EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

managing EPI

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joenik
Member
Posts: 751

Kain went for a weigh in today. He gained another pound and that was on an empty tummy. He is now 72 lbs. and my goal for him is 75 lbs., so, I'd say once he hits 76, then he is a Chunky Monkey, just about 4 more pounds to go. (His weigh ins are with his leash, collar and leader, so it is most likely about 2 pounds off, but since he was always weighed with his gear on, it is consistent.

--

Kain, 4 yr. old GSD, Mom, Nicole, Dad, Joe, Sister Angel, 7 year old GSD, Sister Noni, 7 year old cat, and Twin Sisters, Eva and Mia, age 4. B-12: 369, TLI: less than 1, Folate: 15.7.Started Enzymes 1/14/11, 1 tsp./c, 2 1/2 cups fed once daily and 1 cup fed once daily. Nature's Variety, TOTW, Back to Basics, California Natural, all in monthly rotation, Let enzymes set 30 min. Low weight, 48 lbs, down from high of ONLY 66. Bi-Weekly B-12 shot of 1.4ml. All time high weight EVER on 12/11/11 at 71 lbs., one of the happiest days of my life, honestly, it is up there with some memorable days! *NEW WEIGHT of 76 lbs.!* 

January 10, 2012 at 3:23 PM Flag Quote & Reply

AK GSD
Member
Posts: 2548

Go Kain! You can do it!  

--

~Becky~

January 10, 2012 at 4:19 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Jean and Kara
Member
Posts: 2190

hi

 

excellent news and a beautiful picture too

 

jxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

--

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"

January 10, 2012 at 5:03 PM Flag Quote & Reply

epi4dogs
Site Owner
Posts: 7645

Nicole... this is WONDERFUL news especially since you have always had some difficulty getting Kain to eat.... i'd say Kain (and you too!) deserve a big Hi-Five!

So looking forward to the day we can enroll Kain in the Chunky Monkey Club!

--

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.

January 10, 2012 at 5:06 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Barb
Member
Posts: 1843

Woooooooohooooooo!  That's my boy, Kain!    We know you can make the goal.   I feel a Happy Weigh-in Dance coming on.........


Great work, Nicole.   I know it has been hard to get weight on him.   But you are doing it.   Congratulations!


Barb

January 10, 2012 at 7:40 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Miss Lulupants
Administrator
Posts: 1945

Yaaaay Kain! Lulu says, Hi-paw!!



--

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; 3.5 3 cups Canidae ALS grain free kibble per day + one Metagenics B12 tablet. Click here for diet/med details. Miss Lulupants' story has been archived but it starts here. Lulu currently weighs: 21.2kg (46.7lbs) = Chunky Monkey! (now on a diet) Target: 19.5kg/43lbs. Lulu is super-smart, a bit plump and very pretty (everybody says so - including her!).

January 10, 2012 at 9:43 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Michele
Member
Posts: 3926

yeaaaaaaaaa Kain!!!   

--

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 :)   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

January 11, 2012 at 8:35 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Val
Member
Posts: 1560

YESSS...YESSS... YESSS!

We have another nearly Chunky Monkey... congrats and keep on forging ahead... a few more pounds and you will be THERE!


Val

--


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January 11, 2012 at 9:29 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Devika
Member
Posts: 369
Fantastic news!! Many, many congratulations Nicole and to your family and to the very, very handsome Kain! What a lovely picture :-). Looking forward to 4 more pounds! Devika
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Mahi, the Indian EPI dog, diagnosed at 10 months, now 3 years old. Was 60 lbs, went down to 46 lbs, but now with YOUR help inching towards 59 lbs. Fed 3 times a day - homecooked diet of 1 kg potatoes, 70 gms lentils, 150 gms tapioca, squash, beetroot, carrots mashed together, 2 boiled eggs and 500 ml yoghurt. Since 1st Dec '11 have begun to gradually add TOTW Pacific Stream, pre-softened in hot water with the home-cooked food. 1 Salmon Omega 3 tablet given per day. 1 tablet of Creon 10K given 20 mins before every meal. Very, very active - knock on wood, and seems to have gone from a level 10 of "hungry" to maybe an 8. On 27th July 2011, officially downgraded "hungry" level to 7.

January 11, 2012 at 10:47 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Addiemoose
Member
Posts: 257

Yea Kain! Great news! 

--

Kelli & Addie

 

  • Shetland Sheepdog, 4 yr- old female, diagnosed 7/18/11
  • TLI- 1.6, Folate- >24
  • Cobalamine <150 at diagnosis. Over 900 10-13-11
  • Weight- 28 lbs, currently- 40lbs= over her Goal Weight! On a diet!
  • Canidae Pure Elements- 1/2 C- 3 X Day, with 1/2 tsp 8x- Enzyme Diane) mix & set 20 minutes. 
  • B-12 shots every 2 weeks
  • Tylan- almost all the time- SIBO keeps coming back
  • Coconut oil- 8-31-11- 1/4 tsp
  • Prilosec 10mg/twice daily

 

January 11, 2012 at 12:23 PM Flag Quote & Reply

joenik
Member
Posts: 751

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I am really proud of Kain.  I told Joe that soon he will need to go on a diet!  Joe said sarcastically- or you could just stop hand feeding him.  When I told him that I post on here that I hand feed him, Joe said, oh my God, don't tell people that Nicole, they will think something is wrong with you. Like oh no here goes Nicole with her crazy hand feeding theory!

