EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

This is my first post on this forum/site, and I wanted it to be one of GRATITUDE!

My dog, Jaeger, suddenly became visibly ill two weeks ago. A week ago yesterday we visited the vet. She told me she *hoped* it was a parasite, but being that he was a GSD she was afraid it was EPI. I remember being shocked how easily "Exocrin Pancreatic Insufficiency" rolled off her tongue and she jumped two it after only talking to me for 2 minutes. I almost started crying when he was weighed and had shrunk to a mere 57lbs. She drew blood and sent it down to Texas A&M for testing. I went straight home and found this site. After only reading for about 5 minutes, I realized my Jaeger was the poster dog for this disease and didnt need to even get the results to know that this is what he had. I immediately started to make minor changes to his diet in preperation for the inevitable diagnosis that came Saturday.

Due to the holiday weekend, I finally got enzymes from my vet yesterday at 5pm. Now a mere 24 hours later my dog is already significantly improved. I never thought I'd be SO excited to watch my dog poop!!!!

To make this long story short. Thank you to all that have made this site possible, contribute to it daily, and the sense of community I immediately felt. The support that people give each other in the forums  is overwhelming and since it's just me and my dog in our home...it's SO wonderful to not feel alone in this and know that Jaeger can return to happy normal life soon.

Thanks again, and I only hope that I will be able to offer as much support as I already have received in one week. Best wishes to you and your pups!

Hi Ashley?  Not sure, guessing on the name.  Welcome to the group.  Glad you recieved an answer that fast.  Wow,  your  vet was really up on it.  Glad to here that you are already seeing improvement also.  Was the b12 tested as well as the folate?  Hopefully you caught this all in time and nothing else is going on.   Again, welcome and feel free to post pictures. 

Should have added, he is a beatiful dog, too.  I love his coloring.

Hello,

Welcome to the group.  I never like hearing that a dog has been diagnosed with EPI but I am glad to hear that Jag was diagnosed so quickly so at least you know what you are dealing with.  You are VERY lucky to have a vet that knows this disease and will hopefully be able to give you the guidance to get Jag quickly turned around and headed back down the road to good health!  So you are definately not alone in this... you have your vet plus everyone here is always more than willing to lend whatever support they can.  Jag looks stunning... please share more photos of him when you feel you can.  In the meantime please post any questions you may have - although from you intial post it sounds like you have done a good job already learning what your boy needs!  Good Luck!

Hello, welcome to the forums. I also felt the same way when my pup was diagnosed on May 6th. I was completely devastated, and I thought it was the end for my Bella. Turns out, with the support from this forum and the support from my vet, we have gotten Bella on a normal diet with normal poops! I can agree with you completely when you say that you have never been so excited to see your dog poop. Everytime I have her outside and she goes poop and it's solid, I sit there with the biggest grin. People driving by must think I'm crazy..but I'm only crazy for my crazy pup! She's the best companion anyone can have, as I am sure you know!

Best of luck to you and your pup as well.. send us some pictures!

Hi Ashley & Jaeger,

A very warm welcome to our EPI family.  We have been dealing with EPI for just over 3 years now & thankfully, my English Setter Megg is doing well.  You have certainly come to the right place.  Lots of great people who will give you all the help & support you need.   I was also lucky, like you, in that my Vet recognised the signs of EPI from day 1.  Certainly a huge plus to get onto it immediately. 

Jaeger looks just beautiful in your profile pic.  As others have said already, we love pics. here so please feel free to post some of your lovely boy.  There are instructions in our files & if you have any problems then please let us know & we will help you through it.  Can be a bit tricky at first.   

Again welcome.

A very warm welcome to you Ashley (is this your name??) and Jaeger... who is quite handsome!

WOW! Jaeger's in good hands... especially if you have become a certified poop watcher already :)!  That is wonderful that you have implemented some of the EPI recommendations and have started seeing improvement this quickly....that is great news!!! and that you have a vet who is familiar with EPI!

 Karen covered the B12 and Folate testing (for possible B12 Deficiency and possible SIBO) which are secondary conditions that accompany EPI approx 50-70% of the time... the only other thing i would like to mention to you at this time, since you are just beginning this journey, is to download an EPI LOG  http://www.epi4dogs.com/downloads.htm and start keeping track of everything you give Jaeger and Jaeger's response.  Keeping a log is probably one of the best defenses we have in managing EPI...

And please, as others have said, when you can, post pictures of your beautiful boy, we love pictures here!

Hi Ashley - welcome - sorry to hear about your Jag but I know now that you found this site he will have one healthy happy life!   All the best to you guys and look forward to hearing about him just getting better and better!  

Hello and welcome to you and your pup!  Olesia works very hard to make sure that the latest and greatest information is available, so I'm glad you took advantage of it!  Oh, and your vet sounds awsome too!!!!

As everyone's said, we love pictures!! <hint>

Hi and a little belated welcome to you and your beautiful Jag.

I am so pleased you found this forum, I remember the lonely feeling of dealing with EPI in the beginning on my own.

