Dom was put on Prescription Diet I/D about 1.5 years ago. At that time, both my dogs were on wellness core, but my vet always made it sound like that was bad food or something. He was put on it for pancreatitis and that does seem like the normal course. He has had no flare ups since he almost died from initial acute attack. Online there seems to be little help in finding similar alternatives once pancreatitis is involved. Mind you this food is more expensive then any foods I have tried in past including Wellness and EVO - and I know it is not the best.

Fast forward to early this year and both my dogs at that time got sick. Dom on prescription diet got bad UTI (bleeding) and Lexi was going downhill fast - no UTI and no diagnosis. Dom had showed infections in past blood tests and given pills, but with culture found out he needed different antibiotic. His infection is cleared, now back to just old dog issues. However, the vet said his liver levels are elevated likely from infection, so use denosyl (again expensive). He also gets joint supplements.

Lexi over course of few weeks got better. She was losing coordination in her legs, diarehhea, not eating, some vomitting, and weight loss. She had infection, crystals in urine, and elevated liver levels. Of course, same route - change food, denosyl, antibiotics. He wanted her to go for ultrasound, but before that was done she started to improve thus no diagnosis (eating again, normal stool, running, energy).

However, my female didn't have pancreatitis. My vet makes it sound like she may have had it, so lets put her on ID for the rest of her life. But I know what Dom was like when I took him with acute attack to ER. He also makes it sound like denosyl may be rest of her life. Through all her issues though, she was taken off seizure medicine and the seizures have not resurfaced. He said denosyl could be helping. I'm thinking she was having a bad reaction to the seizure meds all along, but my vet won't really acknowledge it just agrees I should not put her back on them.

With the cost, I am paying about $180 per month to feed my 2 dogs and about $200+ per month for their denosyl (ordered online which upset vet too). They also get joint supplements, but I know those are needed. However, I wonder if ID and Denosyl for the rest of their lifes is normal and needed. They go back next month to check their liver levels and at that time the vet said we can see if denosyl still needed, but nothing about the food.

Is this normal? Any suggestions for dogs with pancreatitis in history and elevated liver levels? Any decent alternatives for ID? I do respect vets and all, but it is hard when I blame vets for the death of one of my pets.

Suggested low fat dog foods:

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/suggested-low-fat-dog-food/

Science Diet I/D Nutrition Info:

http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-canine-id-canine-gastrointestinal-health-dry.html

I've never had a dog with pancreatitis, so I can't speak from personal experience, but hopefully those links will help and some others will chime in.

A lot of conventional vets are not well educated when it comes to nutrition for dogs. I love my vet but he knows squat about what a good quality dog food is. I found this article that might be able to help you on the pancreatitis:

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/suggested-low-fat-dog-food/

In my opinion, you should definitely feed something low fat but that doesn't mean you're limited to I/D.

The denosyl is just SAM-E (S-adenosylmethionine). You can buy the human grade SAM-E which is probably cheaper than the denosyl and give that to your dog. We did that years ago on the advice of our vet for our dog that had liver failure.

I'll look at that list and see what I can find. I also will look into the human grade SAM-E. I did order it online which knocked the cost by half, but saving more would not hurt and then I could spend the money on some other things for the pets.

Thanks!