Cat and dogs pancreatitis Focus Group: Low fat and high carb? Experts say: Is it true that eating this way will increase insulin secretion, increase blood sugar, and make recovery even more difficult?

In order to meet the human's demand for heavy taste, human food often contains a lot of seasonings (MSG, MSG, etc.). The cute appearance of dogs always makes owners want to give them a taste of human delicacies. However, these seemingly harmless behaviors may actually become the culprit of pancreatitis in dogs.

➧Detecting the cause of your dog’s pancreatic inflammation is the first priority!

The culprit that causes pancreatitis in dogs must be in life!

Clinical data show that there are many causes of pancreatic inflammation, the most common of which are:

• Upset stomach, mistakenly eating human food

• Excessive intake of food additives and seasonings,

• Genetics, etc.

  All of these may affect the pancreas and cause pancreatic inflammation.

Fortunately, as trouble comes from the mouth, pancreatitis can usually be cured by adjusting diet.

➧Three major causes of pancreatitis in dogs

1. Dogs eat heavy-tasting human food

Human food usually contains a lot of strong seasonings, such as MSG and MSG, as well as high oil and salt content, which is undoubtedly a huge irritation to the sensitive stomach and intestines of dogs. Even for the cute "watery eyes", we must insist on not feeding these human foods to dogs to protect their health.

2. Obesity will bring physical burden

High carbohydrate intake is the culprit of excessive obesity, which will increase the dog's body's inflammatory response, leading to problems such as the three highs, and then become one of the triggering factors of pancreatitis. We must reasonably control the dog's diet, give the right amount of nutrition, and avoid letting them become overweight. What type of nutrition is ideal for dogs? 50/50 protein and fat! If given a choice, dogs will first choose calories from fat and protein, and last choose carbohydrates. This is why many formulators recommend that about 50% of calories (not the volume of food) should come from protein and 50% from fat. Compared with dogs fed dog food, raw food has less stress on metabolism and has lower levels of inflammation and disease markers, including homocysteine levels.

Fats can be good or bad. Bad fats such as saturated fats or trans fats can cause inflammation and are often found in highly processed foods. Healthy fats are monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, which are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in duck oil and fish oil. Sources of healthy fats include nuts, seeds, avocados, eggs, cold-water fatty fish such as salmon and herring, and extra virgin olive oil. The atypical specially formulated ketogenic menu is a menu that is specifically designed to restore and is closest to the diet of the ancestors of cats and dogs. You will find that there is more fat in the menu, but your furry pets are getting healthier and healthier, and their body shape is becoming more and more naturally balanced!

3. Use medication with caution and follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor

Some specific drugs, such as anti-epileptic drugs, may damage the dog's pancreatic health and cause pancreatitis if used improperly or in excess. We should take the required drugs on time under the guidance of a veterinarian and never take drugs on our own.

Myth 1: Do you need to eat low fat when you have pancreatitis?

First of all, we need to understand what proportions of fat are low-fat, medium-fat, and high-fat.

Specifically:

- A low-fat diet usually refers to a diet with a fat content of less than 12%.

- Moderately fat drinks refer to drinks with a fat content between 12-20%.

- A high-fat diet usually refers to a diet with a fat content of more than 20%.

For dogs with pancreatitis or renal failure, a diet with a fat content of 10-15% is recommended, which is considered low to medium fat.

This fat content ratio is appropriate, and considering the special needs of dogs with pancreatitis and renal failure for fat metabolism, it is the most suitable range for dogs with renal failure. It can satisfy energy supply without over-stimulating the kidneys.

Too little fat mass can lead to:

• Lack of energy:

- Fat is the most efficient source of energy. If you consume too little, it can easily lead to a lack of calories and nutrients.

- This may cause the dog to lose appetite and weight, which may affect its overall health.

• Reduced immune function:

- Adequate fat intake is important for maintaining the normal function of the immune system.

- Fat is a key nutrient required for the synthesis of immune cells and antibodies. Insufficient intake will reduce immune function and increase the risk of infection.

• Skin and hair problems:

- Fat is an important component for maintaining skin barrier function and hair health.

- Lack of fat can lead to dry skin, hair loss, and hair becoming thin and brittle.

• Metabolic disorders:

- Fat is involved in many physiological metabolic processes, such as hormone synthesis, cell membrane structure, etc.

- Inadequate intake can cause imbalances in these metabolic functions, adversely affecting overall health.

