EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
managing EPI
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Site Owner Posts: 7645 |
As some of you know, i have been involved with EPI Genetic Research since 2006 and over the years many of you have helped the geneticists tremendously with this research by submitting blood samples from your dog to Dr. Clark (Texas A&M University and the Clemson University). Often times, genetic research takes years and years before they find something conclusive. Well, thanks to so many of you for your participation and thanks to Dr. Keith Murphy, Dr. Leigh Anne Clark and Dr. Kate Tsai for agreeing to take on this project to begin with all those years ago........
Drs. Clark and Tsai have found something!!! An allele indication in some of the EPI population. Much work still needs to be done, but this is the first positive/conclusive indication anyone has ever identified with EPI..... a HUGE break-through! To read more about this....please go to the official statement (given to me with permission from Dr. Clark) http://www.epi4dogs.com/research.htm . {This may not be copied without explicit permission from me (olesia) or Dr. Clark}
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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: 992 |
That's really interesting Olesia. I wonder if that same allele or other ones associated with that region of the chromosome are also involved and might lead to other autoimmune disorders such as IBD and pannus and also allergy, with the relationship to histocompatability. I bet there's a link. | |
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- Barb -
Mom to Cedar, diagnosed with EPI Nov 1, 2010, TLI 1.2, April 2011 B12 310 (150-700), Folate 31 (7-39); Dec 2011 B12 349 (150-700), Folate 18 (7-39); now on B12 injections weekly; 1 3/4 tsp pancreatin 8X/meal, 1 1/4 c Evo Red Meat Grain free + 1/2 c add ins (pork, salmon, sardines, haddock, egg, pumpkin are the usual), 1/3 c water, incubated x 30 minutes; 2 meals/day; current weight 69.9 lbs. Also has Pannus; treated with tacrolimus ointment 2 x daily each eye and gets 100 ug Vit E daily for immature cataracts. Also Mom to pupkids Bree and Griffin, and catkids Abby, Diamond and Max...and skinkid Ayden
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Site Owner Posts: 7645 |
Hi Barb~ I don't have a clue... but wouldn't it be grand if they can connect the dots?! I am just so excited with this breakthrough...even though i know they have so much more work ahead of them.... this is very positive news :). | |
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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: 3926 |
Congratulations to you, Dr. Keith Murphy, Dr. Leigh Anne Clark and Dr. Kate Tsai for your persistence and dedication to helping these beautiful creatures. You are changing the face of EPI all for the better. It is with such huge gratitude I thank each and every one of you personally - if I could I would shake your hand and give you all a huge hug of appreciation. On behalf of my pups and all the EPI pups of the world - I thank you with all I am. You guys ROCK!!!! | |
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-- Michele "No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich" - having 2 makes you even richer! :-)Jackie (back in pic) Diagnosed at 9 mos (09/09) - TLI 0.3 and low end of B12. Pancreatin 8x dosing 3/4tsp per cup. Natures Domain, Trinfac-B Intrinsic Factor daily, probiotics and Duralactin in the am. Stable and happy 115 lbs - thanks to all the beautiful souls on this forum, we could not have done it without YOU. Dexter - Diagnosed 11/10 approx 3 yrs of age. We failed fostering and now he has his forever home
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Member Posts: 992 |
Oh dear, I should have said that too Michele. I got caught up in the content and it tickled my brain. Thanks so much Olesia for your vision to include supporting this research along with the creation of this Forum. You really have brought a world wide network together and you've changed the world for the better. | |
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- Barb -
Mom to Cedar, diagnosed with EPI Nov 1, 2010, TLI 1.2, April 2011 B12 310 (150-700), Folate 31 (7-39); Dec 2011 B12 349 (150-700), Folate 18 (7-39); now on B12 injections weekly; 1 3/4 tsp pancreatin 8X/meal, 1 1/4 c Evo Red Meat Grain free + 1/2 c add ins (pork, salmon, sardines, haddock, egg, pumpkin are the usual), 1/3 c water, incubated x 30 minutes; 2 meals/day; current weight 69.9 lbs. Also has Pannus; treated with tacrolimus ointment 2 x daily each eye and gets 100 ug Vit E daily for immature cataracts. Also Mom to pupkids Bree and Griffin, and catkids Abby, Diamond and Max...and skinkid Ayden
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Member Posts: 1843 |
