EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
managing EPI
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| Forum Home > General Discussion > 3 kgs in 3 weeks! | ||
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Member Posts: 4 |
Just a progress note about Raj - since discovering this wonderful site, Raj has gained almost 3kg in 3 weeks! YEEHAA!! Had his B12 checked - was 77 (at my vet's lab in Australia the norm is 77-379 pmol/l) se. folate 32 (norm 6-24nmol/l indicating a strong probability of SIBO), so he's had 3weeks of a 6 week course of neocabalamin ( Vit B12) injections which I bought at a chemist without a script (didn't know you could do that in Australia). Also started him on compounded tylosin caps after taking out a second mortgage on the house!!! $180 for 50x250mg capsules!!!!! The vets instructions were "1x250mg cap twice a day" but I re-read the SIBO site which says "25mg/kg", so really he needs at least three caps, twice a day (he's 33.8kg). His poos are improving - a few shades darker, and formed well. I'm keeping a photo diary of his poos (sorry, did I tell you I was a nurse?! ?!) Our goal is for "stellar" poos. I feed him three times a day with BARF (250g packs of the meat, bones & offal of lamb, chicken or rabbit) with a heaped tablespoon of steamed vegies added at lunch, and Earthborn Grain-free Primitive 1cup at breaky & 2 1/2 cups at dinner. And a Creon 10,000 with each meal. If anyone can think of anything else I should be doing, please feel free to chip in your ideas. I know we aren't out of the woods yet, but the weight gain is very promising! | |
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-- Madeleine
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Member Posts: 464 |
Madeleine- great news! Happy poop dance! One comment about the Tylan & second mortgage on the house- I felt the same way after my first visit to the compounding pharmacy for Addie, although she takes quite a bit less. I ended up ordering Tylan, gel capsules & a capsule- maker from Amazon. So far I've made three rounds of Tylan from one jar & can probably do one more. Very easy to do. Can also use an index card to fill the capsules. Many of the forum members do this to save $$. Not sure on Austraila's import laws on Tylan but I know our Aussie members will chime in soon with suggestions. Great job! By the way, I googled Byron Bay- wow- beautiful place!! | |
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-- Kelli & Addie
Shetland Sheepdog, 4 yr- old female, diagnosed 7/18/11. TLI 1.6, Folate >24, B-12 <150. B-12 shots every week. Weight 28lbs-now 40! Member of Chunky Monkey Club! Feeding Canidae Pure Elements 1/2 C 2x/day, 1/4C at night. Mix & set 20 min. Tylan 2x/day for recurring SIBO. Coconut Oil 1 tsp/day. Omeprisol 1/day for acid reflux
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Site Owner Posts: 10067 |
Hi Madeleine ... WOW!!! that is a fabulous turn-around..... i just got done posting on Wanda's Maezi thread... and same thing.... it is ALL about finding the right balance of things...You are well on your way!!! Give the TYlan time to clean out the SIBO (hopefully with an initial regimen of 30-45 days!) and keep recording those notes... that will indicate "if" you have to tweak anything. And if you can get the Tylan from AMazon.com.... that would be great.... big savings! Ofcourse you might have to deal with putting the powder in capsules if Raj is turned off by the extremely bitter taste of the Tylan.... but it is well worth it to get rid of SIBO and save money in the process. Keep the good news coming!!!!!!!!!! | |
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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: 2088 |
THREE KILOS... IN THREE WEEKS Woweeee that deserves a Happy Dance.... well done. Val | |
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-- Razzy, GSD. EPI for 4 1/2 years... sadly lost to cancer 30th July 2011 aged 9 1/2 years.
