EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

These calculations are a breakdown of my cost for Pancreatin 6x vs 8x.

From EnzymeDiane, you buy by the kilo (2.2 pounds).

Cost:

Pancreatin 6x is $134/kilo

Pancreatin 8x is $154/kilo.

Dosage:

Disclaimer; The starting point for Pancreatin 6x is 1 tsp enzyme to 1 cup food and Pancreatin 8x is 3/4 tsp enzyme to 1 cup food.  Your formula for  Pancreatin may be higher or it may be lower.  The formula provided here will be used as a basis for calculating my costs per meal.  My usage per day is 2 cups of kibble plus 1/5-1/4 can of wet food in the morning and the same in the evening.  So I would add this amount of enzyme.

Pancreatin 6x = 2 tsp/meal   or 4 tsp/day

Pancreatin 8x = 1-1/2 tsp/meal  or 3 tsp/day

The reason I use 8x is because I use less powder for the same strength of 6x.  I use 25% less powder with 8x

Diane says on her web site that you get 375 teaspoons to a kilo.  So, if I am using 25% less enzymes with 8x I would get 468 teaspoons to a kilo.

Cost/Teaspoon:

To calculate this cost you would use this formula:

6x:  $134.00 divided 375 teaspoons equals $0.36/teaspoon

8x:  $154.00 divided 468 teaspoons equals $0.33/teaspoon

So my cost per day comes out to:

6x - 4tsp/4 cups food$1.44/day,  

8x - 3tsp/4 cups food $0.99/day.

My saving are about $0.45/day or $164.00/year with Pancreatin 8x.

Don't forget that those figures can change over time for a couple of reasons...they can either go up or down.  For each dog, the dosage needs may change over time.  They may require more...or in some cases, a little less as time goes by.  Akira needs 2 teaspoons of the 8X per meal and when I've tried to lower it, there have been problems, so I've always had to go back to the original dosage.  Another thing to remember, is that American Labs can change their pricing...and did a couple of years ago.  Buying enzymes through Diane, is a life saver for all of us.  They are so much less expensive through her and some people have stated that without that cost break, they weren't sure they'd be able to continue caring for their dog.   

For my Izzy (she is a 45 lb dog) 

I use 1/2 level teaspoon of 6x  - to 1 cup of dry food (and I also add in 1/3 -1/2 cup of fresh meat)

Like Tara's soul sister (in more ways than one) Akira, Tara uses 2 tsp of 8X per two cups of kibble with enhanced food (fresh cooked meat, veggies and fruit). I've also been unable to lower this amount without "dire "results.

Donna

This is great information, Frank.  So glad you posted it.  I might have to revise my next order from Diane.  Looks like using the 8x gives you more "bang for the buck."  Thanks!

Good info! I did the math on my own a few months ago and I am delighted to see that I did it correctly! :o)

Thank you, Frank.

Frank, how long would you say that the 8x lasts you?

You know I never have really figured out how much per day it cost to use the tablets with our pups so this got me thinking.  I buy the 500 count of tablets so 250 tablets for one dog costs $53.26.  It varies depending on their appetite and how much we are feeding them but lately they are getting 7 tablets a day (3 1/2 per meal of 2 1/4C kibble and about 3 to 4 oz cooked turkey)....so 35 days for each dog...and $53.26 divided by 35 days is $1.52/day...so not hugely different than Frank's use of 6x.  If we feed more and it ends up 8 tablets per day then it would be 31 days and $1.71/day so that does become a bit more of a difference.  At 3 1/2 tablets per meal (2 meal/day) then right now my cost is about $556 per dog a year.  Did I do the math right?  So comparing tablets to 6x it is not a huge difference but if you use 8x and are able to use less enzyme than 1 tsp. per 1 cup food then the difference between 8x and tablets is quite a bit.  I am also using cost based on last September as that is a notation I last have and tablets may be slightly more lately but I don't have that info at hand.

