EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
managing EPI
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Member Posts: 28 |
Hello everyone, I have not posted in a very long time! I have been very very sick with my pregnancy and moving. I want to get back into the discussions as best as I can to help others though!:) Sophie is doing GREAT! It was a long few months but she is on the right road now. I cannot thank all of you enough for all your advice and support. Sophie was diagnosed with Feb of 2010. She is a golden retriever who used to weigh around 65 pounds when she was diagnosed she was down to 45. Now she is up to 56!! She is doing great. We were having some problems with her itching. I thought maybe she was allergic to the enzyme powder. We are currently in the process of moving back home (CA to SD) We brought the dogs home about a month ago and her ears cleared right up and the itching went away. I am thinking it was an allergy to something out in CA. My vet actually ended up going to a workshop on EPI for the weekend. She was not that familiar with the condition at the time Sophie came to her but wanted to learn more which is WONDERFUL! There has been a lot of trial and error throughout this whole process but it looks like we are on the road to recovery now. Throughout this whole process I am really learning about dog food and how it can affect your dog in many ways. My other dog (a Lab) eats grain free food now like Sophie and we have noticed a wonderful change in his stools! I will try to check in as best as I can to offer any advice I can to others. I remember the horrible pain I felt in the beginning when Sophie was diagnosed thinking that there would be no hope, but now I know better Katy | |
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Site Owner Posts: 7645 |
Hi Katy ~ SOOOOOOOooo nice to hear from you! When are you due? Sophie looks great and WOW... that is wonderful that your vet actually went to an EPI workshop to learn more... WOW... now that vet is a keeper!! Chime in any time... and you know we love pictures! | |
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-- Olesia, owned by Izzy-45lb SWD, Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.3, Stable almost 7 yrs! Once stable, was able to reduce enzymes to only 1/2 tsp of Enzymes with each meal, but after almost 4 years of stabilization... had to increase the amount of enzymes to 3/4 teaspoon with each meal. Feed various grain-free kibble+real meat, 6x pancreatin enzymes from EnzymeDiane. I give 1 tsp of coconut oil one day and 1 tsp salmon oil next day, and also give canned sardines packed without salt or canned herring for extra omega oils.
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Member Posts: 919 |
Glad to hear Sophie is doing so great! Sounds like you have your hands full with an EPI dog, moving and a pregnancy....hope all goes well for all 3. When is your baby due? Which food are you using? We use B.G. grain free and our dogs do well with them. They were out of the kibble one day and I bought another grain free kibble (forget the name) and Pharaoh did fine with it and Taiko got diarrhea, so into the garbage it went. I find it amazing how many vets have no or little experience with EPI, yet it seems like so many dogs, esp. certain breeds, have it. I suspect more dogs have EPI than are diagnosed due to lack of knowledge by many vets. I know there are a lot of conditions that vets can't know everything, but this one seems like it should be covered more in vet school. Wonderful to hear your vet went to a workshop to learn more. | |
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-- Terry Mom of two EPI Shiloh Shepherds: Pharaoh born Nov. 2007 (dx December 2009) and his older half sister,Taiko born Sept. 2006 (dx June 2010). Pharaoh was 62.4 lbs. when diagnosed in 12/2009 and 10/31/11 his weight was 76.6 and 82.5 lbs on 1/28/12. Received six weeks of B12 shots Jan-Feb 2010 but his B12 on 8/10/2010 was only 232. Taiko's weight was 70.7 lbs. in June 2010 (time of diagnosis) and on 10/31/11 was 80.4 and on 1/28/12 was 84 (2 lbs. over vet's max weight for her). B12 was 211 in June 2010 and 293 on 8/10/10 (after getting weekly shots). Both pups receive B12 shots weekly at home. Both are fed twice a day Costco grain free brand: 2 cups kibble in the morning with 4 crushed tblets and 2 1/2 cups evening with 4 1/2 crushed tablets; plus each meal also get cooked ground turkey (app 1/4 lb. each meal) or half a can of dog food.
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Member Posts: 4186 |
Hi Katy,
It's GREAT to hear from you!! It's also very nice to hear that Sophie is doing well!!! YAHOO!!!
That vet is a keeper for sure!!!! | |
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-- Donna
Owned by Tara, a 8 YO GSD w/EPI and DM dx'd at about a year old. Fed Taste of the Wild Lamb formular kibble and enhance this diet with cooked meat, veggies and fruit, Enzymes: Pancreatin 8x - 1 tsp per cup of food. Suppliments include 1000 mg Wild Salmon oil, Glucosomine/Chondrotin/MSM and Probiotic acidophilus. Stable since 2005 Also owned by sidekicks' Zoey my rescued GSD and Max, a 10 MO PWC rescue - along with Tess (GSD) and Zeke (PWC) with Angel wings
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Member Posts: 65 |
Hi Katy, Great news about the baby and Sophie! Ann & Partner-Melrose, MA. USA | |
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We do not do treats or bones rather I found rubber bones for them when they want to chew and feed them fresh veggies as a treat! They love it:) 
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