Natural Pancreatitis support in Dogs: A Holistic Guide to Healing & Prevention

Kerrie Hyland
11 minutes ago
5 min read

Black and brown dog lying on the floor with third eyelid showing. — A Dog with Acute Pancreatitis is an Emergency

Pancreatitis in dogs can be frightening. They can experience sudden vomiting, diarrohea, abdominal pain, refusal to eat, and they will often get into the “prayer pose.” In acute pancreatitis they are in a lot of pain, and this is often a medical emergency.

While veterinary treatment is essential in acute cases, natural care plays a powerful role in supporting healing, reducing inflammation, and preventing recurrence.

Lets explotre some holistic, naturopathic, and nutritional strategies to help your dog recover and thrive long-term.

Understanding Pancreatitis in Dogs

Pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes activate inside the pancreas instead of the small intestine, causing inflammation, pain, and tissue damage. Triggers can include:

high-fat meals
metabolic disease
certain medications
stress
leaky gut and dysbiosis
hyperlipidaemia
genetic sensitivities
parasites
inflammatory conditions

Natural pancreatitis support in dogs, and their recovery requires supporting the pancreas itself and the other body systems around it, such as the gut, liver, digestive system and the immune system

Step 1: Work With Your Veterinarian in Acute Phases

Natural management is incredibly effective after the acute phase is stabilised.

In the first 24–48 hours of an acute flare, dogs may need:

IV fluids
electrolytes
anti-nausea medication
pain relief
blood tests
monitoring

Once the dog is stable, this is where naturopathic care shines in supporting deeper healing and preventing recurrence.

Step 2: Gentle, Low-Fat Nutrition for pancreatitis

Nutrition is the cornerstone of pancreatitis support. Yes fats are essential for dogs, and we can still provide a small amount of fats, however we need to limit this in the recovery phase. Fats can trigger pancreatitis

Feed small, frequent meals

Large meals overstimulate pancreatic enzyme release. 4–6 mini-meals are best during recovery.

Low-fat, highly digestible foods for dogs with pancreatitis

Examples include:

cooked chicken breast
turkey breast
white fish (e.g., basa, cod)
pumpkin or sweet potato (moderate amounts)
low-fat cottage cheese
zucchini, green beans
bone broth (skimmed)

Avoid:

high-fat meats
skin, sausages, bacon
rich treats
dairy (other than low-fat, well tolerated options)
raw fat trimmings
most processed treats
coconut oil or MCTs (very high fat)

Long-term diet

For dogs with chronic or recurrent pancreatitis, an NRC-balanced, low-fat home-cooked diet is ideal.

Avoid foods which are too high in starch or contain less digestible ingredients. There are also many options available for dogs which have experienced pancreatitis.

Dog playfully peeks through purple wildflowers, tongue out, in a lush green garden. The scene feels joyful and serene. — There are many herbs which can help to support a dog recovering from pancreatitis.

Step 3: Inflammation-Reducing Herbs & Nutraceuticals

Natural compounds can help calm the inflammatory cascade that drives pancreatitis. These are best used under guidance to ensure they are suitable for your dog.

Curcumin

A powerful NF-κB inhibitor that reduces cytokine activity and oxidative stress. By reducing the infalmmation in the body, we can start repairing damaged tissues and improve recovery.

Boswellia

Reduces leukotriene-driven inflammation and supports tissue healing. This is one of my favourite anti-inflammatory herbs, which can help with infalmmation in the digestive tract.

Ginger

Supports digestion, reduces nausea, and helps regulate motility. Gut stasis can be an issue when there has been a large amount of infalmmation in the gut.

Quercetin

Stabilises mast cells and reduces inflammatory mediators. Anti-infalmmatory, as well as anti-allergic for dogs that have food sensitivites which are also cntributing to the inflammatory load on the body.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Anti-inflammatory, but use cautiously in pancreatitis-prone dogs. Start low, and under professional guidance. We need the essential fats, however we also need to keep fats to a minimum.

Step 4: Gut Repair & Leaky Gut Support

Most pancreatitis-prone dogs have underlying gut issues.Supporting the gut reduces systemic inflammation and protects the pancreas long-term. This is a core part of the longer term management for these dogs.

