Mary Allen
How much? How often? Let it work or not?
How Often Should I Give My Dog or Cat Pancreatic Enzymes?
Answer: At every meal!
Enzyme supplements replace the digestive enzymes normally made by the pancreas. They break down the feed nutrients so that the body can absorb them and use them for energy.
Without these enzymes, your dog or cat cannot absorb the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates from the food and they “rush” through the intestines undigested. The consequences are weight loss despite cravings, flatulence, and smelly diarrhea because the nutrients are missing from the metabolism, instead, they bind water in the intestine and are fermented by colon bacteria.
Unfortunately, this also means that your dog or cat is not allowed to eat anything in between. Neither “food” that the dog picks out of the hedges during a walk, nor treats or other snacks such as chewing bones. Unfortunately, for free-roaming cats, it means that any self-hunted mouse can become a problem if eaten.
If the manufacturer specifies a daily dose for his enzyme preparation, you have to divide it between meals!
How Much Pancreatic Enzymes Does My Dog or Cat Need?
Answer: It depends on the condition of the pancreas and the food. Initially, many animals need a higher dose, later you can often give fewer enzymes.
- The fewer enzymes your pet’s pancreas can produce itself, the more enzyme preparation it needs.
- The worse the condition of the small intestine (due to chronic diarrhea), the more enzymes your animal needs to get.
- The higher the fat content of the feed, the higher the dose of pancreatic enzymes you need to have.
So what does that mean for your dog or cat? Do the pancreatic enzymes initially as specified by the manufacturer. With a from-to dosage indication, start with the higher dose.
If your animal’s digestion normalizes with the amount of enzyme specified by the manufacturer, you can try reducing the amount a little after a few weeks. The stronger and more protracted the diarrhea was, the longer you should stay with the high enzyme dose because the intestinal mucosa then needs more time to regenerate and form so-called “brush border enzymes” again, which support the pancreatic enzymes in their work. A good vitamin B12 blood level (see next section) is also important for the regeneration of the intestine.
Why are the Pancreatic Enzymes not Working Properly in My Dog or Cat?
Answer: This can be due to the severity of the pancreatic insufficiency or to a less than optimal use of the enzymes.
If your dog’s or cat’s digestion does not return to normal with the dosage specified by the manufacturer, you can try, in consultation with your veterinarian, to gradually increase it before you switch to another preparation with disappointment. However, the hoped-for success is often achieved if you change something in the feeding, for example, switch to a different food or feed small amounts more frequently.
In some dogs and cats, the intestines are so badly affected that they need special attention. If the small intestine is overgrown with bacteria that do not belong there (short intestinal bacterial overgrowth = SIBO), this must be treated by the veterinarian so that diarrhea can improve. The folic acid level in your pet’s blood can give an indication of SIBO.
If your pet’s stomach is overly acidic, a large proportion of the enzymes will already be destroyed in the stomach. Stomach medication, which your veterinarian can prescribe, can help here.
Many dogs and cats with pancreatic insufficiency also have a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause diarrhea and vomiting because the pancreas is important in absorbing this vitamin into the blood. The vitamin B12 level should be checked regularly. If there is a deficiency, the vitamin must be injected.
How Often Should I Feed My Dog with Pancreatic Insufficiency?
Answer: As often and as regularly as possible.
Giving small amounts of food more frequently relieves the pancreas. If it is compatible with your daily routine, divide the amount of food into four or even five to six small meals a day, at least initially.
Even if you are a very busy dog or cat owner, you can offer your pet three servings of food per day, feeding once in the morning, once in the afternoon or early evening, and once late at night before bed. Many dogs with pancreatic insufficiency are emerging In the long term, you can also manage well with two meals a day once the acute gastrointestinal problems are under control.
Cats naturally like to have a small snack about 15 times a day. Therefore, many cat owners put out a bowl of dry food in the morning for the Ka