Pancreatitis in Dogs: Rethinking Raw Feeding & Fresh Diets
By Narelle Cooke | Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist and Animal Nutritionist; Founder of CanineCeuticals
Few diagnoses create more anxiety for fresh-food feeders than pancreatitis. One day your dog is eating a carefully chosen raw whole-food diet; the next, they’re in pain, nauseous, off their food, and you’re being told to stop raw immediately and move to a prescription kibble. For many owners, it can feel as though raw feeding has been blamed by default, rather than considered as one part of a much bigger clinical picture.
What Causes Canine Pancreatitis? Asking the Right Questions
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Dietary indiscretion—such as counter-surfing for high-fat, cured table scraps—is a classic trigger for acute pancreatitis flares.
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Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. When inflamed, digestive enzymes can become activated too early, damaging pancreatic tissue and contributing to vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, lethargy, inappetence and dehydration.¹
Severe cases can be life-threatening, making prompt diagnosis essential—much like recognising acute gastroenteritis in dogs and knowing when to seek urgent care. While understanding the underlying causes and signs of pancreatitis in dogs is critical, when it comes to long-term nutrition, the conversation often becomes too simplistic.
Rather than taking a black-and-white stance of “raw or kibble”, the more useful question is: what does this dog need right now to reduce pancreatic stress, support recovery, and minimise the risk of another flare?
That question shifts the focus away from blaming a feeding style and back to the factors that actually matter - fat content, digestibility, food quality, formulation, consistency and the dog’s broader health status.
Comparing Raw Pet Food Quality & Low-Fat Options
“Raw” is not one diet - and that distinction matters. Fatty mince, meat off-cuts, chicken skin, butcher’s blends or marrow bones are not the same as a carefully formulated, complete and balanced commercial low-fat raw patty, for example. As Australia’s raw dog food revolution continues to grow, understanding the difference between unformulated meat scraps and balanced fresh options is essential for safety.
One reason vets often recommend prescription diets is not necessarily because kibble is inherently superior, but because they need a diet that’s predictable - known fat content, complete and balanced formulation, consistent feeding guidelines and clear quality control.
Prescription diets provide that peace of mind. But that same logic can also apply to reputable commercial raw or lightly cooked diets. If the fat percentage is clearly stated, it becomes possible to assess whether that product is appropriate.
Is Dietary Fat the Only Trigger for Pancreatitis Flares?
For decades, dietary fat has been treated as the main nutritional villain in canine pancreatitis. This is understandable: very high-fat meals, table scraps, the ingestion of garbage and rich foods have long been associated with flare-ups. However, recent veterinary reviews show that the evidence linking dietary fat alone to naturally occurring pancreatitis is not as strong or straightforward as many assume.²
Instead, pancreatitis is multifactorial, with possible contributors including obesity, hypertriglyceridaemia, endocrine disease, breed predisposition, medications, dietary indiscretion and individual susceptibility.
A 2024 JAVMA review states that nutrition is important in pancreatitis management but also notes that clinical studies are limited.² While low-fat diets are frequently used initially, many dogs can transition back to their previous diet or another maintenance diet when clinically appropriate.
This matters because long-term fat restriction should not be applied automatically. Overly restrictive low-fat feeding may compromise essential fatty acid intake and the fat-soluble nutrients needed for normal immune function, inflammatory balance, skin barrier health and tissue repair.³ Such a restrictive diet is generally best reserved for dogs with recurrent pancreatitis or another clear clinical indication.
Fresh Food vs. Prescription Kibble Digestibility
Another common assumption is that prescription kibble is automatically more digestible than raw or fresh food. However, the evidence doesn’t support that as a blanket statement. Extrusion can improve the digestibility of raw starches, grains and legumes⁴ - ingredients dogs would not digest well in their raw state - but that’s not the same as proving kibble is more digestible overall than a meat-based raw or gently cooked diet.
Studies comparing extruded, mildly cooked and raw diets have found that raw and lightly cooked diets were more highly digestible and well tolerated in healthy dogs than extruded diets.⁵
And a 2024 study comparing frozen raw, freeze-dried raw, fresh and extruded dry-food diets also found that the extruded diet generally had the lowest digestibility values, while frozen raw and freeze-dried raw diets had the highest.⁶
Raw Food Safety & Pathogen Risk in Context
Raw foods can contain bacteria and must be handled hygienically, particularly in households with vulnerable people. But it’s misleading to imply that raw food is uniquely risky while dry food is risk-free. Studies and recall data clearly show that dry pet foods and treats can also be contaminated with pathogens, and Salmonella can survive for extended periods in dry food.⁷⁻¹¹
One international survey of raw-feeding households found possible transmission from raw pet food to a human family member was reported in only 0.2% of cases¹², and another study comparing faecal pathogens in raw-fed and kibble-fed dogs found that differences were not statistically significant.¹³
The conclusion is not “raw has no risk” - it’s that all food has risk, and risk is managed through quality control, storage, hygiene, ingredient sourcing and appropriate product choice.
Ultra-Processed Dog Food & Inflammatory AGEs
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High-temperature extrusion used to manufacture commercial kibble produces advanced glycation end products (AGEs).