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Member Posts: 1619 |
Awesome news !!! Good job!! | |
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-- Dar and Kodi, From Washington state Kodi (GSD female) , born August 19, 2010 , was diagnosed July 15, 2011 at 11 months .Lowest weight, 47 lbs, weight as of 4/27/2013 62.9 lbs. Our goal for her at this time is now 65 lbs. !!! . TLI .07 , Folate 9.4 , Cobalmin 536 . Kodi is on Great Life grain and potato free Buffalo,1 & 1/2 cups 3 times a day with 1 & 1/2 teaspoons of enzymes from Diane. 1 Trinfac-B capsule once a day. Also 1/8 t. of ground coriander, 1/16 t. of ground fennel seed and cinnamon per meal (for stomach acid and burps). Having acupunture with a holistic vet for pollen allergies, doing acupressure points and taking 1000 mg.Super Quercetin daily for allergies.
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Member Posts: 1978 | Fabulous, Madeleine! Keep up the good work! | |
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-- Paula and Maya (bday 12/21/06) (diagnosed 10/26/10 TLi 1.5, B12 659 (ref:249-733), weight 52 lbs. After 30 days, retested B12/folate - B12 plummeted to 200, which greatly affected her personality. After following B12 protocol, currently giving weekly B12 shots at home. Weight in July 2012: 75 lbs - the picture of health.
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Member Posts: 875 |
Your picture is one of the best I have ever seen, period! | |
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-- 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. Currently Handfed ,1 tsp./c, 2 1/2 cups fed once daily and 1 1/2 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! *NEW WEIGHT of 76 lbs.!*
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Member Posts: 825 |
Briliant weight gain! And I keep a photo record of poos too!! It's the best way to do it! Well done. Gillian x | |
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-- Wallace rescue GSD. Currently feeding Burgess Supadog Sensitive Lamb & Rice - 2.5% fibre, 20% protein. 6ml of Panzym + 1 Lypex per meal, three meals a day. Tylan 1/8 teaspoon twice a day (this is half the recommended dose for his weight but the recommended dose made his poos soft!). Monthly B12 injection.
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Member Posts: 4436 |
Wonderful! I read your profile and I am so happy you found the site and that you are seeing such wonderful improvement. It sounds AMAZING where you live! Even reading it, I felt such a beautiful sense of peace. I too have to agree - your profile pic is awesome! | |
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-- Michele http://gardensoftranquility.com/ Jackie - 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. Mega-E: cisapride and metoclopramide. Stable and happy 122lbs - 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: 278 |
YEA !!! send some of that weight Brodie's way | |
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cindi ... Saint 9 yr retired lgd pyr, Pearl 5yr retired lgd akbash, Ko Ko 6yr pyr - best dog in the world, Mr. Wiggles 9yr mix w/ too much energy, Rosie 4 yr - life is good gentle gaint. The kitties of the house: Sammie 8yr,lil Miss Magic 4 yr , peaches ~ 3yr , Hannah 2 yr, Puff 1 yr and My little boy now wings.... Angel Brodie.
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Member Posts: 2847 |
What a great weight gain, congratulations! | |
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-- Kathy and Ted 10 yr old GSD rescue ~ gained 39 lbs
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Member Posts: 1463 |
Super news! Chunky monkey club member in the making with that weight gain!!
