What should I feed my dog after a pancreatitis episode?

First and most important: this one is led by your vet. What you feed depends on how severe the episode was and how your dog's recovering, so the plan should come from the vet who actually saw your dog, not the internet.

Here's the general shape of it, so you know what to expect. In the early days after an episode, most dogs go onto very plain, easy-to-digest, low-fat food in small, frequent meals. Boiled skinless chicken breast with plain white rice or a little pumpkin is the classic homemade option, or your vet might put your dog on a prescription gastrointestinal diet for a while. The idea is to give the pancreas as little work as possible while things settle.

Once your dog's stable and eating normally again, the long game is a consistently low-fat diet. Fat is the main thing that gets a sensitised pancreas grumpy, so high-fat treats, table scraps, cheese and fatty meats are off the menu for good. Swap in low-fat treats like carrot, plain rice crackers or a few blueberries.

For everyday feeding, a lower-fat complete food makes life easier. Your vet can help you settle on a suitable low-fat complete food for the long term.