Nutritional management of pancreatitis in cats and dogs

Nutrition is an important part of the treatment in cases of pancreatitis and should, therefore, be adjusted accordingly.

Effective dietary strategies to support dogs and cats with pancreatitis focus on nutrient balance, digestibility and long-term management for improved health outcomes.

What is pancreatitis?

Inflammation of the pancreatic tissue, better known as pancreatitis, can often be seen in both cats and dogs. Pancreatitis can manifest as an acute, chronic or subclinical illness, and can present with various clinical signs.

The frequency of occurrence is estimated at 1-2% in veterinary practice, but due to the severity of clinical signs and its life-threatening nature, it is a well-known concern among owners and veterinarians.

In addition to hypertriglyceridemia, dietary indiscretion is thought to be a common risk factor for its occurrence in dogs, but interestingly, the same does not apply to cats.

In cats, the causes of pancreatitis are still a mystery. It is often seen as part of a pathology called triaditis, in which inflammation of the small intestinal system, liver tissue and pancreas occurs simultaneously.

Early nutritional care

In acute pancreatitis, appetite is severely impaired in both cats and dogs, so enteral nutrition alongside intensive care treatment is indicated in cases of anorexia or inadequate calorie intake.

It is important to combat negative energy balance by meeting the patient’s energy requirements to avoid adverse effects of increased protein turnover, especially in cats, which are at risk of hepatic lipidosis if anorexia persists.

The feeding route of choice is often via nasoesophageal feeding tubes, using polymeric liquid diets. Enteral nutrition prevents atrophy of the enterocytes and thus reduces the risk of bacterial translocation or sepsis, and is therefore considered an essential part of the treatment.

In dogs, it is important to reduce the fat content of the diet and, at the same time, increase the number of meals, which can be up to 7 feedings per day in intensive care.

Dietary fat is the most important nutrient to adjust as a high-fat diet in dogs appears to trigger and exacerbate pancreatitis.

Dietary management at home

Once the pet patient is stable and has regained their appetite, they can be discharged for home care.

There, too, the owners should follow the principle of a low-fat diet and a higher frequency of feeding (approximately 4 meals per day). Easily digestible gastrointestinal diets with reduced fat content (approximately 20 g/Mcal) are recommended.

Dietary protein intake should be sufficient to support recovery, while excessive protein intake should be avoided as dietary protein and amino acids stimulate pancreatic secretory activity.

Diets rich in soluble fiber are also not recommended in cases of vomiting or regurgitation because they can cause delayed gastric emptying.

Interestingly, fat reduction is not considered as important in cats due to the very different pathophysiology of pancreatitis. In this case, it is better to focus on providing an easily digestible and palatable diet that ensures recovery and provides adequate caloric intake.

Long-term management

Obesity in dogs was shown in a 2024 paper published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association to be associated with acute pancreatitis due to the inflammatory effects of adipose tissue.

Therefore, it is crucial to assess and adjust the patient’s body composition accordingly and, in the case of obesity, to implement a careful weight-loss protocol. Pancreatitis is often associated with hypertriglyceridemia.

Pancreatic lipases hydrolyze triglycerides into free fatty acids, which can be toxic to pancreatic acinar cells if produced in excess.

Hypertriglyceridemia can be managed nutritionally by reducing fat levels in the diet and increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, as demonstrated by a 2021 study published in peer-reviewed open access journal PLOS One that showed these factors decreased both plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.

Dietary management of pancreatitis continues to be a pinnacle of its treatment. Many dogs and cats with pancreatitis can be transitioned back to a highly digestible commercial maintenance diet in the case of a one-time acute pancreatitis occurrence that is completely resolved.

The long-term use of a low-fat diet is prioritized in dogs with recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis, or in case of chronic pancreatitis. With a few interventions and adjustments in our pet’s daily nutrition plan, we can ensure a good quality of life even in cases of chronic disease.