EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

I need to start by telling you that Milo has been given several "Beggin Strips" sometime earlier today, maybe three hours ago.  Is there anything I can do for damage control now before he starts to have EPI symptoms?

This is what happened, and it is a convoluted mess: I was scheduled to have an endoscopy at the hospital at 9:30 this morning.  Hospital called me at 5:30 a.m. to tell me they had a cancelation and could I come at 8:00.  I had to call my friend, Maggie, and wake her up to pick me up to take me, as they require I have someone bring me home (could not drive because of the drugs.)  Because I had to go in earlier than expected, I did not call my S.O. in Washington because at 5:30 this a.m. it was 3:30 his time.  He tried calling me around 8:00 my time, which would have been before I was scheduled to leave for the hospital.  At the hospital I could not use my cell phone.  They had problems doing the procedure (esophogeal bleeding) and I had to stay there longer than expected.  Meanwhile, my S.O. panicked when he could not reach me either at home or on my cell.  He called the local police here, who came and broke in to check on me, as my car was here but I wasn't.  Before entering the house, and hearing Milo barking, they called Animal Control.

When I got home, there was a note from a police officer letting me know that Todd had phoned them to check on me and that they had broken in to do so, and had also called Animal Control because of Milo.  Animal Control, in order to entice Milo to let them and the police into the house (Milo would let ANYONE in the house) gave him some Beggin Strips as treats.  Milo is wearing TWO ID tags that read "Do Not Feed Me - digestive disease, etc.) 

When I got home, and I can barely talk above a whisper right now, I called the police to apologize for the confusion and asked if Milo gave them any problem.  He said, no, that Milo was friendly, but Animal Control had given him "treats" to be sure he was not going to do anything aggressive.  That was when I panicked.  The officer said that Animal Control DID READ MILO's TAGS and gave him the treats anyway, after phoning my vet, whose name is on Milo's tags, and they were told by my vet's office that the treats "would not kill him," so they went ahead and gave them to him.

So far, no ugly symptoms, but I expect there will be because I know from past experience that Milo cannot tolerate ANYTHING that has not been enzymed.

Is there anything I can do now to prevent the likely disastrous results of his getting the treats?  (disastrous results meaning we will probably be back to cow-pies and ugly grey mashed potato-looking stuff.)  Dang - I don't want him to go back to "square one" with this disease. 

Any help from anyone will be so appreciated.  Thanks!

Oh Jeepers.  What a day you have had...and what an adventure Milo has had!  So sorry...last thing you needed was all this confusion. I'm afraid I have no advice to offer on your question but just wanted to send support. Maybe the belly gods will be in your favour and he wont have any adverse effects this time.  I think if I were you I would find myself a good red wine and wait patiently for this day to end!

Thank you, Maggie.  I am definitely hoping the "belly gods" ( what a clever phrase!) will give us a break.  As for the red wine, that sounds like a good idea, but I don't think it would set well with the drugs I already have in me from that "blank-blank" procedure!

Lanie,

This should be no big deal.  You should only see cow patties until the beggin strips run through his system.  The beggin strips won't kill him.  One thing you can do is give him an extra meal with the Pancreatin mixed in as normal.  That is what you should have done as soon as you found out about the un-treated food.  The bad outcome should be less since some of the treated food would be mixed internally with the un-treated food.  Just keep watch for 1-3 days, since it could take that long for food to run through his system.

Just take a seat, take a deep breath, and wait for his system to get back to normal.  This too shall pass.

I hope your tests come out well.

Frank

Hi Frank.  I know I have panicked and probably over-reacted somewhat.  I am just so angry that they read his tags and gave him that junk regardless.  They did not talk with my vet -- it was the office clerk who told them "it would not kill him," and she knows nothing.  I did have his leftovers from breakfast in the fridge, as he usually does not finish a meal.  I gave it to him, but he did not want it, so I am hoping he will be hungry soon and eat it.

Thanks for your support.  I guess I just needed some reassurance.  Add to that the fact that I will have those crappy drugs in my system.  My test results are "as expected" for the condition I have, so nothing new there -- just a problem with the procedure that caused the bleeding.  Seems my esophagus had constricted involuntarily (I was out) as they were putting the tube in, and the tube scraped against the lesion in my esophagus, causing it to bleed, so they had to stop and start over. 

Milo is sleeping and does not seem to be bothered by the junk food yet.  I have listened for rumblings in his tummy, but none so far.  I just wish he would eat his food.

"This too shall pass."  Good pun, Frank!  I like it!

Oh my goodness Lanie;  what a day you've had.  Sure hope all works out fine with your tests.   I guess you just have to wait it out with Milo & see what happens, like Frank said. 

Megg can't seem to have any treats (or sneak food) without a reaction, but lots of dogs can & most probably the worst you'll encounter will be bad poops. 

Please keep us updated & let us know how he's doing.  Poor Milo.  Such a sweetie. 

Yes, I have to admit he is a real sweetie.  I think I probably over-reacted due to my then-drug-induced state, plus my anger over the fact that he was given treats even after they read his two medical id tags. Milo is like Megg when it comes to getting anything that has not been enzyme-treated.  Thanks for your concern, Lynn.  Hope you and the girls are doing well.  I'm afraid I have not been keeping up with the forum activities lately.