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Kibble is typically made through high-temperature extrusion. When proteins and certain sugars, or carbohydrates, are heated together, Maillard reaction products and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can form. These compounds can interact with immune receptors and are known to contribute to oxidative stress, chronic inflammatory signalling and disease development in both humans and animals.¹⁴, ¹⁵
The direct role of dietary AGEs in canine pancreatitis has not been fully established. However, for a disease involving inflammation and oxidative stress, it’s reasonable to question whether a highly processed diet should be the default long-term answer.
A Balanced Middle Ground for Pancreatitis Recovery
For owners who value raw or fresh food feeding, the most evidence-informed approach is individualised. During an acute flare, work with your vet to control pain, nausea, hydration and inflammation. Once food is reintroduced, use small, frequent meals based on lean, low-fat, highly digestible ingredients.
For some dogs, this may mean a prescription therapeutic diet, especially in the short term. For others, it may mean a lightly cooked fresh-food diet using lean proteins such as kangaroo, turkey breast, chicken breast or white fish.
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A balanced low-fat fresh food prep featuring lean kangaroo and turkey breast. Image credit: Narelle Cooke / CanineCeuticals.
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And for other dogs, a complete and balanced commercial low-fat raw diet with a clear nutritional analysis may also be appropriate.
Pancreatitis deserves respect. It can be painful, serious and recurrent. But a prescription kibble is not the only possible answer. The evidence supports a thoughtful middle ground: control fat where needed, prioritise digestibility and nutrient density, use standardised and complete diets, avoid dietary indiscretion, and choose the least processed suitable option for the dog in front of you.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not replace veterinary assessment or treatment.
About the Author
Narelle Cooke is a qualified naturopath, nutritionist, herbalist, and the founder of CanineCeuticals. With a background in research science, she specialises in evidence-informed, integrative approaches to canine health, with a focus on nutrition, gut health, mobility, and healthy ageing.
Through her clinical work, education, and product development, Narelle helps pet owners and practitioners better understand how targeted nutrition and supplementation can support long-term health, comfort, and quality of life in dogs.
You can follow her latest updates and canine wellness tips on Facebook and Instagram.
Scientific References
- Brooks, W. (2023). Pancreatitis in Dogs. Veterinary Partner, Available from: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952412.
- Cridge, H., Parker, V.J., et al. (2024). Nutritional management of pancreatitis and concurrent disease in dogs and cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 262(6): p. 834-840. DOI: 10.2460/javma.23.11.0641.
- Dalimunthe, A., Tan, M.W., et al. (2026). Immunonutrients as modulators of inflammation, barrier integrity, and immune regulation: Toward precision nutrition. Journal of Functional Foods. 136. DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2025.107119.
- Singh, S., Gamlath, S., et al. (2007). Nutritional aspects of food extrusion: a review. International Journal of Food Science & Technology. 42(8): p. 916-929. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2006.01309.x.
- Algya, K.M., Cross, T.L., et al. (2018). Apparent total-tract macronutrient digestibility, serum chemistry, urinalysis, and faecal characteristics, metabolites and microbiota of adult dogs fed extruded, mildly cooked, and raw diets. J Anim Sci. 96(9): p. 3670-3683. DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky235.
- Geary, E.L., Oba, P.M., et al. (2024). Apparent total tract nutrient digestibility of frozen raw, freeze-dried raw, fresh, and extruded dog foods and their effects on serum metabolites and faecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of healthy adult dogs. Transl Anim Sci. 8: p. txae163. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae163.
- Lambertini, E., Mishra, A., et al. (2016). Modeling the long-term kinetics of Salmonella survival on dry pet food. Food Microbiology. 58. DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2016.02.003.
- Nemser, S.M., Doran, T., et al. (2014). Investigation of Listeria, Salmonella, and toxigenic Escherichia coli in various pet foods. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 11(9): p. 706-709. DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2014.1748.
- Behravesh, C.B., Ferraro, A., et al. (2010). Human Salmonella infections linked to contaminated dry dog and cat food, 2006-2008. Pediatrics. 126(3): p. 477-483. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-3273.
- Imanishi, M., Rotstein, D.S., et al. (2014). Outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Infantis infection in humans linked to dry dog food in the United States and Canada, 2012. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 244(5): p. 545-553. DOI: 10.2460/javma.244.5.545.
- Selmi, M., Stefanelli, S., et al. (2011). Contaminated commercial dehydrated food as source of multiple Salmonella serotypes outbreak in a municipal kennel in Tuscany. Veterinaria Italiana. 47(2): p. 183-190.
- Anturaniemi, J., Barrouin-Melo, S.M., et al. (2019). Owners’ perception of acquiring infections through raw pet food: a comprehensive internet-based survey. Veterinary Record. p. 1-9. DOI: 10.1136/vetrec-2018-105122.
- Fredriksson-Ahomaa, M., Heikkila, T., et al. (2017). Raw Meat-Based Diets in Dogs and Cats. Vet Sci. 4(3). DOI: 10.3390/vetsci4030033.
- Reddy, V.P., Aryal, P., et al. (2022). Advanced Glycation End Products in Health and Disease. Microorganisms. 10(9). DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091848.
- van Rooijen, C., Bosch, G., et al. (2013). The Maillard reaction and pet food processing: effects on nutritive value and pet health. Nutrition research reviews. 26(2): p. 130-148. DOI: 10.1017/S0954422413000103.
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