Putting the Pop back into Poppy: Case Study
"I just want her around for as long as possible."
When Poppy's mum first contacted me on Facebook, her goal was beautifully simple. She wanted to give her much-loved girl the healthiest, happiest life possible.
At 12 years old, Poppy had already been diagnosed with pancreatitis and elevated blood fats (hyperlipidaemia). She was also living with acid reflux, digestive discomfort and recurring skin issues, and her mum felt as though she was constantly firefighting one problem after another.
Like many owners of senior dogs, and border terriers, she wanted to know if my experience and expertise could make a difference.
The answer was... absolutely! There’s so much we can do to support our dogs and take them off expensive medications like Apoquel and Cytopoint, which have detrimental long term effects, and get them on a food that works with them and for them.
The Challenge
Although Poppy was enjoying life, there were several signs that her body needed more support.
She was experiencing:
Pancreatitis and elevated cholesterol.
Acid reflux and frequent lip licking.
Gurgling tummy noises.
Loose, mucousy stools.
Grass eating.
Skin allergies.
Hunger between meals.
Weight management challenges.
Dental disease requiring multiple extractions.
Her vet was understandably concerned about putting a 12 yr old girl under anaesthetic. So we made sure that Poppy would be nutritionally and physically supported as much as possible to strengthen her immunity and physical resilience in preparation for the big operation.
"I just want her happy. I want her to enjoy the time she has left."
Our Approach
Rather than focusing on one diagnosis, we looked at Poppy as a whole. Together we created a personalised easy feeding plan to reduce inflammation, support her pancreas and rebuild her gut health.
Her programme included:
Transitioning onto a more nutritious, cold-pressed diet.
Introducing gut healing support.
Strengthening the microbiome with targeted fresh foods and supplements.
Adding carefully selected herbs and anti-inflammatory whole foods.
Introducing fresh additions gradually.
Finding suitable low-fat, safe treats.
Supporting hydration and reducing toxic load.
Creating a sustainable long-term feeding plan that easily fitted into everyday life, that even her dad could participate in.
Every recommendation was tailored to Poppy's individual needs and introduced slowly to avoid upsetting her sensitive digestive system, which is so common in border terriers.
The First Changes
Within just one week, the improvements were already noticeable. Her mum couldn't believe the difference.
"They're the best poos I've ever seen! I've never been able to pick them up so easily in my life. No more mucousy poos!"
Alongside healthier stools, she also noticed:
Less acid reflux.
No more noisy tummy.
Healthier skin.
Reduced need for Apoquel.
An actual appetite and enthusiasm for food for the first time ever.
Poppy was happily licking her bowl clean, which was almost unheard of before.
Working Alongside Her Vet
As Poppy's health improved by taking her off ‘hydrolysed’ and ‘hypoallergenic’ foods that she refused to eat for good reason. Those ingredients did not work for her, and were stressing her elderly system. But once the change was underway, her veterinary team noticed how well she was doing too.
Repeat blood tests showed encouraging progress. When her blood was spun during one check-up, the fatty appearance had dramatically improved, and she’d reached her target weight. Naturally, her mum was delighted.
"The vets were really pleased."
Throughout her journey, we continued working alongside her veterinary team for an integrative approach, particularly around her pancreatitis, liver health, dental treatment and long-term medication. Nutrition wasn't replacing veterinary care; it was significantly enhancing it.
Supporting Recovery
During our time together, Poppy underwent several dental extractions under General Anaesthetic. Her mum was so worried. She’d put it off because Poppy wasn’t stable for ages, but… Because we’d already spent weeks supporting her gut health and reducing inflammation before surgery, her recovery was excellent.
"I think the fact we started the plan before her operation really helped. Her gums have healed brilliantly."
She also previously experienced ear infections, skin flare-ups and ongoing age-related changes, but each time her mum knew exactly how to tweak her nutrition and support her recovery and heal her gut. Instead of panicking, she had a solid, tried and tested plan.
