New here - meet Johnny!

Epi4Dogs Foundation Inc.’s mission is the advancement of science and education relating to EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency), yielding useful insights and positive outcomes in better managing EPI in dogs and cats. Our goals are to support and/or collaborate with veterinary EPI research and researchers, and to promote EPI awareness by educating the general public, pet owners, pet organizations, rescue and shelter organizations, veterinary schools and veterinarians.
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Madelon
Staff
Posts: 1317
Location: Nashville, TN
Country: United States
State: Tennessee
Pet name: Doc

Re: New here - meet Johnny!

Post by Madelon » 03 Aug 2021, 13:54

MacKenzie - thank you so much for posting all of those adorable pictures of Johnny - he has a lot of personality and is just too cute! Congratulations on the weight gain.
Madelon, owned by DOC. DOC dx EPI 5/2015 = TLI < .4, B12 406; Folate >24. DOC taught me so much and together we battled and overcame EPI, food sensitivies, environmental allergies but we lost the cancer battle. DOC was dx with hemangiosarcoma 5/2022 and crossed the rainbow bridge July 24, 2022. He is and always will be the love of my life, my soulmate, my heart dog.

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Johnnycake
Member
Posts: 51
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Johnny
My name: MacKenzie

Re: New here - meet Johnny!

Post by Johnnycake » 06 Aug 2021, 09:46

Yes, not a typo - he was having to take 8-10 in his food every day. His B12 tested fine, but he would still start acting ravenous if he got any less than that even for a day or two. I never got him tested when he was displaying those symptoms, so I am not sure if he just consumes the B12 quickly and would display symptoms when it had dropped, or what. He needs injections more often as well (every 5 or so days, I know some people are able to do weekly, semiweekly or even monthly). We were using the Wonderlabs B12 with the intrinsic factor, I would open the capsule and sprinkle it on his breakfast.

Thank you very much for the input! I appreciate it. I feel like he's been a little bit of an oddball - he's done much better on a food containing grains and higher fiber than is usually recommended, and then there's the B12 issue. But I know every EPI dog can be very individual with their treatment. As long as his poop is good and he keeps growing like he should be, I try not to work myself up too much over it, but I want to make sure I'm giving him the very best care I am able to.

Kind of funny, I happen to be very low in B12 and have to take it daily myself, and it runs in my family to have to either supplement orally or get B12 injections. So I guess the two of us have something in common there :lol:

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Jean
Forum Director
Posts: 1707
Location: South Liverpool
Country: United Kingdom - England
Pet name: Kara, lost 10th May 2019
My name: Jean

Re: New here - meet Johnny!

Post by Jean » 06 Aug 2021, 11:47

excellent news on the weight gain

As I have said before

if you have an EPI dog you have 1 EPI dog none are the same, My Kara could have treats between meals with no problem once she stabilised, most cannot, she used to become hysterical if her b12 nosedived , she would be non cooperative ,lethargic and pathetic

I know several people with low b12 my friend has pernicious anemia, and has to inject herself, I also have a friend who has EPI

Anyway keep up the good work and keep the pictures coming
My name is Jean we live in Liverpool in Uk

I am the Forum Director which I am very proud of

My Kara born 21 July 2009 diagnosed with EPI by cTLI test August 2010 TLI = <1...folate 14 Cobalamin 408, shot down to 94, b12 injections every other day

Lowest weight 39 pounds

We used Panzym enzymes, Tylan and Chemeyes b12 capsules

Sadly, on 10th May 2019, we lost her to DM


Jeanx

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Johnnycake
Member
Posts: 51
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Johnny
My name: MacKenzie

Re: New here - meet Johnny!

Post by Johnnycake » 13 Sep 2021, 11:18

Johnny recently started taking agility classes! Almost a year ago we tried regular obedience training classes and had to stop because he just couldn't do it physically, he'd all but collapse less than halfway through the class. He's loving the agility now though! I wanted something fun for us to do together outside of his service work so I am really glad he is enjoying things so much.