Hi Sherry,

I basically order pancreatin 8x twice a year.  Each kilo gives Ayasha 234 meals.  I also give Ayasha Creon 25 while we are camping in place of the pancreatin.   Just because Shelby only weights 30 lbs and Ayasha weights 100 lbs, don't think you should be using less pancreatin.  It really is base on the the enzymes predigesting the food.  If the food has higher fat/protein/carbs content you will need more enzymes.  Having a harder coating on the food will also require more enzymes to predigest the food.

I noticed Shelby is free feeding.  You will most likely have to do away with that and go with a set schedule.  Leaving treated food for more than an hour or two may cause bacteria to grow and leave you with SIBO issues.

Frank

that is amazing

i conclude that it costs maybe $300 a year for enzymes Diane please move over here...........

please...................................

to buy from the vets our enzymes a MONTH cost about £350.00 which is $573  a month....................................

obviously this is bsed on what she needs some need less enzymes some more

you can get them a lot cheaper but nothing like those prices you quote

we are lucky to have life cover insurance for Kara so they pay in full, but for anyone who hasnt then its obscene as they know

jeanxxxxx

In lieu of a Diane of our own I just did a quick calculation on what it costs us for Creon 25 per year in Australia (1 x tab per meal, 2 meals a day, AU$69 per 100) leading to a total of AU$503 (US$536 or £341). We don't buy Creon thru the vet as it's a human grade med but we still need them to write a prescription. Even then boy it's still way cheaper than our UK cousins thru a vet.

The Lypex caps seem pretty similar to Creon at best-price/strength-wise would you say Jean?

...out of interest are you able to get a prescription to buy Creon in the UK for a dog do you know?

Craig - FYI -  I just placed an order with an Canadian online pharmacy yesterday for Creon 25... 100 capsules... $109 US which I think is currently about $102 Australian..... looks like another plus in the column on reasons to move down under      I am just thankful for the option of buying online in Canada as the local US pharmacy wanted about 3 times the price. 

...and cheaper than our US brethren as well it seems 

Becky, remember to bring some snow 

hi

well at the lowest lypex costs £30.00 for 60 capsules

so 3  per meal as far as Kara is concerned is 9 a day so a tub of 60 lasts just under 7 days so for us on lypex it works out to 4 tubs or 4 boxes a month  for Gillian it is even more

on the instructions it says give 1 per meal this has never worked for us and i kinow a good many folk in the uk now using lypex and they tell me that bwtween 2-3 is about right even my vet agrees with that caloculation

so 4 x £30.00 is £120.00 per month at the lowest and again that is for us

we have changed to Pancrex Granules last September and I am a great fan of it

 its not that much cheaper but far more effective

it costs £30.00 ish per tub on the internet and is  1 teaspoon per 200 grams of food so 6 teaspoons a day and the tub holds 60 teaspoons as per Gillian is 10 days so 3 tubs is cheaper for us if she has more or less food then the calculation changes

since we have used it Kara has become far more solid and enegetic and you have seen Gillians posts re Wallace he is so much better

my friend Donna has used it for a good few years and her dog is elderly at 13 with epi and doing good so I took notice

things are not cheap in this country

even with Creon you need a prescription and it doesnyt work out that good but it would be interesing to try it but i am niot going to try anything else

thanks Craig

jxxx 

r

Intresting thread.

I have just costed Maddie out she has 4 lypex and 2 tryplase daily so assuming the comparison is done on a mainteance dose ie 2 meals a day this costs £959.95 per year  this is $1500.00usd .

Think we all need to move.

Ann

shall we charter a plane today??????

its obscene

jean

I just looked on EnzymeDiane.com.  She can ship to the USA, Canada and Israel.  Why is it not allowed to be shipped to other countries besides the 3 listed?  (I thought that Israel is hyper security conscious)  From Diane's site, it says Pancreatin is NOT regulated by the FDA, It's not for human consumption, so it's not a drug, what is the logic for not shipping to other countries not listed?  Or here is another question,  can pancreatin be sent to the UK, Australia or New Zealand FROM Canada?   Has anyone from the UK, Australia or New Zealand contacted the customs office on shipping pancreatin?  Sometime rules change so it may be worth while investigating.

Frank

It is allowed to be shipped to NZ.  Diane ships to a few over there.