Don't ever feel alone with this, there is always someone here who will support you (thanks to all our different time zones).

It sounds as if you and your vet are doing great... keep up the good work.

I'm gonna hang around for a while for them photos (hint hint):D

Hi Ash & Jaeger~  Just checking in and hoping Jag is doing well.

Debra ~  Just LOVE the impatient kitty.... perfect pic!

Thanks for everyone's kind responses. It's been 7 days now that Jaeger has been on his enzymes and he's doing great. He's already put on a few pounds and we had normal poop in less than 72 hours. Just tonight I was looking at him playing in the backyard and thinking he's finally getting his energy level back up.

We also  had an adventure this weekend driving 12 hours round trip to meet and pick up his new sister. Ushi is a 7yrold GSD Sch1 retired breeding female.  She's super sweet and well behaved. She's doing great getting adjusted and Jaeger is behaving himself and welcoming her into our home.

Quick funny:  Pavlov effect is in full force at our house. Since I have to leave the enzymes on his food for at least 20 minutes, I made the mistake the first two meal times by leaving his food bowl on the counter. I found him both times on the counter eating away as soon as I left the room. So I decided that I could set his bowl in the microwave since it would be inclosed and set the timer to let me know when the 20 minutes were up. After 2 days, he realized the timer going off meant meal time and now runs to the microwave to anxiously wait for me to open the door and produce his dinner. So here is the funny part---- I trained Jaeger to ring a bell when he needed to go potty outside. So he runs over, noses the bell, and I come let him out. I had just signed on my computer and hear him ringing bell a few minutes ago. And it wasn't a normal ring, it was a VERY insistent ring. So I thought *oh, he must really need to go potty*. I got up, walked to where he was ringing the bell at the back door...as soon as he saw me, he sprinted into the kitchen and stared at t he microwave. He's CREATING HIS OWN FOOD TIMER!!! He decided "heck, i'm not gonna wait for that black box to ring...I'll go make something ring myself...hence making it meal time. I about doubled over laughing. I never give him enough credit for how smart he is.

Here are updated pics of Jaeger and his new sister Ushi-

hahah apparently I dont know had to add pictures. I tried the insert image, but it didnt like that. I'll take suggestions.

Ash,

Thank you for the update on how Jaeger is doing better already  

Reading your story about how he is clearly communicating to you he is ready for mealtime made me chuckle.  GSDs can be SO darn smart when it suits their purpose!

For posting pictures here they first need to be uploaded to a photo sharing site such as Photobucket (it's free).  After that is done, here is a link to instructions to follow the rest of the way...

www.epi4dogs.com/apps/forums/topics/show/2528149-hints-for-posting-pictures-here-from-photobucket

That story is very funny Ash.   Can't wait to see your photo's of Jaeger & his new sister when you work out the photo bit.  Lots of us have trouble at first learning how to do it, but once you're use to it, it's very easy.  Don't hesitate to ask again if  you're still having problems. 

Lynn & girls.

Oh my gosh- that is TOO funny! I love how smart GSD's are. I've never known any other breed so I don't wanna put any others down! Bella's trainer once said that GSD's are always one step ahead of you. I love that your pup did that. Mine has a timer too, and she'll bolt RIGHT up when it goes off. She is drooling by the time I walk into the kitchen!

I'm so happy for the progress. AND post them pictures!!!!!! I love pictures.

oh yeah that Pavlov was some guy.

We use the microwave to time Lu's dinner (with enzymes) so now she reacts everytime the microwave goes ding!

I think we need to find another method.....

Hi Ashley.  Glad things are going so well.  And congrats on the new sister for Jaeger. 

Bells.  Mine does the same thing.  Bells for food, for going out to play, for me being on the phone... There was one point those bells were going out the window, going out for potty time be danged!  These guys can be so smart sometimes.  It is funny in the beginning, then it gets annoying, as you  never know when you really need to run to the door to let them out.  Glad I am not the only one who has bells ringing all of the time.

I have to put Hondo's food in the sink where he can't get to it, as he, too, will eat from the counter. 

Ash ~

How wonderful of you  to bring into your family a retired breeding female!  Wishing everyone much happiness

Loved the ringing of the bells- -Jaeger is one smart fella!  I too used to hang bells.... but have to confess, it got like Karen's household, my Rico started ringing the bell when he wanted to go out to pee, play ball, wander abuot in the woods, go visit the neighbor.... it got sobad  that i finally took those damn bells down and hid them in the drawer!

Ahh... you do what i do.... after the enzymed food is prepared and slightly warm.. that is what i do... i put the bowl in the microwave box to store there until ready to feed because i found that by doing this, it tend to keep the food slightly warm as opposed to cooling to much if left on the counter. Works like a charm.

After you read the photo instructions link Becky posted for you ... if you continue to have problems, just let us know.

Oh and last but not least... CONGRATURLATIONS on the great poops!!!!!!!!!

Weight gain, good poops and very smart - Jaeger is quite the boy! I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of Ushi. How wonderful that you have given an older dog a new home!