Homemade Low-Fat Bland Diet for a Dog With Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis in dogs results from sudden inflammation of the pancreas. Attacks can be mild or severe, and a low-fat diet is recommended, along with other treatments such as antibiotics. A low-fat or bland diet helps to rest the pancreas and keeps it from being irritated by food. Watch for abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and lethargy while your dog is on this low-fat diet, as those symptoms could indicate worsening of the condition. Most dogs will recover from pancreatitis and will only require a low-fat bland diet for a short amount of time.

Low-fat protein for dogs with pancreatitis can include boneless and skinless chicken breast, white turkey meat, venison, lamb and hamburger meat. Hamburger meat can be purchased 96 percent lean, which will have the least amount of fat. Drain the hamburger after cooking to get rid of as much fat as possible. Venison is also good for a low-fat diet as well, as deer meat is considered leaner than beef.

Cook meat fully (chicken and hamburger should not be pink) and remove all bones.

Starch comes from white rice, brown rice and potatoes. Peel and petite dice potatoes to make them easier to chew. Rice should be fully cooked, as well as vegetables such as peas and carrots. Frozen bags of peas and carrots can be fully cooked and used for a bland diet for dogs.

Combine protein with cooked rice and vegetables in a blender, and blend until smooth. Ask the dog's veterinarian if you can use any gravy over top of the food to make it more appealing. Some dogs will eat without gravy or with a spoonful of fat free cottage cheese mixed in.

The veterinarian will give specific instructions on how often your dog should be fed, depending on the dog's weight and severity of pancreatitis. In the beginning, it may be recommended to feed the dog one to two spoonfuls of bland diet every two hours. Increasing the diet amounts should only come after the dog responds well, does not throw up, or its stomach is not upset by food.

Dogs with pancreatitis and on a low-fat diet should not be fed table scraps. Do not add oils, butter or seasoning to your dog's bland diet.