What better way do we care for our dogs than with affection? Nothing represents better our state of mind than undertaking an event for our pooch in need, like making some delicious homemade treats for dogs with pancreatitis.
This is not a time to blame yourself for feeding too many fried and highly fatty foods to your pooch, but this is the time to gather and implement as much knowledge on homemade low-fat dog treats that would satisfy your dog and yet effectively get them to participate in clipping their nails, bathing, or whatever the use case may be.
This comprehensive guide aims at providing you with easy-to-make homemade dog treats for dogs with pancreatitis that are guaranteed to provide your dog with safe luxury and get their tails wagging in excitement.
Homemade Treats For Dogs With Pancreatitis
- Tumeric and Sweet Potato Dog Biscuits
- Banana treats for dogs
- Apple low-fat treats for dogs
- Low-fat berry treats for dogs
- Homemade freeze-dried treats
- Low-fat Puree for Dog’s Lick Mat
Understanding Pancreatitis In Dogs
In the abdominal cavity lays an organ, the pancreas, which is responsible for the production of digestive enzymes that aid in breaking down food.
Pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a situation where the pancreas is inflamed, leading to loss of appetite, vomiting, and pain in the abdomen.
This inflammation occurs when digestive enzymes are activated earlier than needed, leading to a terrible occurrence of the dog’s pancreas digesting itself.
While we have commonly associated pancreatitis in dogs with getting into trash cans and eating lots of fatty foods, the truth is that what causes pancreatitis in dogs is unidentified, according to PetMd. Further, fatty foods, antibiotics, and some other medications can also contribute to pancreatitis.
Like most other health issues that plague certain breeds of dogs more, some breeds may tend to develop pancreatitis more than others. The English Cocker Spaniel, for example, tends to have immune-mediated diseases; hence, it is common for their immune system to attack their pancreas.
However, pancreatitis is not solely a breed-related disease in dogs, and it can occur at any age, in any breed, and to any sex.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms associated with mild pancreatitis in dogs are abdominal pain, shock or collapse, chronic lethargy, and incessant vomiting, but in the case of chronic pancreatitis, abdominal pain, a lack of enthusiasm for ward foods, and lethargy.
Diagnosis
The usual way of determining if a dog has pancreatitis is through a lab test, which will reveal an increase in pancreatic enzymes. However, more accurate methods of testing for pancreatitis have emerged in recent times.
An ultrasound, or SPEC-CPL test, can be run in the clinic, with results coming out shortly after, telling if it is negative or positive. Sadly, these tests are not always able to catch pancreatitis in some dogs, especially those whose conditions are chronic; hence, the vet may have to rely on the medical history of the dog and the clinical signs displayed.
Treatment
Treatment of pancreatitis in dogs can be long-term or interim management, whose success is dependent on early diagnosis. When it is mild pancreatitis, dogs with incessant vomiting should be fasted and could be denied food for a few days to aid the pancreas in resting. Low-fat food and homemade treats for dogs with pancreatitis should be offered during this recovery as they are highly digestible.
In some cases, anti-inflammatory drugs or analgesics could be administered to aid with the pain. Intravenous fluids can also be used to balance and replace lost electrolytes and to permeate the pancreatic tissues.
Can dog treats cause pancreatitis?
While we can’t determine the exact cause of pancreatitis, fatty treats and foods are sometimes linked to pancreatitis in dogs. Human treats like hamburgers and fried foods, in general, are not recommended for dogs as they may contain way too many fats that make them ineligible to double as a pancreatic dog treat.
Tumeric and Sweet Potato Dog Biscuits
The turmeric and sweet potato dog biscuits make the number one spot on our homemade treats for dogs with pancreatitis. This treat made with the inclusion of turmeric will not only get your dog excited, but it will also help with its health condition.
Tumeric is one of the spices I recommend for dogs with pancreatitis because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Beyond this treat, you could incorporate it in moderation into your dog’s overall diet but ask your vet first.
To get this treat ready, all you need is:
- A cup of mashed sweet potatoes
- 2 cups oat flour
- A tablespoon of turmeric powder
- Egg white
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil (very powerful in fighting inflammation)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instruction
Combine the mashed potatoes, oat flour, turmeric powder, and parsley in a large bowl, then add your egg whites and olive oil and mix everything thoroughly until a dough is formed. If the dough is sticky, feel free to add more oat flour.
Roll the dough to 1/4 inch thickness, and if you have dog bone-shaped cookie cutters or any cookie cutter, you could use them to cut the dough into bits and bake until it is golden brown. After it cools, you can serve it at any time.
There you go healthy, homemade treats for dogs with pancreatitis are flavorful and that your dog can enjoy as part of its daily 10% quota for treats.
Banana Treat For Dogs
Bananas are low-calorie treats, and they have great amounts of vitamins such as fiber, biotin, copper, and potassium. They also have a low sodium and cholesterol content.
This recipe is slightly similar to the homemade turon treat for dogs we made a few days ago, but we are going to be adding a lot of twists and still producing a great treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
Mash the bananas in a mixing bowl, then add the applesauce and water to the bowl and mix thoroughly.
Roll the dough into small balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Flatten each ball with a fork and bake the treats. In an oven heated to over 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until they are golden brown.
This is not only a treat your dog would enjoy having, but it also provides lots of nutrients that complement your dog’s quality foods.
