EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Although the diagnosis of EPI can be a dire and heart-wrenching disease to deal with, please know that there are many successful EPI management stories. In time, my goal is to share these with you. For now, here are a few:

   This is Pandy, only 13 lbs when first diagnosed.               This is Pandy a year later after treatment, at 26 lbs!

This is a picture of Dixie at 37 pounds in August 2008!

  And this is a picture of Dixie at 63 pounds in January 2009  

Dixie is a 2 1/2 year old German Shepherd Dog from South Carolina.  These pictures are courtesy of her mom Melissa to share with others and to give hope ....that with proper diagnosis, enzyme treatment and a change in diet and management.....miracles can and do happen!  Dixie will always have EPI, will always need enzymes and a special diet but 6 months after being at death's door.... literally!....she looks like a different dog....that can now run, play and lead the full life of a GSD.

                                 Yama the Akita         The pictures below are of Yama, a pure-bred Akita dog. Yama was diagnosed in 2008 at 4.5 years old with EPI. As you can see from the picture, Yama's owner, Marty, just about lost all hope. But with enzyme treatment and a change in diet to a no-grain food ...within six months... Yama once again is enjoying life. Any breed can have EPI, and there is hope for every one. Diagnosed July 08,  Lowest weight: 52 lbs, Current weight: 80 lbs. (Dick Van Pattens Duck & Potato - 3 x 1.5 cup meals per day, Pancreatin (powdered porcine enzymes) 6X - 1 tsp per cup of kibble ratio, Sprinkled on dry kibble (not grinded), Soaked with equal parts warm water 4 hours before serving.

Rutger, a Doberman,  was a haunting 42 lbs in this picture in December 2008 when EPI was first suspected. He just wanted to lie down all the time........

  Now thankfully with proper treatment he is a happy 55 llbs..... what a difference 4 months can make! 

SHADOW  on Feb 12, 2009 from San Diego, CA.  Shadow thankfully weighs 78lbs in this picture. A far cry from 2 months ago when he was just bones at 60lbs! 

Laurie, his owner would like to give a HUGE thank you to the http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/k9-EPIGLOBAL/ members...  a support group for confirmed EPI dogs and their owners. "When I first joined I was freaking out about Shadow. I have sat at this computer night after night and read and read and read some more. I learned so much about EPI. Shadow was just 60lbs when diagnosed in December of 2008. With much reading and switching his enzyme powder to generic (enzymediane), letting it soak longer and paying attention to all the little details offered by the members in this support group, Shadow started to improve. He is now 78lbs, eating 5 cups of DVP duck and potato with 1 tsp of 8x10 generic enzymes per cup of food 3 times a day. With Tylan added to breakfast and dinner meals. He seems so full of energy and is so loving now. He is no longer starving. I am so grateful to this group. I know he is far from stable, but we are on the right track. His poops have good color and are well-formed. Thank you to ALL in this group who put in hours of sharing your stories and what works and how to's.  The information is priceless!"