As we all take our seats at this years festive table, let us keep only one tally on how much someone is eating: our four legged best friend making his rounds from chair to chair.
"Can I give him a little turkey?"
"It wasn't much, I just gave him the skin"
"You would have thrown the bones away anyway!"
"She was behaving so well ! I shared only a small piece of pie with her."
And so and so we listen and regretfully remember that we too gave a little turkey, and maybe a tiny bit of pie...all in all our beloved beagle is beginning to look a little slum. That's a lot of heavy foods for a little pup pancreas to handle. The guests begin to leave, its late. You throw some dishes into the dishwasher with that "That's tomorrows problem" attitude. Toss some dry food into the dog bowl and head to bed.
Its not until the next morning you realize that she didn't eat it. Not at all. Worse off, our chow hound of a dog isn't interested in breakfast either ! Shes sluggish all day, and then begins to vomit...
Unfortunately, for many pet parents, holidays and the following days after are spent with long wait times in front of the emergency hospital. Although not the only reason, a common culprit to full ICUs is pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas.
Our pancreas, just as the one of our furry friends, is responsible for breaking down fats consumed in meals. Have you ever felt that sharp pain on the left side of your abdomen after eating a basket of fried food? Could be your pancreas kicking. Same with our dogs (and cats!)
Digesting of foods outside of their regular diets, in larger than normal quantities, that contain a good amount of fat is a recipe for disaster.
Although seeming like just a tummy ache from enjoying too much Thanksgiving festivities, it can actually be life threatening. Pancreatitis is painful, makes them feel nauseous and needs veterinary attention. If you see the following symptoms (as outlined by the AKC) particularly after a similar narrative as above, please contact your local veterinary professionals.
Classic signs of pancreatitis in dogs
Hunched back
Repeated vomiting (either several times within a few hours or periodically over several days)
Pain or distention of the abdomen (dog appears uncomfortable or bloated)
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Dehydration
Weakness/lethargy
Fever
Foods your dog CAN have?
The safest answer is none.
Yes a little cooked carrot or sweet potato is okay, but even only if your dog has had them before and you know how they will react.
As you may already know emergency clinics are swamped.
It is not uncommon to encounter a 6+ hour wait time.
Treatment of pancreatitis includes IV fluids, medications, possible ultrasounds, hospitalization and more intensive care.
Is it worth it?
What you can do, is introduce small amounts of a different foods (cleared by your vet!) throughout the year and monitor how your dog reacts. Is there anything that upsets their stomach? Avoid it. This will give you a better understanding and confidence on those times when nanna is over and wants to share a little something.
This blog is not monitored by a veterinarian, but expresses the knowledge and opinions gained in over a decade in the field. All suggestions should be verified with ones own veterinarian and each pet should be considered individually. This blog is not run in connection with receiving commission of sales for any recommended products or services.
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