalcaemia can also cause pancreatitis, I thought I'd ask in case biochem panel hadn't conatined this.

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:40:42 GMT

Different brands have different flavors; might be worth a try…

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:36:24 GMT

[quote user="David Beattie"]

Has the calcium level been tested and not marginally high?

[/quote]

Not sure what direction you're going with the calcium but it is normal anyway 2.7mmol/ l (normal range on Vetscan 2.15-2.95).

In reply to other questions and observations. we tried RCW's version of ID/WD (digestive low fat I believe) but the owner gave up because the dog refused to eat it and was still scavenging and no it hasn't had any corticosteroids - my practice is a steroid free zone!

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Martin Jones — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:28:35 GMT

Just to be clear, I haven't put forwards the above as a definitive answer - I'm not that pleased with myself. How does one undo that?

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Martin Jones — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:27:24 GMT

Honestly? If funds are an issue I'll often use Chappie. If there is free rein, I tend to favour the pancreas diet over the renal diet, as these are more likely to flare up and cause death. Might it be possible to do a split proprietary pancreas / home sourced high biological value protein diet?

Any history of steroids with this dog?

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:25:42 GMT

Has the calcium level been tested and not marginally high?

Re: Diet for dog with mild CRF and pancreatitis

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:25:25 GMT

I would suggest i/d to control the more painful pancreatitis, and possibly control the crf medicinally; ie benazepril. And of course slap the owner's fingers for giving bacon or whatever. :)

Edit: w/d has lower fat than i/d, also worth a try.