Pancreas, Pancreatitis and all the In-between

Written by Angela | Updated 2026

Dogs are carnivores.

They are also incredibly resilient scavengers, which means they can survive on foods that are biologically inappropriate for years. Survival, however, is not the same as thriving.

Yes, a dog can live on kibble. They may even look shiny and energetic for the first few years of life. But what we consistently see — over and over — is that signs of metabolic and degenerative stress begin surfacing around ages five to six in dogs who have been fed a lifetime of highly processed commercial diets.

Pancreatitis is one of them.

And that is not coincidence.

It is physiology.

What is Canine Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis literally means inflammation of the pancreas — and when this small but critically important organ becomes inflamed, everything it governs begins to wobble.

The pancreas sits tucked along the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine), beneath the stomach and near the liver and transverse colon. It may be small, but it carries enormous responsibility.

It has two major roles: digestion and metabolic regulation.

Pancreas

The Exocrine Pancreas: The Digestion Assistant

From a digestive standpoint, the pancreas secretes bicarbonate and digestive enzymes into the digestive tract when your dog eats.

Bicarbonate neutralizes stomach acid as it enters the intestines. Side note: the bicarbonate here is similar to the sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) you use in your kitchen. Same foundational chemistry. Different biological purpose. Science really is delicious.

Once acidity is balanced, digestive enzymes get to work — breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates so nutrients can be absorbed and used by the body.

No enzymes? No breakdown.

No breakdown? No absorption.

No absorption? No thriving.

The Endocrine Pancreas: The Hormone Regulator

The pancreas also produces hormones — in fact, it produces approximately ten different hormones. The two most critical are insulin and glucagon.

Insulin has two main jobs:

• It allows glucose (the sugar that is the end-product of carbohydrate and protein digestion) to enter cells for energy production. This lowers blood sugar by putting glucose inside the cells that need it.• It promotes the storage of fat.

Glucagon is the counterbalance to insulin. Everything has a Yin and Yang.

When blood sugar drops too low, glucagon stimulates fat breakdown. It also signals the liver and fat cells to release stored glucose into circulation, raising blood sugar levels.

In simple terms: insulin stores. Glucagon mobilizes.

Healthy metabolism depends on this balance.

The pancreas does not just digest food. It regulates blood sugar. It regulates fat storage and fat mobilization. It regulates energy metabolism. It influences inflammatory tone. It is deeply embedded in endocrine stability.

When the pancreas becomes inflamed, digestion falters and hormonal balance destabilizes.

Dogs may experience:

• Fever

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Loss of appetite (anorexia)

• Weight loss (more common in cats)

• Dehydration• Fatigue and sluggishness

• Mild to severe abdominal pain (often worse after eating)

• Depression

• Increased heart rate

• Difficulty breathing

In severe cases, pancreatitis becomes an emergency.

Understanding what pancreatitis is matters.

But understanding why it develops matters more.

The Pancreas Under Chronic Demand

Every single meal requires pancreatic effort.

The pancreas must:

• Produce enzymes to digest the meal.

• Produce insulin to manage glucose.

• Maintain glucagon balance to prevent metabolic crash.

This demand increases when the diet is carbohydrate-heavy and enzyme-depleted.

When food lacks natural enzymatic participation, the pancreas must compensate by increasing its own enzyme production.

When carbohydrates dominate the diet, insulin demand rises repeatedly.

Over time, chronic insulin stimulation shifts the insulin–glucagon balance toward storage over mobilization. That imbalance influences fat metabolism, inflammatory signaling, and endocrine stress.

Meal after meal.Year after year.

The pancreas adapts — until it cannot.

The pancreas adapts — until it cannot.

Chronic overproduction leads to stress.Chronic stress leads to inflammation.Inflammation leads to dysfunction.

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas.

This is not an emotional leap.

It is biological progression

The Kibble Conversation We Cannot Avoid

Kibble is extruded at extremely high temperatures.

That processing:

• Destroys naturally occurring enzymes• Alters protein structure• Requires high carbohydrate inclusion to maintain form• Relies on synthetic vitamin premixes to replace what heat destroyed

Dogs are not designed to consume a starch-dominant, enzyme-depleted diet at every meal for their entire lives.

When food arrives without enzymatic support, the pancreas must supply the entire digestive workload.

When carbohydrates dominate the diet, insulin demand increases.

When insulin demand increases chronically, metabolic regulation shifts and pancreatic workload rises — both digestively and hormonally.

You cannot ask an organ to chronically overperform and expect applause.

Eventually, it protests.

Are there other contributing factors? Absolutely.

