Hi all,
I did a search but didn't find the answer I was looking for. My mix GSD/LAB was diagnosed with EPI several years ago. She will be 7 in November. I am using the PancrePlus and using the little spoon in the bottle for measuring. I use 2 of those little scoops in a cup of food when I feed her. She actually gained too much weight so I put her on a weight mgmt. food...anyway, not what I am seeking an answer for. What I want to know is WHY is she blowing her coat ALL THE TIME? I mean I can pick plugs off of her- all over her. There is so much hair in my house - I wonder how she has any hair on her at all. Yes-I know GSD are hairy but geez, is it the EPI - or the med's - or what is causing it? How do I stop it? She has been doing this for years - no matter the food - and it gets worse every year. I just want to know should I be giving her more PancrePlus in her food. She has solid stools with that amount and no problems. She does go out and occasionally 'clean' the backyard for me. I try to watch her so she doesn't but she always manages to sneak a turd pile when I don't keep an eye on her. (sorry TMI) Anyhow, What I am seeking is help on her hair loss. It is SO extreme. I don't remember her ever shedding that much when she was younger - (pre-diagnosed). Another thing is, even though she loses hair all over - her main area is on her hips. The hair there is starting to look very thin and worried that she will start balding there - it has gotten that bad. The hair loss has gotten worse and gets worse ever year. So, Does she need more PancrePlus? a different med? More Vit B? what? I have done a search on the internet but have not found a answer and am hoping I can get one here. Thanks for all your help!
Laura
Hair Loss
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Montgomery
- Member
- Posts: 420
- Country: Canada
- Pet name: Montgomery (I'm a CAT!)
- My name: V
Re: Hair Loss
Have you contacted the company that manufactures the enzymes or consulted your veterinarian? I'm no expert by any stretch but that's what I would do first.
Montgomery was born 20 March 2012. He eats extra lean ground chicken, lean ground pork and lean ground beef completed with Alnutrin and freeze-dried chicken liver, with hard-cooked egg. He gets two size zero capsules of Enzyme Diane's enzymes at each of his six meals, and a size four capsule of Tylan three times a day. He's a fierce little Spitfire with a roaring Merlin engine.
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Jane&Clyde
- Member
- Posts: 157
- Country: United States
- Pet name: Clyde
- My name: Jane
Re: Hair Loss
I don't know how much is in the little scoop in your enzyme bottle, but the correct dosage is 1 tsp. per cup of dry food and 1/2 - 3/4 tsp. per cup of wet food. The weight gain plus hair loss made me think about hypothyroidism as a possibility. If this is the case, your vet would need to do bloodwork to diagnose and treat it.
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Jane&Clyde
- Member
- Posts: 157
- Country: United States
- Pet name: Clyde
- My name: Jane
Re: Hair Loss
Cushings could be another possibility. Olesia knows a lot about that disorder.
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Tuckaboo Pam
- Member
- Posts: 1372
- Country: United States
- State: Florida
- Pet name: Tucker
- My name: Pam H.
Re: Hair Loss
Gemma,
I am writing simply to concur. When I took Tucker for his shedding treatment at the groomer, they told me that no matter how much brushing they did (they went for 30 minutes), he was still shedding, and they had never seen anything like it.
You have just confirmed my suspicion that it is somehow EPI-related. Now, Tuck is only part shepherd, so I cannot imagine what a full-blooded shepherd's over-shedding must look like. Unfortunately, I have nothing but camaraderie to offer, but I will follow to see if someone offers a solution.
Pam
I am writing simply to concur. When I took Tucker for his shedding treatment at the groomer, they told me that no matter how much brushing they did (they went for 30 minutes), he was still shedding, and they had never seen anything like it.
You have just confirmed my suspicion that it is somehow EPI-related. Now, Tuck is only part shepherd, so I cannot imagine what a full-blooded shepherd's over-shedding must look like. Unfortunately, I have nothing but camaraderie to offer, but I will follow to see if someone offers a solution.