More Than Better Digestion
One of the loveliest parts of Poppy's story is that the benefits extended far beyond her tummy.
As her gut settled, her whole body seemed to relax. Her tummy stopped bubbling. Her pot belly disappeared. She became calmer around other dogs. Her coat and skin improved. She stopped waking her mum during the night to go outside.
Even her reactivity massively reduced, because she was finally feeling better.
"She used to be so reactive, and now we can walk past dogs happily."
Confidence Changes Everything
Perhaps the biggest transformation wasn't Poppy, it was her wonderful mum. When we first spoke, she felt so incredibly overwhelmed and unsure. Over time she became confident making informed decisions, understanding ingredients and recognising what Poppy's body needed. And she knew I was at the other end of the phone if she needed any support or suggestions.
"I feel much more in control."
"I have a plan now. I'm not just blindly trying things anymore."
That confidence meant every new challenge, from surgery to ear infections to introducing new foods, felt manageable rather than frightening.
The Results
Today Poppy is:
Maintaining a healthy reduced weight.
Enjoying her meals.
Producing consistently healthy stools.
Experiencing far fewer digestive flare-ups.
Much less grass eating.
Sleeping comfortably through the night.
Recovering well from procedures.
Looking and acting years younger.
As her mum proudly says:
"She's got her spark back. People can't believe she's 12."
My Dad’s friend is here at the moment and he’s just commented on how good Poppy is doing and looking!
She is doing amazing. A good thing you can add from me is:- I’ve gone from constant worry about what issue Poppy is going to have next to just enjoying being with her, if she does have a little hiccup I know what to do to nip it in the bud now.
Some more good news: physio has worked wonders, she’s now flying up and down the stairs again!!
The Bigger Picture
Poppy's journey shows that nutrition isn't simply about managing pancreatitis. It’s about understanding why certain commonly accepted ‘good food’ enable this disease to develop over time. Especially in this breed. Through inflammation showing as dry eye, dry nose, gut dysbiosis, infections, bad breath, big emotions and ‘behaviour’.
By supporting the gut microbiome, reducing inflammation and feeding fresh, species-appropriate foods, we were able to improve so many aspects of her health. From digestion, immune resilience and better skin/coat to behaviour and overall wellbeing.
Even her veterinary practice recognised the value of seeking specialist nutritional advice.
"It was my vet who told me to get in touch with a nutritionist. They admitted nutrition wasn't their speciality."
Looking Beyond the Diagnosis
Pancreatitis doesn't have to mean your dog can never enjoy food again. It doesn't need to mean expensive vet recommended diets. There is another way that puts your dog, your mental health and your finances first.
With the right nutritional support, many dogs can easily thrive while still eating meals that are varied, enjoyable and tailored to their individual needs.
Every dog is different, which is why personalised advice is so important. You won’t find this information on the internet or Facebook Groups, because I haven’t found anyone else who specialises like I do.
Could Your Dog Be Showing Similar Signs?
If your dog struggles with:
Pancreatitis.
Acid reflux.
Grass eating.
Gurgling tummy noises.
Loose or mucousy stools.
Skin allergies.
High cholesterol.
Weight management.
Recurring digestive flare-ups.
...nutrition could play a much bigger role than you realise.
Ready to Help Your Dog Feel Their Best?
Whether your terrier has pancreatitis, digestive issues, food sensitivities or reactivity, or you're simply looking to give your senior dog the healthiest future possible, I'd love to help.
Together we'll create a personalised stability plan that works alongside your veterinary care, supports your dog's gut health, immunity and emotional resilience, and gives you the confidence to understand exactly what your dog needs and how to help them.
As Poppy's mum shared at the end of our journey together:
"I can't thank you enough. We've sorted out so much more than we ever expected. I've learnt more in the last six months than I have in a lifetime of owning dogs. I wish I'd known all of this 14 years ago."
If you'd like to help your dog regain their spark, get in touch today and let's build a health and stability plan that's as individual as they are.