Apple low-fat treats for dogs
Apple is a tasty fruit that can offer your dog dietary fiber and vitamin C. To make this treat, you don’t need anything fancy; all you need for this homemade treats for dog with pancreatitis is some apples. Remove the seeds and core and thinly slice the apples, then bake in a 200-degree preheated oven until golden brown. Tada! A tasty treat is made with ease.
Low-fat berry treats for dogs
Berries like blackberry, blueberry, cranberries, raspberries, and many others have been studied over time for their anti-inflammatory properties called anthocyanins.
Just like the turmeric treats, this berry treat is going to supply your dog with not just vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but also its beneficial anti-inflammatory properties.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries
- 1/2 cup of fresh raspberries
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup of water
- 1 1/2 cups oat flour
Instructions
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C), then mash your berries with a fork, add the applesauce and water, and mix thoroughly.
Gradually start adding your oat flour until you form a dough. Then roll the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness and cut it into shapes using a kitchen knife or your preferred dog cookie cutter.
Lay the treats in the oven and bake until they are golden brown, which takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Once the treats cool, serve some to your already excited tail-wagging buddy.
Homemade freeze-dried treats
Freeze-dried treats are usually one of the best homemade treats for dogs with pancreatitis to offer your pooch. They retain over 98 percent of their nutrients and can be a great way to cure boredom by placing them around the house and making your pooch go find them.
Freeze-dried foods are made either using commercial tools, which could cost up to $2k–$5k, or with your freezer at home. It is a method of using cold temperatures and pressure to dry the item, which could be meats like chicken, beef, or lamb, or fruits like bananas, berries, and so forth, before storing them in an airtight container.
Freeze-drying is not only limited to fruits and meats; a wide range of items can be freeze-dried except honey, pure chocolate, and jams.
Freeze-dried items share similar benefits and risks, such as pathogens like listeria and salmonella, as highlighted by veterinary nutritionist Dr. Megan Shepherd, who is also a clinical assistant professor of nutrition at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech., but most are eliminated during the freeze-drying method, which guarantees a longer shelf life without added preservatives.
For added care, you can sterilize the meats and pasteurize the vegetables before freeze-drying. For commercial versions, radio frequency is usually used to pasteurize food items.
Freeze drying at home
To freeze dry at home, all you need is your freezer, dry ice, or vacuum chamber, and the process may take up to 20 hours to 3 weeks.
For the freezer, Pack the homemade treats for dog with pancreatitis on a plate (ensure to spread them out), place them in the freezer, and freeze them at the lowest temperature for 2-3 weeks until they are completely dried. Then you can load them up in an airtight container and store them.
The dry ice method saves you lots of time. Get a freezer bag and pack the intended treat inside. Get a cooler and place the bags inside. Then you can cover the bag for 24 hours with dry ice, after which they will be frozen and ready to store.
The vacuum chamber method is both the most expensive and the most effective. The chambers were designed to efficiently carry out the process. Without clumping together, spread out the treats on a plate or a tray, freeze them in your freezer, and when solid, place them in the vacuum chamber at 120 m Torr with the temperature set to 10 °C, then let them sit in the chamber for a week, then you can store them afterward.
Low-fat Puree for Dog’s Lick Mat
Your pooch having homemade treats for dogs with pancreatitis shouldn’t have to be boring, which is why we have included the brain-stimulating and boredom-curing recipe.
When your dog licks from a lick mat, a lot happens at once: fast feeders learn to eat slower, they get to clean up their tongues, preventing tartar buildup, they get to stimulate their brain, and more challenging lick mats can keep them occupied for a long time, taking away boredom.
Horchata
There are numerous things you could get on a lick mat for a dog, such as horchata made with jasmine brown rice (since it contains bran and is easily digestible). Horchata is made by soaking rice overnight and then blending it with a few drops of vanilla, honey/sugar, and cinnamon sticks. However, in a dog’s horchata, the rice is boiled to eliminate pathogens and then blended with other ingredients instead of being soaked overnight.
Carrot puree
A raw carrot has a high amount of falcarinol and falcarindol, which are both anti-inflammatory compounds your dog can benefit from. You can blend 2 cups of chopped carrots and add some low-sodium chicken broth and a little water. This treat can be stored for up to three days or more, and your dog would love every taste.
Besides the horchata and carrot, any fruit or food that has low fat can be pureed, converted into homemade treats for dog with pancreatitis, and turned onto your pooch’s lick mat.
What ingredients should I avoid in homemade treats for dog with pancreatitis?
You want to steer away from high-fat foods and condiments like:
- Peanut butter
- Cheese
- Bacon
- High-fat cream, milk, and yogurt
- Poultry skin
- Fried foods
- Use leaner fish, like white fish, instead of fatty fish.
- Avocadoes
Is it safe to use eggs in homemade dog treats for pancreatitis?
Eggs are great for putting together lots of dog foods, but when making dog pancreatitis treats, you need to eliminate egg yolks and use only egg whites. The yolks are fatty and also contain cholesterol. The egg whites also provide protein but have a relatively lower fat content.
How often can I give homemade treats to a dog with pancreatitis?
Even homemade low-fat treats should be given to dogs with pancreatitis in moderation, most especially as an occasional reward. Stick to the 10% rule and observe your dog for possible symptoms.
Final Thoughts
Our homemade treats for dogs with pancreatitis guarantee to spoil your dog while also catering to their health needs. Pancreatitis can be overcome if managed effectively, except in cases of autoimmune attacks. Eliminating high-fat foods from your pooch’s entire diet will go a long way toward reinstating a pain-free life for them.