• Obesity

• Steroid treatments (commonly used for allergies or arthritis)

• High-fat table scraps

• Sudden dietary changes

But foundational diet matters more than many are willing to admit.

Pancreatitis rarely shows up in eight-week-old puppies.

It shows up in middle-aged dogs.

After years of cumulative metabolic demand.

That is not coincidence.

The Enzyme Conversation (This Is Where It Gets Good)

Dr. Edward Howell wrote in Enzyme Nutrition:

“Enzymes are substances that make life possible. No mineral, vitamin, or hormone can do any work without enzymes.”

Raw, living foods naturally contain enzymatic activity. They are needed for every chemical reaction that takes place in the body. No mineral, vitamin, or hormone can do any work without enzymes. Our bodies, all of our organs, tissues, and cells, are run by metabolic enzymes. They are the manual workers that build our body from proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, just as construction workers build our homes. You may have all the raw materials with which to build, but without the workers [enzymes] you cannot even begin."

That is not poetic exaggeration.

It is biochemical reality.

Food-based enzymes are obtained from living dietary sources.

These living foods contain the exact proportions of enzymes needed to complete the digestive process. In other words, they do not require the additional release of digestive enzyme secretions from the pancreas or gastrointestinal tract to the same degree as enzyme-depleted foods.

Processing and high heat reduce or deactivate those food-based enzymes.

When food lacks enzymatic support, the pancreas must compensate.

Over time, that compensation increases digestive demand.

This is why we talk so much about fresh food at Rawsome.

Not trend.

Not hype.

Function.

What Causes Pancreatitis in Dogs?

Canine pancreatitis is most commonly seen in middle-aged dogs that have spent a lifetime eating cooked and processed foods.

Some veterinarians and many nutritionists (including the one writing this article) believe high-carbohydrate pet foods overstress the pancreas, quickly depleting enzyme reserves.

Other risk factors include:

• Steroid treatments

• Obesity

• Regular high-fat table scraps

• Sudden diet changes

But again — long-term dietary burden matters.

Treatment of Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is treated under veterinary supervision.

Common treatments include:

• Fluid therapy

• Pain management

• Anti-nausea medications

• Controlled fat intake

Fat control during active inflammation is essential.

Conventional veterinarians often prescribe low-fat prescription diets. Unfortunately, these diets are typically high in carbohydrates and heavily processed.

In our experience, feeding a carefully managed, biologically appropriate raw diet can be beneficial when fat levels are controlled appropriately.

Raw, uncooked foods contain active enzymes that support digestion and reduce stress on the pancreas that would otherwise be forced to overproduce enzymes to break down food.

Dogs with pancreatitis must be fed thoughtfully.

This is not about richness.

This is about reducing metabolic stress while preserving nutritional integrity.

The Role of Fresh Pancreas

Fresh pancreas is classified as a secreting organ in a balanced raw diet. It naturally contains pancreatic enzymes and can be incorporated strategically to support digestion. In cases such as Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI), fresh pancreas may be used under professional guidance.

It is part of a balanced raw diet.

It can be used therapeutically when appropriate.

It supports digestive physiology through whole-food inclusion.

This is not synthetic enzyme powder.

It is food.

And yes, food is powerful when used intelligently.

Feeding Guidance for Fresh Pancreas

When used therapeutically for digestive support (not as sole enzyme replacement therapy), conservative dosing is important.

Feed approximately 2 ounces of raw beef pancreas for every 20 pounds of body weight, twice per day.

Example portions:

• A 60-pound dog would receive 6 ounces twice daily.

• A 72-pound dog would receive 7 ounces twice daily.

Feeding more than 2 ounces per 20 pounds twice daily is not recommended.

More is not better.

This is support — not overload.

For general feeding, pancreas should be incorporated as part of the secreting organ portion of a balanced raw diet rather than fed excessively.

If you are unsure, seek individualized guidance.

Your dog’s pancreas will thank you.

The Rawsome Difference

We do not isolate digestion from metabolism.

We support the entire digestive ecosystem through:

• Balanced Heritage meals

• Raw meaty bones for natural oral enzyme stimulation

• Raw goat milk for microbiome support

• Organ blends for metabolic nourishment

When digestion improves, systemic resilience improves.

The pancreas is not isolated.

It is part of the whole terrain.

Final Thought

Pancreatitis is serious.

But so is prevention.

Feeding for function today may reduce stress tomorrow.

Whether you are navigating EPI, recovering from pancreatitis, or simply wanting to support metabolic strength — we are here to guide you.

Because at Rawsome, we do not chase symptoms.

We build resilient dogs from the inside out.

~Angela & The Rawsome Pets Pack 🐾❤️