Yes, I have to admit he is a real sweetie.  I think I probably over-reacted due to my then-drug-induced state, plus my anger over the fact that he was given treats even after they read his two medical id tags. Milo is like Megg when it comes to getting anything that has not been enzyme-treated.  Thanks for your concern, Lynn.  Hope you and the girls are doing well.  I'm afraid I have not been keeping up with the forum activities lately.

Ahh gee Lanie ... what an absolutely crappie day you have had!! I am so sorry to hear that your esophagus contricted while they were putting the tube in... UGH... that does not sound pleasant.... and then Milo getting Beggin Strips that he should not have had.

I think Frank gave a great suggestions of geiving him an extra meal, albeit small, if he'll eat it with enzymes... that justmmight help... other than that.. it's a wait and see game.

Hopefully tomorrow when you both wake up you'll both have a much better day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Lord Lanie - wow...first of all, I hope you are ok.   Milo will be ok - it may set him off but my gut tells me in a day or two he will be back on track.   I really wouldn't fret about it too much.    It's almost like when we r first trying to find what works - then once we find it...wala...so in a few days I have no doubt he will be back to himself.   Wow though...what a day u had!!!!   Here's to a speedy recovery for you both!!

Thursday morning update -- Milo had no accidents during the night.  When the rain stops I will check the yard for cow-pies.  He would not eat last night, but ate all his breakfast.  He seems to feel okay, and I have not heard any tummy rumblings.  I am not as panicky as I was when I first found out about the beggin strips, and I think, as someone else said, "this too shall pass."  (I love that phrase as it pertains to this situation!) 

As for me, a good night's sleep (sleeping off the drugs) has made a difference.  I feel better.  I have had that procedure several times, but this was the first time there was a glitch.  My take on it is that with anesthesia, there is no way the esophagus can constrict involuntarily.  I think the anesthesiologist gave the "go ahead" to the doctor too soon, and I was probably in the middle of swallowing when the doctor put the tube down my throat.  Whatever caused it, all is better with me now, and to many others' dismay, my voice is returning to normal. :-) 

Most importantly, Milo does not seem to be suffering badly from the beggin strips.  I do expect some cow-pies and trust that will be temporary. 

What really gets me is that if they were able to get close enough to him to read his TWO medical id tags, they should have been able to easily determine that he was not an aggressive attack dog.  When I spoke to one of the officers who was here, he said that Milo was dropping toys at their feet and wanting them to play.  Go figure!!

Oh well, I am glad the worst of it is over (I think) and I sincerely appreciate everyone's support and advice.  Thanks very much from Milo and me.

Hi Lanie,

I'm happy to hear that things are looking better for you both today!!!  Chalk yesterday up to a really bad day!   Glad Milo is no worse for wear from it either!

Regarding them giving treats:  Actually, I'm amazed that they even called the vet!!! In most cases like that, they followed the exact protocol they usually do in calling the AC and as my cousin is an AC, the protocol is that all big dogs are handled as if they were agressive, which involves trying to befriend them with food. I'm sure they figured out that Milo wasn't agressive after they gave him the food, but they didn't know that. 

I had more to that last post, but it went away??  Weird...

Anyway, I wanted to add that what the AC generally does is start tossing food from a distance, probably from where she couldn't read the tag.  I'm betteing she called the vet "after" he had the beggin strips praying that he would be alright!!!!

Good morning Lanie. Very glad that you and Milo have come out the other side of your Very Bad Day.  You wont want to be repeating that one for a good long while.  I made comment in my earlier post about the belly gods being good to you. then someone else said they had a gut feeling you would pull through this quickly....wonder if that makes them the belly god???   :-)

It was Michelle....I think Michelle is the Belly God, er...Goddess.

Hi to "belly goddess" and others.  My back yard has some cow-pies (surprise, surprise) but Milo does not act like he does not feel well, so that part is a plus.  Meanwhile, I bought some Slippery Elm as some of you have suggested.  Now if someone could save me a bit of time to search for it, can someone tell me how much to give him and when and how often, etc.?  They only had the capsules with powder inside, so I could open the capsules, and hopefully put the powder in his food, but I'm not sure if that is the correct way to do it.  Each capsule is 370 mg.  I don't think this stuff prevents cow-pies, but it certainly won't hurt him to have it.  Thanks!

the one I have is in capsules too - I don't know the strength - it's at home.........I'm not.

I gave Manfred one capsule - I think twice daily

but I honestly don't know if that's the proper dosage or not - hopefully someone else will chip in here

glad to hear that things worked out okay -

hope you are feeling better too

Hi Lanie - I personally haven't used the slippery elm yet but u may want to wait and just let the beggin strip pass before introducing something new to him...if his cow pies aren't gone in a few days then try the slippery elm.  Just didn't want to give him too much at once.     I have found with Jackie that if she "gets into something" a day or two she may be a little cowpieish...(new word)...then all is normal again.   Buttttt....since every dog is diff....just sharing my experience!     

Good Morning Lanie,

How are you and Milo doing this morning?  Just checkin' on ya.

Frank

Hi Lanie ~

I too am just checking in on you and Milo.... hope that procedure you had is now a distant, REAL  memory and that you are back to normal.  And hoping there are no longer loose stools showing up in your lawn................