• Increased burden on liver and kidney:

- In order to compensate for the lack of energy, organs such as the liver and kidneys need to increase their protein consumption to obtain energy

- This will accelerate the progression of kidney failure and make the condition worse.

Therefore, fat intake cannot be too low and needs to be maintained at a moderate level . A moderate amount of high-quality fat can not only provide the required energy, but also maintain immune function, skin and hair condition, and reduce the burden on the liver and kidneys. This can not only delay the progression of renal failure, but also significantly improve the dog's overall resistance and immunity.

Will too low fat lead to kidney failure and aggravate liver and kidney diseases in dogs?

Many people believe that a low-fat diet is the best choice for pets with pancreatitis or kidney failure, but the opposite is true!

Too low fat intake is not a good thing for these pets with organ dysfunction. As the most efficient source of energy, insufficient fat intake can easily lead to a lack of calories and nutrients, which in turn leads to problems such as decreased appetite and weight loss, ultimately endangering overall health. Maintaining a moderate to low fat content of 10-15% in daily food can effectively maintain immune function, skin and hair health, etc., while a lack of fat will damage the immune system and increase the risk of infection. It will also lead to dry skin and hair loss, and sparse and easily broken hair.

More importantly, the lack of energy caused by too low fat will make the liver and kidney compensation mechanism rely on more protein decomposition products, indirectly increasing the metabolic burden of the liver and kidney. For pets with renal failure, due to the decline of kidney function, they must rely on liver metabolism, and excessive reliance on protein as energy will produce a large amount of urea, creatinine and other waste products, which doubles the excretion function of the liver and kidney and accelerates the deterioration of renal failure.

Therefore, we cannot simply think that a low-fat diet is the best choice for pets with pancreatitis or renal failure. On the contrary, moderate intake of high-quality fat can not only provide the necessary energy, maintain immune function and skin health, but also reduce the metabolic burden of the liver and kidneys, thereby delaying the development of the disease.

For pets with chronic pancreatitis, fat intake plays a key role. Studies have found that exocrine dysfunction caused by chronic pancreatitis will lead to a decrease in the digestion and absorption of fat, protein and carbohydrates, thereby causing malnutrition. At this time, moderate supplementation of high-quality fat can not only supplement energy supply, but also stimulate pancreatic secretion and improve digestive function.

For pets with renal failure , in addition to reducing metabolic burden as mentioned above, fat intake has other benefits. Studies have shown that in the case of impaired renal function, choosing a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammatory responses, delay glomerular sclerosis, and thus slow the progression of the disease. At the same time, appropriate fat intake can also maintain body weight and prevent weight loss caused by renal failure.

Combining academic arguments, we can conclude that moderately increasing the fat ratio in the diet of pets with pancreatitis and renal failure, especially high-quality fats rich in omega-3, is not only beneficial to improving nutritional status, but also can reduce the metabolic burden on organs and delay the deterioration of the disease.

Myth 2: The growing popularity of low-fat dog and cat food?

Many pet owners may ignore their potential adverse effects. Compared with high-quality fresh ingredients, these industrially processed low-fat canned foods often have greatly reduced nutritional value and may also bring some potential health risks.

First, many brands limit fat to as low as 5-8%. Low fat intake will affect the energy supply of pets . Fat is an important source of energy for pets, especially for active young pets and adult pets with high energy requirements. Insufficient intake can easily lead to problems such as decreased vitality and dry and yellow hair. In addition, fat is also a key nutrient for maintaining skin barrier function and hair health. Limiting fat intake may cause dry skin, hair loss and other problems.

Secondly, low-fat canned foods usually contain a lot of added carbohydrates and plant proteins , but lack sufficient essential fatty acids such as Omega-3. As mentioned earlier, Omega-3 plays an important role in regulating inflammatory responses, improving cardiovascular function, and supporting brain health. Insufficient intake may increase the risk of various chronic diseases.

Furthermore, low-fat processed grains usually contain more artificial additives, such as preservatives and pigments , and long-term intake may cause a certain burden on the liver and kidney functions. At the same time, excessive consumption of these industrially processed grains may also lead to nutritional imbalance and cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Therefore, pet owners should pay more attention to the naturalness and nutritional balance of ingredients when choosing food, and properly balance the intake of fat, protein, and a slight amount of carbohydrates. Choosing fresh ingredients rich in high-quality Omega-3 fatty acids, such as cold-water fish and flax seeds, can not only meet the nutritional needs of pets, but also effectively prevent various chronic diseases and improve the overall health of pets.