Integrating Custom Homemade Recipes into Medical Programs for Dogs with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS)
What We Know About Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS)
Major surgery requiring large sections of intestine removal reduces digestive surface area and reduces time for food to be absorbed from the intestines. The unabsorbed fat oxidizes in the gut creating inflammation. The undigested food also acts as a sponge pulling water from the gut and causes the runny, unformed stool known as short bowel syndrome.
Which Ingredients Matter
Very, low fat, high fiber diets help with stool quality.
Our dog food recipes for short bowel syndrome are high fiber, low fat and have a calorie distribution of Protein 40%; Fat 15%; Carbohydrates 45% which is considered favorable for short bowel patients.
More Than Just Diet
Although high fiber and low-fat homemade recipes are a major tool for managing SBS, it is not a substitute for a comprehensive veterinary treatment plan that may still require vitamin B-12 and folate supplementation to maintain ideal weight and adequate red blood cell production. Dogs with the removal of extreme lengths of small or large bowel may never achieve normal stool quality no matter what the diet and may need other medications to promote better stool quality.
Healthier Homemade recipes for short bowel syndrome may not be appropriate for patients that also have dietary restrictions for other conditions (kidney disease, urinary stones, liver shunts or cancer). High fiber, low-fat homemade dog food recipes are not appropriate for normal adult dogs, or puppies.
What You Can Do
Over time, dogs on low diets may lose the luster and softness of their fur due to the low-fat content of the diet to manage their disease.
We encourage owners of SBS patients to work with their veterinarians to supplement diets (every other to every 3 days) with extra amounts of the soybean oil that is included in the Healthier Homemade program.
Soybean oil is the richest oil in the bioavailable essential fatty acids necessary for coat, fur and immune health with the least amount of total fat.
Healthier Homemade diets for SBS contain 5-10% fiber (dry matter). Owners can work with their veterinarians and slowly increase the water-soluble fiber included with the program to achieve better stool quality if necessary.
Is It Balanced and Complete?
Please be assured that all Healthier Homemade recipes for SBS exceed AAFCO and NRC requirements for all nutrients and meets the NRC minimum requirements for total fat and essential fatty acids.
Each Starter Kit includes a nutrition data fact sheet, so owners and their veterinarians can see that all of the 42 daily essential nutrients are in the meals prepared with our recipes, when used as directed. Commercial prescription diets, especially kibble, may be unappealing. Freshly cooked meals make a difference!
Dr. Ken Tudor is a recognized expert and leader in the field of pet nutrition and fitness. In addition to co-founding a national campaign to help fight dog obesity, he developed a pet weight management program and served on the American Animal Hospital Association task force to develop their Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.