Pam
Tucker was a shepherd/lab mix--- TLI 1.3, Folate 9.7, Cobalamin 666, Lipase 38. Took Diane's Enzymes 4 teaspoons/day, Wonderlabs B12 one capsule per day, and Tylan 1/16 teaspoon/ morning (to hold SID at bay). Taste of the Wild High Prairie, 1 1/2 cups/day, with a total of 4 cups of Fresh Pet. Stopped eating everything in sight, and went from 60 to 85 pounds! Tucker was my boyfriend, and my husband was OK with that. Tucker succumbed to hemangiosarcoma, but we cherished every day we had with that wonderful, beautiful boy. I will always, always miss my sweet big boy.
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Montgomery
- Member
- Posts: 420
- Country: Canada
- Pet name: Montgomery (I'm a CAT!)
- My name: V
Re: Hair Loss
I knew a Shepherd named Portia many years ago, who was not introduced as a German Shepherd but as a German Shedder, and she did not have EPI.Tuckaboo Pam wrote: ↑04 Aug 2021, 19:05 Gemma,
I am writing simply to concur. When I took Tucker for his shedding treatment at the groomer, they told me that no matter how much brushing they did (they went for 30 minutes), he was still shedding, and they had never seen anything like it.
You have just confirmed my suspicion that it is somehow EPI-related. Now, Tuck is only part shepherd, so I cannot imagine what a full-blooded shepherd's over-shedding must look like. Unfortunately, I have nothing but camaraderie to offer, but I will follow to see if someone offers a solution.
Pam
Montgomery was born 20 March 2012. He eats extra lean ground chicken, lean ground pork and lean ground beef completed with Alnutrin and freeze-dried chicken liver, with hard-cooked egg. He gets two size zero capsules of Enzyme Diane's enzymes at each of his six meals, and a size four capsule of Tylan three times a day. He's a fierce little Spitfire with a roaring Merlin engine.
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Tuckaboo Pam
- Member
- Posts: 1372
- Country: United States
- State: Florida
- Pet name: Tucker
- My name: Pam H.
Re: Hair Loss
Pam
[/quote]
I knew a Shepherd named Portia many years ago, who was not introduced as a German Shepherd but as a German Shedder, and she did not have EPI.
[/quote]
V-I would agree with that, but I am sure our groomer has done the de-shedding treatment on GSDs before. Like I said, he was surprised by Tucker's reaction.
[/quote]
I knew a Shepherd named Portia many years ago, who was not introduced as a German Shepherd but as a German Shedder, and she did not have EPI.
[/quote]
V-I would agree with that, but I am sure our groomer has done the de-shedding treatment on GSDs before. Like I said, he was surprised by Tucker's reaction.
Tucker was a shepherd/lab mix--- TLI 1.3, Folate 9.7, Cobalamin 666, Lipase 38. Took Diane's Enzymes 4 teaspoons/day, Wonderlabs B12 one capsule per day, and Tylan 1/16 teaspoon/ morning (to hold SID at bay). Taste of the Wild High Prairie, 1 1/2 cups/day, with a total of 4 cups of Fresh Pet. Stopped eating everything in sight, and went from 60 to 85 pounds! Tucker was my boyfriend, and my husband was OK with that. Tucker succumbed to hemangiosarcoma, but we cherished every day we had with that wonderful, beautiful boy. I will always, always miss my sweet big boy.
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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: Hair Loss
all of my Shepherds shed 24/7 365 days a year
but Kara with EPI was the worst
we used a furminator
but Kara with EPI was the worst
we used a furminator
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
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
Re: Hair Loss
We have the same issue but this year is the absolute worst. I have to brush Nikki every day and she still sheds like crazy.
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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MyGemma
Re: Hair Loss
I did some more looking and came across an article. The article talks about the lack of B and I know my vet prescribed B12 which I haven't been good about giving her every month. Will be taking her back for test to check her B and see if I need to give more than once a month.
https://www.volharddognutrition.com/vitamin-b-for-dogs/
I hope I did not violate a rule but it seems to be the answer I was looking for. Wanted to post in case someone else needed the information. Please delete if link is not allowed.
https://www.volharddognutrition.com/vitamin-b-for-dogs/
I hope I did not violate a rule but it seems to be the answer I was looking for. Wanted to post in case someone else needed the information. Please delete if link is not allowed.
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