My diabetic dog has had pancreatitis. What about food?

What you might notice at home

The diabetes food and the pancreas food are two different bags, and he only has one bowl. A rich treat, even a little bit, can sometimes bring on a flare, so keep fatty extras out of his reach.

A lot of diabetic dogs have had pancreatitis at some point. So tell every new vet he's had it, even if it was years ago.

What to write down for the vet

• When the pancreatitis was, and what food was prescribed then.
• What is in the bowl now, including oil, cheese, and meat fat.
• Vomiting, pain, or refusal, with times.
• Ask: if the two diets clash, which one comes first?

What to take with you

The names of both bags. A homemade chicken and rice meal isn't automatically low fat, and it isn't automatically balanced either. Ask your vet before you cook for him.

My diabetic dog has pancreatitis. What does that mean for diabetes?

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, the same organ that makes insulin. Vomiting, nausea and not eating all make diabetes harder to manage, so your vet needs to plan pain relief, food and insulin together. A bag labelled diabetic won't cover that on its own.

If your dog is vomiting, has a sore belly, refuses food or seems very tired, tell the vet quickly. Ask whether pancreatitis is confirmed, whether your dog needs hospital care and what recovery looks like. Don't start fasting or change the insulin routine without your vet.