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Location: Sydney, Australia
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 19
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Hi,
This is my first post here, not sure if I'm doing it right!
I used to feed rawhide chews but I don't anymore, since my JRT had an episode of acute pancreatitis requiring hospitalisation and IV support. My vet advised against rawhide chews for the following reasons:
1. Very high fat content.
2. Possibility of intestinal distress/blockage.
3. Possibilty of contamination.
I suspect a dodgy rawhide chew may have been the trigger for the pancreatitis, although he also had a fatty marrow bone the same week. The vet had previously advised me to scrape all the marrow out, due to the high fat content (but I didn't listen). Wish I had now...
I honestly thought I was doing the right thing by feeding rawhides and marrow bones, and people often commented on how good his teeth were. But his poor pancreas became overburdened by fat, and he got very sick.
Post-pancreatitis he is not allowed to have bones or rawhide chews, so I've been giving him him Nylabone (under close supervision) because it has no fat or calories.
He's doing well, but he will have to remain on a restricted diet for the rest of his life. Not that he's doing it THAT tough! Mum has learned to poach chicken breasts in water (to remove the excess fat) and he absolutely LOVES them!
Eddie's Mom...