EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

HI Everyone

We recently discovered our Lucy has an "allergy" to something - the WHAT is what we dont know.  However here is the treatment so far as recomenneded by our vet who we love and trust so to speak.

First receommended to try Vancetyl P which ended up causing other issues and its a steriod so I didnt like that and we took her off.  Then we were told to try "Apis Mellifica" as it was more natural in pellet form...That didnt change anything and Lucy was still itching and scratching like mad.  We have now been told to try her on Benadryl 25mg twice a day.  I just started this and so far havent noticed a change.  And all through this my poor lucy is itching and scratching like crazy so much that has created small little scabs where she goes at it too much.  Like under her arms on her arms, on her head, neck and behind her ears.  I have noticed also some hair loss.  The vet Ruled out any type of mange or fleas but I still dont know what this is or how much more of this I can take I need a solution to the problem and rather find out exactly what it is that is causing this to help Lucy out.

If you have any suggestions or experienced a skin allergy like this please let me know!!

Thanks,

Alley & Lucy

Hi Alley and Lucy.

I had a Queen of Allergies for 9 1/2 years... it started as a puppy and became much worse after EPI struck.

The first thing I would look to is FOOD allergies.

What do you feed and what does it contain?

It may be fine for EPI but the dog may be allergic to something IN it... after many kibbles trials ...I found my girl had an allergy to liver which is the vitamin additive... also sea products like fish or seaweed powder that is another vitamin additive.

Eventually I found she had allergies to BEEF... LAMB...FISH...RICE etc. and I went raw so I could take out anything that made her poops bad or made her itch... but there was ONE kibble I could use which was NOT reccomended for EPI but she could tolerate it... a cheap and cheerful kibble called Bakers Complete with chicken and Veg... that did have maize (I think) but no rice... most of the fibre was veg.

Advice?

Do a slow change of diet and see what happens.. we got through 30...yes 30... different kibbles before we found one that suited because Razzy was a hyper-allergenic dog. You may be lucky and soon find one that suits but look at EVERY ingredient and try to find something different.

Good luck, babe.

Val

My first thought from reading your post was also food allergies.  My dog can only eat ONE type of dog food or everything goes haywire.  I don't know if my girl has food allergies per se, but sometimes it is just a trial and error of finding the right food.  Star does have inhallant/environmental allergies, those seem to manifest by itchy feet mostly.  My understanding also is that allergies can develop over time....after being exposed to the same allergen repeatedly.  So even if she has been on the same food for a while, sometimes they can become sensitized to whatever is in the food that causes the allergy.  If you are going to try another food, maybe something that is limited ingredient.....one protein and one starch....so that you can more easily narrow down the problem ingredient.

Hi Alley and Lucy,

Allergies are just terrible.  Val provided some good advice.  Certainly try to determine what possible could be causing these allergies.   I have a Shiba (non-epi) that has allergies that are purely seasonal (spring and fall are the worst).  Hopefully this is your case - living in Ontario relief could be right around the corner from mother nature.

We have had some good luck with two different meds.  Methylpred and Temaril-P.  We really like the Temaril - it doesn't stop the itching completely, but he is certainly more comfortable.  And appreciates a helping hand of a good scratch all over right before bed by mom.

TEMARIL- P is a unique combination formula providing a 3-way therapeutic effect–antipruritic, antitussive, and anti-inflammatory - relieving the itch caused by allergic, inflammatory, and parasitic dermatoses.  The strength we have is 7mg - normally half to one tablet a day (Shiba (Bear) weighs about 30 pounds).  Right now is terrible for him (we are hiking a lot - so lots of weeds and wilderness) - so he is getting 1 tablet in am and 1 in the pm.

Hope this helps

Hi Alley,

I wish I had a magic wand for you - I would use it myself.   Dex is having issues and so far we have used what the vet prescribed Resi Keto Chlor (a lotion for the itchies) and Cephalexin (antibiotic) and neither worked.  I also tried the Benadryl and someone said to try Claritin - nothing.   An acquaintance I know had a cat with severe allergies - lost almost all its hair - and she tried something called N.A.E.T and my friend told me you would never believe it is the same cat - she is doing amazing.   This is the woman she used - just passing this info along in case you might be interested - you never know.    http://www.doctordeva.com/      I have an appointment at a new vet tomorrow but I am seriously considering doing a consult with this woman...

I hope you find relief for Lucy - these allergies rot!!

Hey there, I don't know if this will help, but the lady I adopted Liz (my non-EPI pup) from would feed her pups raw for a week or two to clear up allergies with her other rescues.  My pups don't have allergies so I haven't tested it myself, but I figured I'd throw that out there.

