Collection: My Dog Has Pancreatitis

My Dog Has Pancreatitis

This Is Zaner's Most Important Story.

Zaner is the heart of House of Paws. He is also a pancreatitis survivor. And the road that led there is one that more pet parents are walking than anyone is talking about.

It started with a misdiagnosis.

Zaner was incorrectly diagnosed with IVDD and prescribed pain killers and muscle relaxants. About three months after finishing those medications, the tummy troubles began. Our regular vet said something that has stayed with me ever since: "You know as well as I do, any meds we give them run the risk of impacting their gut." She was right. But we did not yet know how far that impact would reach.

Three months later, six months after the original medications, Zaner stopped eating. Anything he managed to get down, he could not keep in. What did pass through came out wrong. The pattern was strange too. Three weeks of symptoms, two weeks of relief, then back again. I was monitoring everything, researching constantly, and I became convinced he had SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

I went back to the clinic that had misdiagnosed him originally, the only place I could get him in, and told them what I suspected. The vet dismissed me immediately. SIBO was too rare, too unlikely. She suggested his esophagus was not functioning properly and recommended exploratory surgery.

I could not make sense of that. How does an esophagus stop working, start working, and then stop again? And why was the first and only recommendation to do surgery?

I pushed for an x-ray and had it sent to our regular vet. We followed up with an ultrasound.

Zaner did have SIBO. Though I was dismissed for thinking he did.

Because of the SIBO he needed antibiotics and prednisone. The steroids triggered pancreatitis. He spent two nights in the hospital and came home in more pain than when he went in, likely because he was severely dehydrated by that point.

I later learned from a pain management specialist that what happened to Zaner is a known and recognised chain of events. Dog gets diagnosed with IVDD. Dog gets pain medication. Gut gets obliterated. Dog develops SIBO. Steroids result in pancreatitis.

Nobody warned me. I am warning you.

What Is Pancreatitis?

The pancreas is responsible for producing the enzymes that digest food and the hormones that regulate blood sugar. When it becomes inflamed, those enzymes begin digesting the pancreas itself rather than the food in the digestive tract. It is as painful as it sounds.

Pancreatitis can be acute, coming on suddenly and severely, or chronic, developing gradually over time. Common triggers include high rendered fat meals, a high carb diet, certain medications, steroids, prolonged stress on the digestive system, and in Zaner's case, a cascade of events that began with the wrong diagnosis.

Symptoms to watch for include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, hunched posture, lethargy, and a dog who suddenly wants nothing to do with their food bowl.

The typical recommendation for pancreatitis is a low fat food, often a low fat prescription diet, but that comes with a high amount of carbohydrates. Fat is not the enemy when it comes to pancreatitis. We want to be mindful of it, but the bigger challenge when dealing with pancreatitis is starchy carbs. Eliminating starchy carbohydrates from the diet helps support the pancreas and relieves the stress of producing amylase, a digestive enzyme that cats and dogs are not designed to produce in large quantities.

How We Rebuilt Zaner

When Zaner came home from the hospital I kept everything simple, gentle, and consistent.

Small raw food meals served at room temperature, because temperature matters more than most people realise and cold food is significantly harder on a compromised pancreas. Adored Beast Phyto Synergy to replenish the essential nutrients his body had been stripped of. Adored Beast Your Go2 for natural pain and inflammation support. Fresh water always available.

As he stabilised I began layering in the rest of his protocol carefully and gradually. Mushrooms to support his immune system through the recovery process. Slippery elm to soothe and coat the digestive tract. Bone broth for nourishment, hydration, and gut lining support. Green lipped mussel to address the joint component that had started all of this. A soil based probiotic to begin rebuilding the microbiome that the antibiotics had decimated. Kin+Kind Healthy Poops for natural fibre to support consistency and regularity.

Nothing was rushed. Everything had a purpose.

Today Zaner enjoys a rotating variety of gently cooked proteins with his supplement rotation, always served at room temperature. His pancreas is happy. His gut is healthy. And he still acts like a puppy.

Where To Start If Your Dog Has Pancreatitis

Step 1: Simplify the Bowl Immediately

During a flare or in early recovery, less is more. Small, frequent meals of easily digestible, low fat, fresh food give the pancreas the rest it needs while still nourishing the body. Room temperature always. Cold food creates additional digestive stress that a compromised pancreas does not need. To bring your fresh food to room temperature, we recommend warming your bone broth or placing your thawed food in a bowl, then placing your bowl in a sink of hot water (like you're warming a bottle) for about 10-15 minutes to bring it to room temperature.

Step 2: Replenish Essential Nutrients

Pancreatitis and the medications used to treat it strip the body of critical nutrients. A broad spectrum whole food supplement like Adored Beast Phyto Synergy helps restore what has been lost without overwhelming a system that is already under pressure.

Step 3: Support Pain and Inflammation Naturally

Natural anti-inflammatory support can play a meaningful role alongside veterinary care during recovery. Products like Adored Beast Your Go2 offer gentle relief without the digestive risk that comes with pharmaceutical pain management.

Step 4: Rebuild the Gut

The gut microbiome takes a significant hit during pancreatitis and its treatment. A soil based probiotic, goat milk, slippery elm, and bone broth work together to restore the gut lining, rebalance the microbiome, and create an internal environment where healing can happen.

Step 5: Reintroduce Supplements Gradually

Do not try to do everything at once. Introduce one thing at a time, watch how your dog responds, and build the protocol slowly. A system that has been through what Zaner's system went through needs patience, not a full supplement stack on day one.

A Note Before You Shop

You will notice we have only included gently cooked food in this collection. That is intentional. But it does not mean raw food is not part of the answer, because it almost always is.

Every supplement on this page will work harder in a body that is being fed well. A diverse, fresh diet with as much whole food as your pet parent budget allows is the foundation everything else is built on. You cannot supplement away a bad diet. Trying to is like putting a bandaid on diabetes.

If you are not sure where your dog's diet stands or how to start adding fresh food without overhauling everything at once, come talk to us. That conversation is always free and always worth having.

A Note on Veterinary Care

Pancreatitis is a serious condition that requires veterinary involvement, especially in the acute phase. We are not here to replace that care. We are here to support recovery, reduce the risk of recurrence, and make sure your dog's body has everything it needs to heal fully. If your dog has been diagnosed with pancreatitis and you want to talk through a natural support protocol alongside your natural veterinary treatment, come see us.

You know your dog better than anyone. If something feels wrong, push for answers. Trust your instincts. I did, and it saved Zaner's life.