Just wondering if anyone else has had a dog with this before. My 2.5 year old bitch has a history of unexplained diarrhea (sp) and sickness & I find it hard to keep weight on her, she is about 1kg underweight for her breed but it has taken me some time to get her to where she is. She also gips a lot after drinking water. She had a blood test done in June and we were told that her pancreas wasn't producing enough enzymes so they gave her the medication for pancreatic insuffiency for a while, took her off and she was OK and has been since June - but we are back to square one again, not eating and when she does she's being sick or have diarrhea. I have had to beg the vets to perform more thorough tests because I know there is something not right. The vet mentioned pancreatitis but from looking on the net I'm thinking it is probably permanent damage that has been done and it is pancreatic insuffiency and that she has had pancreatitis in the past but it has been undiagnosed (to start off with all my vet did was give antibiotics without tests being done). I know I'm not an expert so shouldn't really be Google-ing etc. Has anyone been through this? If so, what is the prognosis? Is everything as normal but she will need medication for the rest of her life etc? Sorry for such a long post but I am worried about my girl. Thank you in advance.

I have owned 2 dogs with pancreatitis in 40 odd years of dog ownership.

My last bitch was on pancreatic enzymes for at least 7 years before I lost her.  She was PTS shortly before her 17th birthday, so it shows that correct treatment works.

People will often believe it's ok to give some extra or other if a dog has been doing well for some time.  Then they grumble about a relapse.  Once my girl was diagnosed, I was 100% about what I needed to do.  She had no fat in her diet, and she had no treats, not ever.  Her "treat" was a bowl of vegetables.

I can remember my vet saying that he believed that a dog should stay on enzymes once diagnosed.  For him, it was just a gut feeling, but a year later, it was recommended in the veterinary press, so yes, it's a lifetime medication.

Not being able to cope with fats means the stools are sometimes yellow , pale , slimy.When my dog got better his stools went back to firm and brown .I would investigate as much as you can , and actually discuss alternatives with your vet , and ask for explanations and choices of what you can do , adding your input .

Her stools went back to normal for a while when she had the enzymes, she is having a phantom pregnancy so the vet believes it's this that's caused it to flare up again. I know phantoms can cause sickness etc but it's due to the stools going back to being slimy & very smelly that the vet believes it is something to do with her pancreas again. I'm not one for giving treats etc anyway if she does it's charcoal biscuits which the vet recommended. Her diet isn't too bad but I know there will need to be changes. I just wish I'd put my foot down earlier in asking for further tests etc but I suppose you trust what the vet is saying.

vets are not gods. Find out as much as you can and discuss all options. A phantom may well leave her prone  to flare ups .....

I have known several owners with dogs of different breeds, including my own breed, with this issue and they did best feeding wise on a mixture of poached white fish and Brown rice and or/original tinned Chappie.

I agree Brainless my previous gsd was diagnosed with pancreatitis and was on enzymes for some while Then the vet decided it was fine and took her off them but although she did manage without treament (25 years ago ideas may have been different) i discovered that the only food that suited her was chappie either dried or tinned.

>Then the vet decided it was fine and took her off them but although she did manage without treament (25 years ago ideas may have been different)

Totally agree that it was different all those years ago.  It is only more recent research that has recommended staying on enzymes for life.

It was published in the Veterinary press.

Thanks everyone. I am feeding her white fish at the minute & it's one of the only things she can keep down. She won't touch brown rice. Once I have got this flare up settled and Crufts is over with I'm getting her spayed so hopefully this will then help avoid these flare ups. I might try her with Chappie but again once this has settled, at the minute I'm sticking to bland foods. Thanks again everyone.

amandabfc

Just to say that one of my dogs doesn't like rice, but when I tried her on pasta, she loved it.  Might be worth a try for you.

I mix it in with other food, not given alone.