Hi

My boston terrier gets itchy scratchy too. She ends up all red on belly, chest and between legs. In other words gets red the whole lenth of her under body.  We use Clavomox 1 pill 2 times usuall for 5 to 7 days and it clears up. But it does come back usually in spring and fall.

Sharon and Hans

Angel who is not an EPI'er has similar problems. She has had bad allegies since day one and she just turned 7.  We did try the whole steroid thing as well but stopped it unless there is a huge flare up.  Angel also gets bad ear infections as well.  Allergy testing is tricky and can sometimes be very costly.  It is common and like Val said most of those meats she listed do pose allergy concerns.  Usually it is best to try a meat that the dog has not been exposed to before like venison or rabbit, limited ingredients, and if the dog is already EPI, then chances are he/she already is on grain free.  It was funny cause when I started to read your post i was pulling one of the scabs off Angel's fur.  Do you notice your pup licking in between her pads too?  Angel will excessively lick to the point that they are so red and raw.  She has gotten better and will listen if we do tell her to stop.  This could also be more seasonal.  We do notice it creep up much closer to spring and ends closer to fall with just a bit of breakouts in-between.  I use a topical cream, dermagen on them and clean them first with a wound cleanser.  At one point she did have fur loss, but it re-grew and never happened again.  I was told by one vet once that dogs will show signs of seasonal allergies through their skin, where as humans show it by sniffling, sneezing, watery eyes... I hope this helps!

Ahh Alley... i am so sorry that Lucy is dealing with allergies.  Every one gave you some really good suggestions....it simply could be anything and/or a multiple of allergies.

We were just at the vets yesterday for a swollen puffy ear and guess what... so now my poor Lulu has an inflammed right ear and her right back paw is infected to.... cross transference... allergy that got infected!. 

Lulu always chews her paws, and we have had many successes with various treatments but then, unfortunately it is almost as if they only work for a while. We suspect our allergy issues are environmental... only heaven knows specifically what, but it happens most in the spring and fall.... she chews her feet and gets a few little sores/scabs on her belly, under her arms and near her private parts.

in the past, an antibiotic Keflex healed things.... temporarily.

WHat i found that seems to work the best (when i am diligent about it) is to wash my dogs' feet when she comes in from being outside with Epsom salt and warm water.... this seems to REALLY cut back on the allergy issue.....but then i got lazy, stopped doing this, we moved, summer time... she didn't chew so much so i thought all was well... then this darn ear infection happened.... unbeknowst to me... allergy!

Anyway... yesterday they told me to

1. try Claritan 10mg daily (my dog weighs 45 lbs) if Benedryl stopped working or doesn't work (another vet told me to use Benedryl)

2. They gave me 500mg of Cephalexin antibiotic every 12 hours for two weeks

3. and what worked immediately before i tried any of the above (cause i had to wait until dinner time to give antibiotic with food.. and i held off on the Claritan until dinner time too) was a medication (liquid) that i have to pour in her ear and apply to her feet.... it is called "Gentocin / Miconazole" 5 drops every 12 hours for 2 weeks... OMG... within minutes of putting this in her ear and on her foot... her scratching was greatly reduced..... yesterday.  By today she has not scratched at all!..

I am also putting socks on her feet....just in case....after she comes in the house, i am now washing her feet, drying them.... and she wears these pretty little infant socks i got at Walmart. The funny thing is that she leaves them on.... not sure if she actually likes wearing clothes or what

oh.. and the other thing that this vet told me is to not bother with all the skin testing etc... she said you really have got to be committed to it in order for it to work... and she said, pretty much what Val said.... that usually when a dog has an allergy it is a multi-allergy.... best thing to do is process of elimination.......with a lot of possible culprits.

Hope some of this helps... please let us know how Lucy does

O - I am so sorry to hear Lulu is having issues also!!   Will you please look at how cute she looks!!!   I especially like the pink one!     If I ever put them on Dex - they would be right off.  Glad to hear what you are doing seems to be working.  

In addition to the meds my vet gave me she said to also give 1 tsp of flax seed oil with each meal - said it helps with allergies.    I'll be getting some tomorrow.   oi...these allergies!!   She gave me a shampoo for his paws - said to wash them and put him outside for about 10-15 mins and let the stuff "sink in" - then rinse off.   Also gave another stronger antibiotic as he had some infection    She also gave me some holistic topical spray (said it kills free radicals and she really likes it) - I'll look and report on all the meds tmro...too tired right about now.   I beyond love her - she was even open to "energy healing"...this woman and I are going to get along great, I can tell!!!  :-)))

Give that pink sock wearing gal a hug from me!  

O - I am so sorry to hear Lulu is having issues also!!   Will you please look at how cute she looks!!!   I especially like the pink one!     If I ever put them on Dex - they would be right off.  Glad to hear what you are doing seems to be working.  