A few days ago I had an asthma attack and had to go to urgent care, and Johnny helped keep me calm enough that it didn't escalate to the point I needed to go to the ER. He does such a great job! Continuing to prove all the naysayers wrong - if it's not his EPI it's him being a mutt, or him being part pit bull, or large, or a shelter dog... Johnny adores kids and is super gentle with them but even my dad, when we were eating together the other day, warned me about a kid walking by our table and told me to pull Johnny away so he wouldn't do whatever my dad thought he might do to him - of course Johnny didn't growl, or lunge, but just sat there and ignored the kid like he is trained to do while working :lol: It can be a little saddening when people speak badly of him but I try to think of this forum whenever people say stuff like that and remind myself there are supportive/open minded people out there too.

Anyways, just two random updates... not necessarily EPI-related so you guys can let me know if you'd rather not see these kinds of things here! I don't really have too many people to share Johnny updates with so it's nice to stop by every so often with an update and some pictures if it doesn't bug anyone too much :oops:

Hope everyone and their animals are doing well!!!
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Michaela
Member
Posts: 146
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Nikki
My name: Michaela

Re: New here - meet Johnny!

Post by Michaela » 13 Sep 2021, 18:16

I love these stories and especially pictures!

How could anyone speak badly about Johnny, he's adorable.

R.I.P. Nikki 11/21/2009 - 05/23/2023

Nikki was diagnosed with EPI in 2010
Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat canned
Slippery Elm syrup for stomach issues
1 tsp Pan-Tenex enzymes with each meal
Weekly B12 shots, pills didn't work for her
Tylan for life


"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever."

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Jean
Forum Director
Posts: 1707
Location: South Liverpool
Country: United Kingdom - England
Pet name: Kara, lost 10th May 2019
My name: Jean

Re: New here - meet Johnny!

Post by Jean » 14 Sep 2021, 05:03

love the pictures and the update , just let peoples ignorance wash over you, maybe carry some EPI leaflets around with you, start the conversation, it always worked for me
My name is Jean we live in Liverpool in Uk

I am the Forum Director which I am very proud of

My Kara born 21 July 2009 diagnosed with EPI by cTLI test August 2010 TLI = <1...folate 14 Cobalamin 408, shot down to 94, b12 injections every other day

Lowest weight 39 pounds

We used Panzym enzymes, Tylan and Chemeyes b12 capsules

Sadly, on 10th May 2019, we lost her to DM


Jeanx

Barb
Staff
Posts: 918
Country: United States
State: New Jersey

Re: New here - meet Johnny!

Post by Barb » 14 Sep 2021, 14:22

Love the pictures! Look at those eyes! You have done an amazing job with him.

Barb

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Johnnycake
Member
Posts: 51
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Johnny
My name: MacKenzie

Re: New here - meet Johnny!

Post by Johnnycake » 30 Nov 2021, 16:43

Johnny and I's one-year anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks! So much has changed since this time last year. I'd like to do something special for him - if anyone has any ideas or something they've really enjoyed in the past with their dogs let me know! :D

He had a bit of a flare up last month and had some bad poops for a couple of weeks, but adding a prebiotic back in has seemed to settle it down and he's back to the good poops!

We recently met another EPI dog - our first to meet in person! It was really cool getting to talk to them about their experiences.

Johnny is still rocking it as a service dog! Super proud of him and all the progress he's made. He's even alerted me to an incoming migraine all on his own a few times now! People are really surprised when I tell them about his EPI, but it's been a good way to spread word about the condition, and keeping y'all's advice in mind, I think we've been able to influence at least a few people's opinions in regards to what a service dog and handler team looks like.

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Jean
Forum Director
Posts: 1707
Location: South Liverpool
Country: United Kingdom - England
Pet name: Kara, lost 10th May 2019
My name: Jean

Re: New here - meet Johnny!

Post by Jean » 02 Dec 2021, 06:23

thank you for letting us share him with you and his journey
My name is Jean we live in Liverpool in Uk

I am the Forum Director which I am very proud of

My Kara born 21 July 2009 diagnosed with EPI by cTLI test August 2010 TLI = <1...folate 14 Cobalamin 408, shot down to 94, b12 injections every other day

Lowest weight 39 pounds

We used Panzym enzymes, Tylan and Chemeyes b12 capsules

Sadly, on 10th May 2019, we lost her to DM


Jeanx

Jane&Clyde
Member
Posts: 157
Country: United States
Pet name: Clyde
My name: Jane

Re: New here - meet Johnny!

Post by Jane&Clyde » 02 Dec 2021, 13:41

I'm so glad to hear how well Johnny is doing! He is adorable.

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