Unhealthy Gut—Unhealthy Dog: Mandy’s Story
The most common cause of acute pancreatitis in dogs is the ingestion of a fatty meal or table scraps. It is by far not the only cause. Further, the picture gets more complicated with chronic pancreatitis.
Anything that disrupts the tissue of the pancreas can trigger panccreatitis. The list of all potential causes is quite long and includes:
- breed predisposition
- obesity
- stress
- trauma to the pancreas
- reflux of duodenal contents
- hyperlipidemia
- diabetes
- Cushing’s disease
- hypothyroidism
- hypercalcemia
- certain drugs
- certain insecticides
- toxins
- autoimmune disorders
- antioxidant deficiencies
- chronic disease of other organs
- cancer
Further reading: Pancreatitis: What Causes It?

Mandy’s story
Mandy’s chronic problems escalated with a terrible bout of pancreatitis.
She was 12 years old and had a long history of loose stools and anal gland issues. Her system was very sensitive and she kept having a hard time.
Chronic GI inflammation
Mandy was suffering from chronic GI inflammation.
Vomiting, gas, bloating and diarrhea was a regular thing for Mandy. Mandy’s parents tried all kinds of different diets to help her vomiting and diarrhea. However, nothing was making any difference.
Even though the foods were different brands and formulas, they did have certain ingredients in common.
Was it those that were causing all the trouble?
An inflamed GI tract cannot absorb nutrients properly. This leads to all kinds of problems as well as a severe imbalance of gut bacteria. All this becomes a vicious circle and the dog keeps getting worse.
Unhealthy Gut—Unhealthy Dog
This all sounds so similar to the problems Jasmine was having and all that stemmed from that. Mandy’s parents too came to accept her issues as a normal state of things. But it is not. Just like we did with Jasmine, Mandy’s parents were at the vets’ all the time. And just like with Jasmine, no solution came from that. Just like with Jasmine, Mandy always returned home with a prescription of antibiotics and antacids.
Lack of diagnosis
Just like Jasmine, Mandy was written off by her vets as a dog with a sensitive system.
Inflamed, poorly functioning GI system also increases the risk of acute problems, including pancreatitis.
Holistic consultation
Finally Mandy’s parents, just like us, turned to a holistic approach.
The holistic veterinarian changed Mandy’s diet. Mandy started eating novel ingredients, low fat, grain-free dehydrated raw food. She also received probiotics, digestive enzymes and a natural supplement for dysbiosis.
Mandy also didn’t receive any further vaccinations.
At her next check-up, Mandy’s pancreatitis has resolved, she had firm stools and no further vomiting or diarrhea. Her digestive tract is well-functioning and happy.
Full Story:
This Month’s Real Story: Mandy
Related articles:
Pancreatitis: What Causes It?
Further reading:
Redefining Chronic Pancreatitis