Low vs high fat diet effects in dogs with acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Recommendations regarding the fat content of the diet used in treating canine acute pancreatitis (AP) are controversial. Generally, a low-fat diet is recommended, but this is primarily based on experts' opinions rather than clinical studies. Our study aimed to compare the effects of two feeding tube diets with different fat concentrations in an experimental model of AP. AP was induced by repeated cerulein injections in 10 beagle dogs, which were divided into two groups based on the fat content of their feeding tube diets (high-fat and low-fat). All other treatments were identical in the two groups. Clinical and laboratory parameters (including amylase, lipase, cPL, and CRP) and ultrasound findings were monitored for eight consecutive days. On the ninth day, the dogs were sacrificed to perform a detailed post-mortem examination, including a histological examination of their pancreas. The cerulein injection induced only mild AP in most of the dogs. The higher fat content of the diet did not cause a significant difference in the clinical, laboratory, ultrasound, and histological parameters of the dogs in this study. The resting energy requirements were not enough to fulfill the energy needs of the dogs with AP. Hepatic lipidosis was present in the low-fat group but was completely absent in the high-fat group. Feeding a diet with a higher fat content during AP was well tolerated in this experimentally induced model of the disease. Further clinical research with different fat-containing diets is highly warranted in cases of spontaneously occurring AP.