Olesia, This is awesome news! Thank you for sharing it with us. We are so grateful that so many people are using their talents, time, and energy to keep this research going because we know how many pups will benefit. Every time I think that just a few short years ago we did not even have the TLI test and had to rely on fecal tests which weren't always conclusive or accurate in diagnosing EPI.....I am so grateful. Thank you, Olesia, for all the work you do....here and behind the scenes to help us help our much loved animals. Providing us and future members with the information and support that is so needed... which has helped so many of our pups to be here today..... is a gift that can only be described as magnificent! We thank all of you for the work you have done and continue to do. Barb | |
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Member Posts: 517 |
WOW! What an exciting breakthrough! Can't wait until they have it all figured out. Truly amazing stuff! Hooray for the team! | |
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-- Pamela and Rosina; 9 yr old LH Chihuahua Mix; dx'd 10/26/10; Currently 2.5 lbs overweight at 22.5 lbs. Free fed in AM and PM on 3/8 cup Wellness Core Chicken, Turkey Liver, and Chicken Liver Dry and 2 tbsp Wellness Core Chicken, Turkey Liver, and Chicken Liver canned, 1 tsp pumpkin (sometimes add 2 tbsp greenbeans when she needs more food because of increased appetite from the Temaril) and 1/2 tsp Diane's 8X granulated enzymes; 1 tbsp Wellness 95% Chicken or Turkey and 1/16 tsp 8X enzymes incubated and mixed with 1/16 tsp Tylan in the AM. Taking Temaril occasionally for allergies and Metacam 1X most days for leg pain.
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Member Posts: 1560 |
WONDERFUL NEWS.... such a breakthrough is what we have waited for over the years... Give our thanks to all those brilliant people and our thanks to you Olesia for the huge amount of work you put in... Think of all the dogs that could be saved if testing identified the problem before breeding. YEEESSSS... this is the first small step to a long but worthwhile journey. Val | |
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Site Owner Posts: 7645 |
I probably should better clarify my "involvement" . Way back when i shamelessly begged and pleaded with Dr. Murphy to take on this project when they were all still at Texas A&M. Finally he agreed which was amazing because research takes money...lots of it.... and we had none .... but he decided to help us anyway and Dr. Clark became lead researcher of this project. Now Dr. Clark is running this project with the assistance of Dr. Tsai. They have done an amazing job, i mean truly amazing !!!! So many of you folks were part of the reason for this success because ya'll sent in blood samples from your dogs... so the thanks goes to each of you and the researchers.....to sum up my role would probably be best stated as "the EPI nag" | |
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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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Administrator Posts: 1945 | Hey Olesia, just think of a nag as the cattle dog equivalent for the project . Y'know, the one who runs around and around, yapping good-naturedly but firmly, until everyone is in the same zone ready to get on with the job. Lulu says that's the highest compliment anyone can get! Congratulations to all involved!! Craig | |
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Craig Lulu (aka Miss Lulupants) is a 4 year old 'Red Shepherd' (Australian Red Heeler x Long-hair GSD) who lives in Adelaide, South Australia. Diagnosed with EPI in April 2010. Currently on one Creon 25k per meal;
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Member Posts: 2548 |
Olesia - A huge pat on the back to you and the research team! You just keep nagging away | |
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-- ~Becky~
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Member Posts: 830 |
Thank you for being an Exxtraordinary EPI Nag! This is wonderful news on the research front! | |
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-- Mom to Pixie, 6 year old sheltie,inherited from my mother-in-law 3/11. Dx of EPI 9/09. TLI in 10/09 was 0.4 ug/L. As of 12/2/11, Folate fasting levels was 13.6 ug/L, and Cobalamin fasting was 615. Current weight 18.6 lbs (4/12), ideal weight around 17 - we're trying to keep her from gaining more! Feeding grain free - Natural Balance canned lamb and Nature's Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Lamb kibble. Giving slightly less than 1/2 tsp Pancreatin 8X per 1/2 cup of food. Tylan currently 1x/day. Also takes 1/2 tablet pepcid for stomach upset 2x/day. Fortiflora probiotics 8/15/11, one packet daily. Getting bi-weekly B-12 shots. Our little pack also includes my husband, our 11 year old sheltie, Lucy, and our 8 year old sheltie, Einstein.
