EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
managing EPI
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Member Posts: 30 |
My GSD was diagnosed w/EPI earlier this year and has been stable since we started her on Pancrenzyme 6Xplus and eating Natures Choice swet potato grain-free formula. She has done well with it and we still give Vit B shots every month. In the past 2 weeks she has been getting gas again like she did before, but she does NOT have the diarrhea or frequent stools as of right now.She also tried to eat grass and gets sick every few days. We are going to worm her, but I don't feel like that is it. Her gums are good and pink as well. We had been thinking that she was getting food from the other dog's bowl and maybe that's why she had gas, but were not sure. I am wondering if we need to do Vit B more often, but right now I can't afford to take her back to the vet so run that expensive test again to check her levels again. Any one have suggestions on what seems to be going on? | |
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-- Shelby, my GSD (born 11/1/08). Diagnosed 2/8/12 with EPI, she lost 9lbs in one month, 20 all together. She is now on Pancreatin6X PLUS 1tsp/cup from enzymediane w/15 minutes of incubation, and B12 500mcg injection/month. Feeding Naure's Recipe Grain-free salmon, sweet potato, and pumpkin recipe. I am proud to announce that as of 4/18/13, Shelby went from a bony 63lbs. to weighing a healthy 95lbs!
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Member Posts: 1683 |
Hi Stacey, it could be that the B-12 has slipped. You can always try to raise that and see if there's any improvement without doing the blood test. My Pixie, and some other dogs on the forum, need to have the shots every 2 weeks to keep their levels up, so it's possible that once a month isn't enough for Shelby. The other option is to try to supplement the shots with pills. They have to have the intrinsic factor or most dogs won't get much benefit from them. I think there are references and links to the right products on the B-12 page on this website.
The other thought I had was that SIBO may be rearing its ugly head. Has she been treated for this in the past? Is she on tylan or any other antibiotic now? SIBO can cause the gas, vomitting, and her stomach to not feel well (which may explain the grass eating). Tylan is the preferred antibiotic for SIBO. There is a recommended protocol from TAMU in the SIBO tab above. You might want to print out that information and share it with your vet and discuss treating for possible SIBO.
Good luck and keep us posted on how she's doing. | |
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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: 2133 |
Hi Stacey, I agree with Shirl---it sounds like SIBO stirring and/or B12 slipping. Sometimes they go hand in hand. We started to give the B12 injections ourselves last year and it has saved us lots and lots of money. B12 is very inexpensive when you do give it yourself. You can see how she does without the test. As Shirl said, you can also give the pills. People have had good success with Trinfac from Wonder laboratories and Metagenics with Intrinsic Factor. If it is SIBO also, you will need a round of antibiotics. Tylan is the mildest and you can order it online without a prescription. You should probably do a 6 week initial treatment. Let us know how she does. Barb | |
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Member Posts: 30 |
We administered a dose of B12 last night so we will see over the next few days if we see a change. I pray that is the issue and not SIBO. | |
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-- Shelby, my GSD (born 11/1/08). Diagnosed 2/8/12 with EPI, she lost 9lbs in one month, 20 all together. She is now on Pancreatin6X PLUS 1tsp/cup from enzymediane w/15 minutes of incubation, and B12 500mcg injection/month. Feeding Naure's Recipe Grain-free salmon, sweet potato, and pumpkin recipe. I am proud to announce that as of 4/18/13, Shelby went from a bony 63lbs. to weighing a healthy 95lbs!
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Site Owner Posts: 10218 |
Hi Stacey.... i too agree with what Shirl and Barb said. It could be B12 slipping and that in itself would trigger SIBO or it could just be B12 slipping or it could be SIBO brewing from possible stolen food. Good plan with the increased B12!...... you also might want to temporarily increase the enzyme just a "pinch"..... Watch and listen for more gas.. if it continues for a week... then i wouldn't wait for it to get worse, personally i would then just treat with Tylan for SIBO.... many of us old timer EPI'rs always keep a stash of Tylan around to tackle any SIBO set-backs sooner rather than later... philosophy of nipping it in the bud ;)... so this is what i do.... but talk to your vet.... see what they say and let us know what transpires! ... and try to have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! | |
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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. In Feb 2013, Izzy developed a very serious condition called IMHA which she (thankfully) beat and is now in remission. We also discovered that now, at 8 years old, she not only has EPI, but also Diabetes and Low Thyroid. Izzy was able to receive excellent care because of the kindness of so many here on epi4dogs and is currently doing extra-ordinarily well. If anyone could spend a day with Izzy, they would never guess that she has any health problems!
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Member Posts: 1328 |
I will agree with the "pack" here! Low B12 and/or SIBO is my best guess too. The reason I don't think it is getting in the other dog's food is that the poops would be going south too. The poops can go south with both low B12 and/or SIBO but I think you would have already seen that if is was the food. You may want to give B12 weekly for 6 weeks again as it may take a bit to bring up the levels and then back off to every 2 weeks. We have learned with our pups that they need weekly B12, which we give at home. Their levels have remained good since we went to that protocol. Keep us posted on how things go.... | |
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-- Terry Mom of two EPI Shiloh Shepherds: Pharaoh born Nov. 2007 and dx with epi December 2009. Pharaoh weighed 62.4 lbs. (15 lb. weight loss) when diagnosed in 12/2009. Weight 10/31/11 his weight was 76.6. 85lbs on 9/22/12. Received six weeks of B12 shots Jan-Feb 2010 but his B12 on 8/10/2010 was only 232. So started weekly shots at home, which we continue to give. His older half sister is Taiko born Sept. 2006 and was dx with epi June 2010. Since she has severe bilateral hip dysplasia she had always been on the thin side. Taiko's weight was 70.7 lbs. in June 2010 (time of diagnosis; about a 10 lb. weight loss. Weight on 10/31/11 was 80.4 and on 9/22/12 was 82.4 lbs. B12 was 211 in June 2010 so started six weeks of shots and was only 293 on 8/10/10. She receive B12 shots weekly at home. Both are fed twice a day and we use either Costco grain free brand or Merrick BG brand:2 1/2 cups kibble in the morning and 4 oz cooked meat (usually steak) with 4 crushed tablets and in the evening 2 cups kibble with 4 oz cooked meat with 4 crushed tablets.
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