Soothing herbs:

To help reduce irritation to the digestive lining. By reducing inflammation, the gut lining is able to heal faster. Think of these as an internal bandaid to help speed up tissue recovery.

Slippery elm
Marshmallow root
Licorice (deglycyrrhizinated for long-term use)
Chamomile
Calendula

Key nutrients:

L-glutamine
Zinc carnosine
Prebiotics (only after acute phase)

Supporting the intestinal lining reduces endotoxin leakage, inflammatory load, and duodenal irritation around the pancreatic ducts.

Step 5: Probiotics for Microbiome Balance

After the initial inflammatory stage, and once the gut lining has had a chance to start healing, and strengthening, probiotics can be added. If they are added too soon, these bacteria can penetrate through in a 'leaky gut' as the tight junctions in the gut, are not so tight...

A balanced microbiome helps regulate:

inflammation
gut permeability
fat metabolism
immune system tone
digestive signalling (including CCK)

Choose high-quality, canine-specific strains, and introduce them slowly.

monitor introduction.

I like the Pet Drs prebiotic and probiotic

Supplements and herbs can be added to their meals to help support recovery.

Step 6: Liver & Bile Flow Support

Healthy bile flow is essential for fat digestion and pancreatic signalling. Stagnant bile can contribute to inflammation around the pancreatic ducts.

Useful support includes:

Milk thistle (silymarin)
Dandelion root
Schisandra
Taurine

These herbs and amino acids help reduce liver stress and improve digestion, especially in dogs with chronic pancreatitis. This is not an exhaustive list of suitable herbs and supplements suitable for these dogs. It is always best to have a guided approach in the recovery of pancreatitis.

Step 7: Balance Blood Sugar & Manage Weight

Metabolic health dramatically affects pancreatitis risk.

Maintain ideal body condition

Excess body fat increases triglycerides → a known risk factor.

Avoid high-glycaemic, processed carbohydrates

Sharp blood sugar spikes can irritate the pancreas via increased insulin demand.

Choose low-GI, whole-food carbohydrates

Such as pumpkin, sweet potato, quinoa, or oats.

Support insulin sensitivity

There are many ways to improve insulin sensitivity in our dogs. Exercise, stress management and keeping systemic infalmmation low is beneficial. There are also some great herbs and supplements, such as

cinnamon
magnesium
chromium (if applicable)
you can find more information in the diabetes blog

Step 8: Support the Nervous System

Stress can be a major trigger for some dogs. An increase in stress can increase cortisol levels, which can impact insulin levels and insulin sensitivity of the cells. Stress also leads to an increase in inflammation and digestive dysfunction.

Dogs with anxiety or chronic stress are more prone to digestive flares.

Support for the anxious dog really required an individualised approach, as different dogs will experiencine stress triggers differently. you can find my top 10 herbs for the anxious dog here

Some good options for anxious dogs are

chamomile
ziziphus
withania (ashwagandha)
magnesium
exercise and enrichment
predictable routines

A calmer nervous system reduces pancreatic sensitivity.

Step 9: Address Parasites & Gut Infections

Parasites can obstruct ducts or increase inflammation around the pancreas. Chronic parasites and gut infections can damage the tissues, and severe parasite infestations can even block the common bile duct.

Always check for:

roundworms
tapeworms
giardia
coccidia
strongyloides

Dogs with recurrent pancreatitis should have a thorough parasite screening.

Step 10: Prevent Recurrence With a Multi-System Approach

Pancreatitis is rarely caused by just one factor. Most dogs benefit from holistic, whole-body support involving:

gentle nutrition
gut healing
liver support
inflammation control
stress reduction
appropriate supplements
parasite prevention
individualised dietary formulation

This integrative strategy helps reduce the frequency and severity of future flare-ups.

Natural management of pancreatitis isn’t about replacing veterinary care, it’s about supporting the dog beyond the crisis, rebuilding digestive resilience, and preventing the next episode.

By focusing on the gut, liver, metabolism, stress response, and whole-food nutrition, we can help pancreatitis-prone dogs live healthier, more comfortable lives.