My 4 months old puppy may have EPI?

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.
Okii Dokii
Member
Posts: 12
Country: Canada
Pet name: Okii
My name: Maggie

Re: My 4 months old puppy may have EPI?

Post by Okii Dokii » 31 Aug 2021, 17:22

Hi Jean and Jill, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Okii’s poop definitely has big improvement with the enzyme. Just when I thought we could let him stay on it for a while and get him to gain some weight, my vet suggested to stop it.

She said she has spoken to an internal medicine specialist who think that “there is no way Okii has EPI”. And therefore shouldn’t be having the enzyme as he may get mouth sore and prone to ulcer in his mouth. They want to get more blood sample for B12 and folate, test for Addison’s disease. If all came back normal, then perhaps a biopsy of the intestines…

I will go ahead with the blood test for Addison’s cuz they’ll need that for B12 and folate anyway. I don’t want to have him on enzyme forever as well but also can’t bare to watch him suffering since we don’t have anything to replace it. I feel like we may be getting into a long exhausting process of more and more testing for nothing…..

Anyway, I truly hope I’m wrong and there will be an answer after going through all the tests. I’ll keep posting updates. Please stay in touch.

Tuckaboo Pam
Member
Posts: 1346
Country: United States
State: Florida
Pet name: Tucker
My name: Pam H.

Re: My 4 months old puppy may have EPI?

Post by Tuckaboo Pam » 31 Aug 2021, 21:10

It may be time to insist on the test for EPI, especially before you do a biopsy. Maybe I'm wrong, and if so, others feel free to correct me. As some have said, we HAVE heard of young puppies with EPI, or at least SEPI, which may come prior.

Here is a quote---
"We are heartbroken and devastated to share that we had to say goodbye to our sweet baby boy Beau, on January 28 2021. We noticed something was wrong only 7 days after he was home, at 8 weeks old. The next year and a half was filled with too many vets, specialists, testing, medicines, and countless sleepless nights and tears. I owe the time we did get with him to Epi4Dogs, if it wasn’t for this group, I truly believe we would have had to say goodbye much sooner, with less answers."

I am not a vet, and I obviously don't know Oki, but it seems like you should be able to get a test if you are willing to pay for it. Before I could afford to pay for the TLI, I ordered a Schebo test from Diane's Enzymes, which gave a positive result. Maybe for your own peace of mind you could do that, too. It's not as accurate, but if it shows a negative result, you will know he doesn't have EPI.

There is a list of vets who are recommended by members, but I can't seem to find it for you. Maybe there is one near you, who could give a second opinion. I hope this all works out. --- 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.

Okii Dokii
Member
Posts: 12
Country: Canada
Pet name: Okii
My name: Maggie

Re: My 4 months old puppy may have EPI?

Post by Okii Dokii » 31 Aug 2021, 21:20

Tuckaboo Pam wrote: 31 Aug 2021, 21:10 It may be time to insist on the test for EPI, especially before you do a biopsy. Maybe I'm wrong, and if so, others feel free to correct me. As some have said, we HAVE heard of young puppies with EPI, or at least SEPI, which may come prior.

Here is a quote---
"We are heartbroken and devastated to share that we had to say goodbye to our sweet baby boy Beau, on January 28 2021. We noticed something was wrong only 7 days after he was home, at 8 weeks old. The next year and a half was filled with too many vets, specialists, testing, medicines, and countless sleepless nights and tears. I owe the time we did get with him to Epi4Dogs, if it wasn’t for this group, I truly believe we would have had to say goodbye much sooner, with less answers."

I am not a vet, and I obviously don't know Oki, but it seems like you should be able to get a test if you are willing to pay for it. Before I could afford to pay for the TLI, I ordered a Schebo test from Diane's Enzymes, which gave a positive result. Maybe for your own peace of mind you could do that, too. It's not as accurate, but if it shows a negative result, you will know he doesn't have EPI.

There is a list of vets who are recommended by members, but I can't seem to find it for you. Maybe there is one near you, who could give a second opinion. I hope this all works out. --- Pam
Hi Pam,

We did get the TLi test done. His result is within normal range.. see previous page for the report. I think that’s why the vet is now certain about him not having EPI and suggesting to stop the enzyme.

I saw someone sharing in another post about their dog being tested negative at the first time, but a year later got diagnosed with a much lower score. So I guess I still can’t completely rule out this possibility for Okii.

Maggie

User avatar
jilbert57
Staff
Posts: 2092
Country: United States
State: Washington

Re: My 4 months old puppy may have EPI?

Post by jilbert57 » 01 Sep 2021, 08:21

Hi Maggie. There are some good plant enzymes to aide digestion that you could try.
I have had good results with the TotalZymes system and Prozyme.

Both are available on Amazon or Chewy.

Jill
My name is Jill and we live on the Hood Canal in Washington State. We currently have 2 Jack russells, TJ is 8 and Sadie is 2.

Mickey and his pancreatitis brought me to Epi4dogs.com site in 2012 to help manage it.
He lived from 6/99 - 8/2014

Mickey, Jack Russell. Chronic Pancreatitis. Dianes enzymes, 1/8t 3x/day with meals.

Tuckaboo Pam
Member
Posts: 1346
Country: United States
State: Florida
Pet name: Tucker
My name: Pam H.

Re: My 4 months old puppy may have EPI?

Post by Tuckaboo Pam » 01 Sep 2021, 20:20

Sorry Maggie. I read that & then forgot about it!---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.

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

Re: My 4 months old puppy may have EPI?

Post by Barb » 04 Sep 2021, 17:33

Hi Maggie,

I know how frustrating it is not having a diagnosis, so please keep in touch with us to let us know the results of the outstanding tests. Hopefully, the clues will reveal themselves and point to a solution for your sweet Okie.

Hang in there.

Barb

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