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Member Posts: 130 |
I was wondering, I think in the research that I read it said that there are 2 "somethings" that confer protection against EPI. Is it possible that there someday could be a vacine? Yes I still lurk here even though Dutch is gone and I no longer have EPI dogs.
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-- Owned By Hondo, Trooper, and Lady. Previously owned by Dutch, EPI, IBD, megacolon dog who went to wait for us at the bridge.
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Member Posts: 2190 |
This is really interesting my vet went through something very similar last week with me With Olesias blessing I sent the link to Alex the EPI specialist at Liverpool university and got a response which said that they are coming to the end of their trial and will be collating data and will have a report shortly I sent Olesia his reply in full just for her records I will ask him if he can to let us know the results I would happily do what I could for EPI or anything else and I am delighted that folk helped with this Olesia you are fab
Jean | |
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-- Kara:: adopted at five months old 26th December 2009 always hungry more than any of my other dogs became noticeably distressed August 2010 Two vet visits and............. Diagnosed with EPI at 14 months old September 2010 tli<1.00 folate 8.3 cobalimin 611 taking 2 Oxytet antibiotics 3 times a day and eating Nutrix grain free duck and potato kibble and starting to put weight on currently 33 kilos as of 20th June 2011 we also use Tylan if we dont have the time to use the oxytet as it has to be on an empty tum, enzymes at the moment Pancrex granules 3 teaspoons per meal she is 2 yrs old as of 21st July 2011 "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WAS INVENTED BY DOGS"
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Member Posts: 2190 |
Just a bit more I have asked Alex for his findings
jx | |
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-- Kara:: adopted at five months old 26th December 2009 always hungry more than any of my other dogs became noticeably distressed August 2010 Two vet visits and............. Diagnosed with EPI at 14 months old September 2010 tli<1.00 folate 8.3 cobalimin 611 taking 2 Oxytet antibiotics 3 times a day and eating Nutrix grain free duck and potato kibble and starting to put weight on currently 33 kilos as of 20th June 2011 we also use Tylan if we dont have the time to use the oxytet as it has to be on an empty tum, enzymes at the moment Pancrex granules 3 teaspoons per meal she is 2 yrs old as of 21st July 2011 "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WAS INVENTED BY DOGS"
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Member Posts: 2548 |
Thanks for the update Jean... can't wait to hear what their research has found also! | |
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-- ~Becky~
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At initial testing - TLI 1.2 (range 5-35) B12 254 (range 249-733) folate 20.2 (range 6.5-11.5) Natures Domain, Pancreatin 8x dosing is 1tsp per cup, Trinfac-B Intrinsic Factor daily, probiotics with each meal and glucosamine chondroitin in the am. Stable and happy 95 lbs 8/15/11
... i nagged the researchers to do the research, i nagged you folks to send in blood samples..i nag ya'll to help with EPI Awareness, i've nagged you over the years to buy products that we do to raise money for EPI causes and.... yep.... brace yourself ..... i am going to nag ya'll yet again to buy 2012 EPI calendars to raise more money for Drs. Clark and Tsai for this genetic reserach and for EPI Awareness ! So.... i'm thinking.... "EPI Nag" kinda sums it up for my part :D... but regarding everything else... this FORUM, the many awareness projects...the research, well... my goodness... none of this would have been possible without all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!You must login to post.
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