Dog Food for Common Illnesses and Diseases | What Dog Food is the Best Option?

If your dog has recently been diagnosed with a health condition, or they are showing symptoms, it can be a distressing and confusing time. We all want the best for our furry friends, and it can be difficult to know where to start. With the right knowledge and expertise provided by a canine nutritionist, you can create the ideal diet and provide the right supplements to support your dog. From raw and wet dog food to dry dog food options, there are plenty of diets that can improve your dog’s overall health.

In our comprehensive guide, we explore the different dog food and supplement options for liver disease, pancreatitis, dental issues and irritable bowel disease (IBD), as well as how our tailored wellbeing consultations can benefit you.

Dog Food for Liver Disease

If your dog has liver disease, you may notice symptoms such as jaundice, decreased appetite, vomiting, weight loss and frequent urination. Any inflammation or damage of the liver can be categorised as liver disease, and there are steps you can take to ensure your pet is as healthy as possible. These include:

• Changing their diet: reducing or eliminating fatty food from their diet can make all the difference, so we recommend raw dog food to provide them with species-appropriate food. However, we realise that providing a raw diet doesn’t suit everyone, so we recommend booking a wellbeing consultation to discuss your options.
• Supplements: we recommend Four Leaf Rover Liver and Kidney supplements to help detoxify the liver and kidneys
• Antibiotics: if your dog is prescribed antibiotics, we recommend providing pro and prebiotics to support the gut microbiome. Over 70% of your dog’s immune system is within their gut, so it is crucial to support this for overall health.

Although we generally recommend a raw dog food diet, we know this isn’t always achievable for some lifestyles. Therefore, Nourish Rite Senior or the DARF cold pressed dog food range could be just what your dog needs for a healthier diet. In the turkey Nourish Rite option, the inclusion of cranberry can help with urinary health, and is gentle on the digestive system too.

As well as Four Leaf Rover, consider Holistic Hound liver and kidney supplements for detoxifying the liver. As well as a change to their diet and providing supplements, you should always provide clean, accessible water and give them regular exercise.

You can find out more about dog food for liver disease in our previous guide here.

Dog Food for Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is often caused by dogs eating something they shouldn’t have. When symptoms of pancreatitis show, we recommend you review your dog’s diet for the past few days. Did they have something higher in fat or could they have had access to something unbeknownst to you. Although most cases of pancreatitis are due to food you must also be aware that chronic diseases may higher the risk of pancreatitis as well as medications and injections.

For dogs with pancreatitis, a low-fat, high-fibre, and low-calorie diet is essential. Here are some recommended dog foods:

• DARF Cold Pressed Dog Food: Easily digestible, this turkey-based dry food is gentle on the digestive system and less likely to cause bloating compared to traditional extruded foods.
• Nourish Rite Grain Free: High in protein (over 50%) and free from fillers like grains, this food uses sweet potato for carbohydrates. Opt for the Light/Senior version, which has under 8% fat.
• Paleo Ridge Paleo Plus Special Diet: A raw food option that is low in fat and designed for sensitive stomachs.
• Avoid low-quality, ultra-processed foods, as they can be harder to digest and may worsen pancreatitis symptoms.

You should also consider providing digestive supporting supplements. We recommend booking an expert wellbeing consultation to ensure your dog is on the correct diet for their needs. You can find out more about dog food for pancreatitis in our previous guide here.

Dog Food for Dental Problems

There are various causes of dental issues in dogs, including age, poor dental hygiene, dental trauma, diet and if they belong to a particular breed. The best diet to reduce the risk of poor dental hygiene for your dog is a raw food diet. When dogs chew on raw bones, the natural abrasive action helps to scrape away plaque and tartar.

You can also aid your dog’s dental health be providing them with dental supplements that improve help to break down plaque. We also recommend brushing your dog’s teeth regularly with Dentapaste. Please have your dog’s teeth checked regularly with a dentistry vet.

You can find out more in our previous guide here.

Dog Food for Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)

Irritable (or inflammatory) bowel disease, or colitis, causes upsetting symptoms of diarrhoea or constipation, vomiting and weight loss. When choosing the best diet for your dog, novel proteins such as duck, rabbit and pork are recommended, whereas beef and chicken should be avoided. Raw and wet food are often recommended over dry, as they are easier to digest.

Dog food for dogs with IBD should contain highly digestible protein, low fat, no or low grains, soluble fibre, and probiotics and prebiotics should be provided. You should avoid high-fat foods, artificial additives, dairy products and common protein allergens to be kinder to your dog's gastrointestinal system.

As well as change their diet, consider providing your dog with relevant supplements (Holistic Hounds Fundamental Digestion), easing the stress in their life and booking them in for a wellbeing consultation.

You can find out everything you need to know about dog food for IBD in our previous guide here.