EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Hi Cat.... sometimes humor can be good medicine    With your dedication you and Kona will be back to your old selves before long!

Well if it was her she'd be easier to spot in an Alaskan field of snow than in an Australian field in Spring!

Even with a safety coatie!

Craig

Wow... time to upgrade that safety coat with a GPS tracking device... or maybe one of those flags on a pole used to spot bikes?

Well the time has come on Miss Lulupants' 3rd birthday to archive this little thread of ours.

Since April 2010, a mere nine months ago we've gone from a pretty little dog who had a grass seed in her poor paw which led to weight-loss in free-fall to a beautiful little creature, full of life, energy and joy whose favourite place in the whole wide big World is...the beach!

So on this the occassion of her 3rd birthday Lulu would like to thank all of her EPI friends who helped to get her there, for all the lovely photos of everyone's pups and the stories of their adventures. She'd love to name them but that'd be unfair as her Dad is bound to leave one off the list but hey you know who you are. So here's cheers to all those, past and present, who helped little Lulu on her way and here's cheers again for all those little EPI pups both new to these forums and to come!

So don't despair for with a little enzyme lovin' you'll lead long and happy lives like our Loopy-Lu! So pretty, so clever (everybody says so!).

Thank You,

BESs

Craig & Jemima

Happy Birthday Lulu!

Hi Craig, Jemima and Lulu,  I know these posts are over a year old but as your are fellow Aussies I was wondering how Lulupants is going and what success you are having with food/supplements, etc.  My Gus has just been diagnosed so I am at the beginning of my journey.  Gus was reacting well to Hills Prescription ID with supplements ... we were having good stools but weight loss continued.  I would really like to get him on to a good kibble but hard to find.  I was also considering BARF but seems like I would have to add some other ground meat to reduce the bone content.  Any advice/info would be great.  My vet is helpful but he seems to be on a learning curve as well.  How did you go with the 'Creon' - was there success?

Hi there Wendy ! A bunch of us have replied in your first thread here so pop on over and have read and download the 'EPI for Australian Dogs' brochure, it'll explain a lot. Glad you have a helpful vet but most in Oz haven't had experience successfully dealing with EPI so show your vet the brochure too.

But first things first, hopefully you have a Chemist Warehouse (they're open Sundays) near you or someone who sells Creon 10,000. These are porcine supplements required to get EPIers back on track.

BARF is a good food, we tried it but because we had so many problems with Lulu and SIBO, we stuck with a grain free kibble (thankfully now easily available) as there are less variables to deal with particularly early on. BARF might be something to consider in stage 2, once Gus is stable.

On SIBO, most dogs with EPI have it and it needs to be treated with antibiotics at the same time or it'll hold little Gus back. Anyway, it's all the in the brochure to get you started then we can tackle the specifics once he's on Tylan preferably or Flagyl as a second choice.

Good on you for doiing the research but pop over to the first thread where other members have left some messages for you too.

Speak soon, and yes, Lulu is going gang-busters! Given the right combination of grain free food, antibiotics and B12 if necessary, Gus will too...

Craig

Hi Wendy - I imagine Craig will be popping in soon, but just in case he is busy out looking at puppies to keep Miss Lulu on her toes :P, I thought I would do a short post to let you know that Miss Lulu did indeed have success with the Creon.  It is the only enzyme replacement available in Australia that will work for EPI pups.... enzyplex is not strong enough.  You can purchase Creon 10 there in Australia without prescription at the Chemist Warehouse.  Please have a read thru your original post for lots of good feedback, including some from Craig, on how you can start to help get Gus packing on the pounds.  Getting him some Creon ASAP is the first most important step!

Oops.... looks like Craig and I were posting at the same time.   

Sooooooooooo Craig..... any little brother on the horizon yet for Miss Lulu?

Yes this brother has been talked about for some time now Craig.  Is there a due date??

Now aren't there enough puppies on the forum for the present to keep you puppy-fiends happy, hmmm??!?

While Jemima and I would have another little furry family member in a flash - the number of times Jemima has shown me a photo on Australian Working Dog Rescue 's website  - for the moment we have to be content with having imaginary conversations between Lulu and her future brother (her telling him things like, "Well, it's been a nice visit but, when are you going HOME?!?").

For the moment we're gearing up to turning the first sod on the build of our abode on the hill and then, we'll have the living space for a brother (or two 

Craig

Don't forget space for visits from your EPI family When we were waiting for Boss to arrive on the scene here we had an imaginary pup also, complete with the name Gunner!