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- Barb -
Mom to Cedar, diagnosed with EPI Nov 1, 2010, TLI 1.2, Feb 2013 B12 653 (150-700), Folate 23 (7-39); B12 injections weekly; 1 3/4 tsp pancreatin 8X/meal, 1 1/4 c TOTW Pacific Stream or Sierra Mountain + 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 68.9 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: 2780 |
Hello Madeleine - I am so happy for you that you are seeing such wonderful improvement with Raj since starting the Creon, B12 and Tylan The one thing you might want to think about is trying to keep the amount of food to enzyme ratio more consistant. It looks like you currently do 1 cup of kibble in the morning with a Creon 10 and 2 1/2 cups of kibble in the evening with a Creon 10... so maybe try using two Creon 10's with that evening meal.... | |
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-- ~Becky~
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Site Owner Posts: 10067 |
Hey Madeleine... looking forward to hearing more great reports about Raj!!!!!!!!! | |
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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: 3693 |
good news week
your photo always makes me smile
jxxxx | |
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-- Kara:: adopted at five months old 26th December 2009 EPI dx August 2010 tli<1.00 folate 8.3 cobalimin 611 Antibiotics 2 Oxytet antibiotics 3 times a day also if we cannot fit the Oxytet in she has Tylan 1/8th teaspoon before her meals Food- Ashenbank Lamb Casserole twice daily equalling 3 cups per day possibly more Zantac (ranitadine) 75 mg 30 minutes before each meal as too much acid was being produced enzymes-Panzym 1 gram per meal twice daily ( 1/4 teaspoon ) plus one Lypex B12 injection once every three weeks one Chemeyes B12 with intrinsic factor of 40 daily one Antepsin before bedtime alergies to beef pork chicken and white fish confirmed by blood test 33.6 kilos in weight as of 5th May 2013
"UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WAS INVENTED BY DOGS"
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Member Posts: 1649 |
Great job!! Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on things already. I was going to say the came thing that Kelli did about making your own tylan capsules. I bought a small capsule making machine online (I think it was around 20.00), empty gelcaps, and a bottle of tylan and I make my own. It's easy, it just takes a little time. But it's a lot cheaper than having it compounded for you.
Keep up the good work! | |
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-- Mom to Pixie, 7 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 21.7 lbs (4/13), solid member of the Chunky Monkey Club! Ideal weight around 17, I think, but she's not obese at this weight, so maybe 17 is a little low. 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. Primal Defense probiotics 1/8 tsp, 3x/week. Getting bi-weekly B-12 shots. Our little pack also includes my husband, our 12 year old sheltie, Lucy, and our 9 year old sheltie, Einstein.
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Member Posts: 4 |
Thanks everyone for your encouragement ! Thanks Kellie for your info on the capsules - I'm off to have a look at Amazon. And thanks Becky for your thoughts on the Creon - it occurred to me the other day that there was a bit of an imbalance, so thankyou, I'll try him on another Creon from tomorrow. I remember reading, I think, from other posts that some people have their dogs on two Creon Fortes (25,000) a day, so I think during this initial period that Raj could handle it. Thanks again everyone! Will let you know how he goes. | |
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-- Madeleine
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Administrator Posts: 2146 |
Great news Madeline, such wonderful improvement so soon is very very encouraging - well done you! A couple of thoughts, I'd tend to agree with Becky and try either two Creon 10k per meal OR one Creon 25k per meal at least to start. Jumping from one 10k cap to two 25k is too great a leap to get a feel for the level he will eventaully settle on (which may change over time but we need to find an optimum for him for the present). Best to write everything down and build up his enzyme dose, gives you more of a sense of control too. Re the capsule machines, forget the compunding chemists, I remember getting a price early on too and it was outrageous! Here's an earlier thread with some examples of mahoinces, we bought ours on ebay, cheaper than cheap http://www.epi4dogs.com/apps/forums/topics/show/4148905 Tylan can't be imported to Australia and does require a prescription from a vet who also have to order it in (usually). If you do manage to order it from overseas it's likely AQIS will seize it. Good thing is it's distributed out of Sydney so you should have no problem in Byron. And a belated welcome to you from SA, I haven't been able to check in lately as much as I would like but am fighting to change that (always | |
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Craig Lulu (aka Miss Lulupants) is a 5 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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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 3/4 tsp per cup, Trinfac-B Intrinsic Factor daily, probiotics with each meal and glucosamine chondroitin in the am. Hypothyroidism: Soloxine. Stable and happy 97 lbs.
. I'm a Sydney boy by trade and spent many a family holiday on the mid-north coast, good luck with all the rain!
Lulu is super-smart, a bit plump and very pretty (everybody says so - including her!).You must login to post.
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