--

Kain, 4 yr. old GSD, Mom, Nicole, Dad, Joe, Sister Angel, 7 year old GSD, Sister Noni, 7 year old cat, and Twin Sisters, Eva and Mia, age 4. B-12: 369, TLI: less than 1, Folate: 15.7.Started Enzymes 1/14/11, 1 tsp./c, 2 1/2 cups fed once daily and 1 cup fed once daily. Nature's Variety, TOTW, Back to Basics, California Natural, all in monthly rotation, Let enzymes set 30 min. Low weight, 48 lbs, down from high of ONLY 66. Bi-Weekly B-12 shot of 1.4ml. All time high weight EVER on 12/11/11 at 71 lbs., one of the happiest days of my life, honestly, it is up there with some memorable days! *NEW WEIGHT of 76 lbs.!* 

January 11, 2012 at 12:46 PM Flag Quote & Reply

epi4dogs
Site Owner
Posts: 7645

Nicole.... you need to explain something to Joe.... like uhmmmm.... we're the bunch that check out dog poop, take pictures of it and discuss with friends and family.... and he thinks we are going to think you're crazy cause you hand feed??????? Nah.... not a chance!

--

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.

January 11, 2012 at 8:32 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Star's Mom
Member
Posts: 330

Congrats Kain, keep on going!

 

Nicole, anyone here would do whatever it took to get their dog healthy.  So no one would ever think you are crazy, just a Mom doing what she needs to do.  Whether it's hand feeding, mixing special food, inspecting poop in the dark with a flashlight...........

 

January 11, 2012 at 8:44 PM Flag Quote & Reply

shirl
Member
Posts: 830

Woo Hoo!  Great job!  And you can tell Joe that you're not the only one who has hand fed.  Of course, I've only had to do it  at different times for different reasons with 3 of the 6 dogs I've had....  Does that make me 3 times as crazy as you?!

--

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. 

January 11, 2012 at 10:08 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Kathy and Ted
Member
Posts: 2473

Way to go, Kain! Good job, Nicole, I know how hard and long you have struggled to put weight on the boy.

--

Kathy and Ted 9 yr old GSD rescue ~72 lbs now 109 lbs

 

January 14, 2012 at 7:33 AM Flag Quote & Reply

joenik
Member
Posts: 751

So glad to report that my lil man gained another 1.5 lbs. He went for his weigh in on Saturday and I am just so proud.  He looks handsome. I was giving him raspberries on his belly today and he is getting a little bit of fat around the belly.  So we are at 74 lbs. and counting! C.M.Club here we come!

--

Kain, 4 yr. old GSD, Mom, Nicole, Dad, Joe, Sister Angel, 7 year old GSD, Sister Noni, 7 year old cat, and Twin Sisters, Eva and Mia, age 4. B-12: 369, TLI: less than 1, Folate: 15.7.Started Enzymes 1/14/11, 1 tsp./c, 2 1/2 cups fed once daily and 1 cup fed once daily. Nature's Variety, TOTW, Back to Basics, California Natural, all in monthly rotation, Let enzymes set 30 min. Low weight, 48 lbs, down from high of ONLY 66. Bi-Weekly B-12 shot of 1.4ml. All time high weight EVER on 12/11/11 at 71 lbs., one of the happiest days of my life, honestly, it is up there with some memorable days! *NEW WEIGHT of 76 lbs.!* 

January 30, 2012 at 10:30 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Maezi & wanda
Member
Posts: 260
Great weight gain kain ! =}. I too have to admit to spoon feeding maezi at times to get her to eat --way to go !
--

Maezi is a female  Australian cattle dog (blue Heeler) from BC Canada born may 11-2010

The story of her journey and struggles with EPI are featured on the EPI stories section above

 

 

January 31, 2012 at 12:45 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Dar
Member
Posts: 649

Yeah !!!   Congrats Nicole ... the scale just keeps going upwards !!!:D  You rock Kain !!!


--

  Dar and Kodi

Kodi (GSD female , born August 19, 2010 , was diagnosed July 15, 2011 at 11 months .Lowest weight, 47 lbs, weight as of  2/ 20/ 2012  59.6 lbs. Our goal for her at this time is 60lbs.  ... We made it !!!    60.4 lbs on March 31, 2012 .  TLI .07 , Folate 9.4 , Cobalmin 536 .Kodi eats TOTW Sierra Mountain (Lamb and sweet potato, grain free), 2 cups,2 times a day  with 1 teaspoon of pancreatin 8x per cup., recently  added  small lunch(1 cup plus 1 teas. enzymes) enzymes ( From Diane...awesome lady!!!) , with warm water and letting it sit for 30 minutes .  She is our furry kid whom just loves playing with the grandkids !!!!

January 31, 2012 at 12:45 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Karen
Member
Posts: 1594

Great news, Nicole.  You have done a great job w/ Kain.  You will get there, or should I say, Kain will get there.

 

--
Karen & Hondo - MI
GSD-epi, ibd, sibo & low B12
DX 02/07, Raw Fed, low weight 65 lbs, now 91
January 31, 2012 at 6:09 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Val
Member
Posts: 1560

Oh... hand feeding makes you crazy?

In that case join the club.

Cassie has been off her food for about four days and who was it that stuck her finger in a jar of honey to get the pit-pony to lick something to keep her blood sugar from dropping too low?

Ah, it was ME!

Now a few days with less food wouldn't do the monster a bit of harm but crazy lady had to panic.

All is well and the vet put her on antis for a few days... she managed to.. nibble.. a whole tin of dog food and a scoop of mixer for breakfast so I think she may well survive.


Val

--


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January 31, 2012 at 6:50 AM Flag Quote & Reply

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