‍Integrating Custom Recipes into Medical Programs for Dogs with Lymphangiectasia

What We Know About Lymphangiectasia

At any age, lymphangiectasia, mysteriously, causes congestion and rupture of the lymphatic vessels in the intestines. This results in poor absorption of fat from the intestines and the loss of protein into the feces.

Initial symptoms may include:

·        Weight loss

·        vomiting

·        diarrhea

in the later stages of the condition:

·        fluid accumulation in the lungs and abdomen

·        blood clots in arteries and veins of the body

Which Ingredients Matter

Decreasing the fat content of the diet reduces inflammation and helps relieve the distressing symptoms.

Our dog food recipes for lymphangiectasia have a calorie distribution that is considered favorable for lymphangiectasia patients meaning that it has fewer calories from fats.

Such low-fat recipes are not appropriate for normal adult dogs, or puppies.

More Than Just Diet

Your dog’s diet is only one tool for the management of lymphangiectasia, it is not a substitute for a comprehensive veterinary treatment plan. A veterinary plan may include:

·        Medications (metronidazole, budesonide, prednisone, chemotherapeutic drugs)

·        Vitamin B-12

·        Folic acid supplementation

·        Prebiotic and probiotic supplementation

·        antidiarrheal treatment

·        anticoagulant therapy

Expecting dramatic results with just a diet change is unrealistic and may delay important treatments.

What to Expect

As lymphangiectasia is a progressive condition, stool quality in severe cases may never be normal.

Don’t Use this Recipe If 

If your dog has other conditions needing conflicting dietary restrictions (kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, urinary crystals and stones, diabetes or cancer) Healthier Homemade recipes for lymphangiectasia may not be appropriate.

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 lymphangiectasia 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.

Is it Balanced and Complete?  

Please be assured that all Healthier Homemade recipes for lymphangiectasia 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 you and your veterinarian 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!

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Click here to learn about recipe programs that are available for dogs suffering from Lymphangiectasia.