Questions About Raw Feeding

[Sandy and Debbie]

We have been feeding raw for quite some time now.  I have a few questions and an wondering if anyone can help:

1.  Our beagle was on a raw diet for about a year.  She was diagnosed with and treated for pancreatitis over the holidays.  Has anyone had this experience?  We buy frozen, premade raw food.  Does anyone know if it has a high fat content? (it is not on the label)

2.  Does anyone feed raw once a day and kibble once a day? 

Thanks.

[blanche]

Sandy:
Knock on wood, I've not had to deal with this one before so I'm attaching a link to a good article about pancreatitis and diet from the Whole Dog Journal.  Let me know if it doesn't work and I'll email you the article:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/11_12/features/Healthy-Low-Fat-Dog-Foods_16088-1.html

As to raw and kibble, yes, a number of folks I know do both.  I usually suggest that the kibble meal be fed when there is the longest gap between feeding since it theoretically takes longer to digest.  For example, in my house breakfast is at 6 and dinner is at 4 so the longest gap is between dinner and breakfast so I'd feed the kibble meal for dinner.

[blanche]

And here is a link to raw for dogs with pancreatitis:

http://www.ehow.com/way_5184710_raw-meat-diet-dogs-pancreatitis.html

[Sandy and Debbie]

Thank Blanche.  This looks very helpful.  I will read it more thoroughly.

Has anyone had a dog that suffered from pancreatitis that can offer some insight about feeding?  I would like to have as much nutrition info when we go back to the vet to talk to them about it.  We also want to get the beagle off of the prescription food asap.

[blanche]

Sandy:
I'll send you what I have on it. 

[Diane]

I have had to deal with it with both of my chi crosses.  I am not feeding raw so I can't help with that.  I have had them on the vet gastro for a couple of years with no problems.  I feed them 4 times a day.  Breakfast lunch and dinner are each 1/3 of their daily amount and then right before bed we have a smackeral (our family's technical word for bedtime snack) this is a small mouthful so that they have something in their stomachs through the night.
The wet food has a very low fat % 2-3 max and the dry is about 6%.

[Diane]

Blanche I just had a quick look at the article in whole Dog, it looks very helpful and seems to confirm my thoughts on acute pancreatitis.  I am just starting to change one of mine to a frozen food called Buddy's Diet, from a new place we have in Aurora.  Its Salmon is about 7% and they say it is fine for most dogs who have suffered from a bout of pancreatitis.  I'm not ready to test is on my pom though.

[blanche]

Blanche I just had a quick look at the article in whole Dog, it looks very helpful and seems to confirm my thoughts on acute pancreatitis.  I am just starting to change one of mine to a frozen food called Buddy's Diet, from a new place we have in Aurora.  Its Salmon is about 7% and they say it is fine for most dogs who have suffered from a bout of pancreatitis.  I'm not ready to test is on my pom though.

I find most of the info from Whole Dog Journal to be pretty trust worthy, but as I said, I haven't had to deal with pancreatitis as yet.

[Sandy and Debbie]

thank you both.  Diane, out of curiosity, do you recall what you were feeding before the pancreatitis?  Also the suggestion about feeding more regularly is helpful.  Bailey would be eternally grateful to receive a regular smackeral. 

[Diane]

I watch my dogs like white on rice and my vets laugh because they say I know something is wrong before it really starts to show...I'm usually right lol.  I don't think it was the food that was the trigger.  I was feeding and still use with Neeko Natural Balance fish and sweet potatoe.  What I think triggered it was different for both of my dogs.  Yorkie x Teeny got it after she had a bad reaction to her last (literally) rabies shot.  At the time I happened to be taking my Pom x Tippy to training classes so the two of them were getting a bit more treats although very small as we were practicing.  For Teeny it was the combination of her body being out of whack and higher than normal treating.  My Pom x was quite abused and is susceptible to colitis due to stress.  For her I believe she got it from marrow bones.  Even though I cleaned most of the meat and fat off it was still too much.  Both have been fine since I had this happen.  We stick to the low fat diet and veggies, fruit and charlie bears for treats.

[Sandy and Debbie]

thank you very much.  It was very scary when it happened and we would like to do everything we can to avoid another episode.  Our vet is very good and open to suggestions about food.  I do think, however, we should have some options to present to him.

Your information is very helpful.