In addition to the meds my vet gave me she said to also give 1 tsp of flax seed oil with each meal - said it helps with allergies.    I'll be getting some tomorrow.   oi...these allergies!!   She gave me a shampoo for his paws - said to wash them and put him outside for about 10-15 mins and let the stuff "sink in" - then rinse off.   Also gave another stronger antibiotic as he had some infection    She also gave me some holistic topical spray (said it kills free radicals and she really likes it) - I'll look and report on all the meds tmro...too tired right about now.   I beyond love her - she was even open to "energy healing"...this woman and I are going to get along great, I can tell!!!  :-)))

Give that pink sock wearing gal a hug from me!  

MIchele.... when you have time... email me or post here with the names of what the new vet put Dex on.

I also looked up what Jean recommended (THANKS JEAN!!!!!)  for grass (environmental) allergies... "Piriton" which is produced by Glaxo Smith Kline.... main ingredient is "Chlorpheniramine"... sounds like it can work well... if what i am doing now fails.... i am going to talk to my vet about Chlorpheniramine.............and/or what your vet recommends.

The vet has Dex on Simplicef 200mg 1 1/2 tablets daily (gave us 21 tablets) ; Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Shampoo - make a soapy lather on each paw and let sit for 15 mins, then wipe off (once a day for 1 week then every other day for 1 week); and Vetericyn VF - spray affected areas twice daily for 14 days - he also has irritation around his eyes so she told me I could put some on a Q-tip and rub around his eyes, she said it would not hurt his eyes.

Paws are crossed that this will work for him!   

Hope everyone's dogs respond and find relief from these darn allergies.

oops...almost forgot - she said to also give him one tsp flaxseed oil with each meal  

So glad  this post was started. i have a poor Miss Itchey and Scratchie here too. And again it is worse in spring and fall. Doesn't seem to be a problem when there is snow on the ground, not that i am hoping for snow. I am always leary about trying things. a question, do you give flaxseed with the meals, and of these oil capsules like salmon and etc. do you just give them around meal times. Just curious. i feel so bad when they are scratching and she gets her ears flared up too. i have drops for that , they work well, but the paws and legs thing i am sure drives her foolish.

Wanda

My Ruby has itchy paws from walking on the grass/sand.  I have tried a No itch spray . "Pet Aid" (natural ingredients).  Seems to help. However, I just order from Four Paws "Stop Paw Licking"  you may want to look it up on the internet. This is a solution that you mix with water and soak your dogs paws in it for a short period of time and works to help clear up the cluprits causing the itiching.  I will see if this work in the mean time look it up this may just be what you need for your pet. I hope. Best too you.  

Hi Wanda - the vet said to put 1 tsp per meal.    I just bought the flaxseed oil yesterday so today I will start that.   So many dogs seem to have this issue.   Hope Miss Itchey and Scratchey finds some relief...

Michele, ... pleae let us know if you see a difference with the Flaxseed oil... i wonder if it is something in the Flax seed specifically or if it is the omega's in the flaxseed....the reason why i am asking is because i currently give Lulu (and the others) EFA's for that.....(it is a real good source of the good kind of omega's.)

I am sorry to hear about everyone's experience with allergeries.  I have had this problem with my full sibling but not EPI diagnosed shepherd.  I drove 3 1/2 hours and took him a dermatologist and this was what I learned.

Allergies are a disease of exclusion as they are not easily diagnosed.  They assume food to be the most likely cause and where they advised me to start my changes.  They recommendated one meat source, like fish and potato.  They do recommend that you use a protein that the dogs have never had.  They did recommend venison, rabbit or kangaroo (but we had already used venison).  They do recommend the dogs must be on the food for 6-8 weeks as it takes time for the reaction to develop. My problem with kibble was how do I know it isn't the other stuff in the kibble?  They also do have the ability to provide the dog with allergy shots that can be developed based on the allergin to help decrease this allergy (also done with humans but doesn't seem as effective with the dogs).

My dog also had scabs on his body and he did also have bare ears.  He was treated for mange for 6 weeks prior to arriving as it is hard to diagnose with skin scraps.  He did have a bacterial infection from all of his scratching that did require antibiotics.  He did have bacteria on his skin but also in the corners of his mouth.  He was placed on special shampoo which I used 2 x a week, antibiotic pills and wipes to address the bacteria in the corner of his mouth. 

I did consider the diet situation and just refused to spend tons of money on kibble to test.  I then decided to switch him to an entire raw diet.  I have had no problems since.  He eats many different protein sources, his fur has grown back and he rarely scratches.  I know this is a frustrating thing and hope maybe this information is helpful.