New to EPI and struggling
Posted: 04 Jan 2022, 18:34
Hi everyone,
I am about one month into my pups diagnosis with EPI. She is 1 year and 6 months old, Collie & English bulldog mix (yes super strange combination. Was totally an accident). My fiancé and I began our journey into the unknown mid October. Our dog, Millie, had begun having loose, grey colored stools after getting her 1 year vaccines that then turned into yellow cow pattys and eventually into diarrhea. I’m sure you all know how the rest of the story goes… months of testing and antibiotics, fecal samples and food changes… this process was extremely deliberating and made us feel worthless as dog parents..
Millie was diagnosed with EPI on December 6th 2021. Our vet recommended a low fat diet of no more than 10-12% and she prescribed us the tablet formed enzyme called Pancreatabs.
The dosage for the tablets are only 2 per day (at the same time) with breakfast.
We fed Millie Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach her whole life. This is a salmon based dry dog food. This food is also 16% fat so we spent weeks experimenting with different foods and brands and we hadn’t noticed any improvement at all and we found that any food that has even a smidgen of chicken in it causes her stools to be water.
In between waiting for her diagnosis, we were referred to have a GI ultrasound to check for obstructions…. When we arrived at the specialty vet, I made them aware of the new diagnose and this specialty vet suggested we switch Millie to a powdered form enzyme called Viokase and change her food to a wet food. After communicating this new vets advice with my primary vet, she said the powder would be fine but said the tablets work just as well… she also said we could put Millie back on the Purina food that is 16% fat. (Which was confusing as she originally told me no more than 10-12%) Taking everyone’s advice into consideration, we switched Millie’s food back and had seen somewhat of better progress with her stools but it definitely is nowhere near normal. My biggest concern is with the powdered Viokase enzyme.. I have come to learn that it is $400 for a 12oz bottle. Not knowing how long 12 oz could last us, I don’t feel I can afford $400 medication for the rest of her life.
As you can see, I have been getting two different types of information and advice. I feel very lost with what to do with Millie.
She has lost 6 pounds and I don’t feel she has gained any back. I’m just looking for some guidance from the experts as to the best course of action for our Millie? Should we continue the combination of Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach with the Pancreatabs only twice a day? Is it a problem that she’s only getting these once a day and not every time she eats? Or is there another route that would be more beneficial to her?
Really would appreciate any advice at all regarding the best diet & enzyme combination for my situation. I didn’t want to bore everyone with the details so I am happy to elaborate if needed.
Thanks so much!
I am about one month into my pups diagnosis with EPI. She is 1 year and 6 months old, Collie & English bulldog mix (yes super strange combination. Was totally an accident). My fiancé and I began our journey into the unknown mid October. Our dog, Millie, had begun having loose, grey colored stools after getting her 1 year vaccines that then turned into yellow cow pattys and eventually into diarrhea. I’m sure you all know how the rest of the story goes… months of testing and antibiotics, fecal samples and food changes… this process was extremely deliberating and made us feel worthless as dog parents..
Millie was diagnosed with EPI on December 6th 2021. Our vet recommended a low fat diet of no more than 10-12% and she prescribed us the tablet formed enzyme called Pancreatabs.
The dosage for the tablets are only 2 per day (at the same time) with breakfast.
We fed Millie Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach her whole life. This is a salmon based dry dog food. This food is also 16% fat so we spent weeks experimenting with different foods and brands and we hadn’t noticed any improvement at all and we found that any food that has even a smidgen of chicken in it causes her stools to be water.
In between waiting for her diagnosis, we were referred to have a GI ultrasound to check for obstructions…. When we arrived at the specialty vet, I made them aware of the new diagnose and this specialty vet suggested we switch Millie to a powdered form enzyme called Viokase and change her food to a wet food. After communicating this new vets advice with my primary vet, she said the powder would be fine but said the tablets work just as well… she also said we could put Millie back on the Purina food that is 16% fat. (Which was confusing as she originally told me no more than 10-12%) Taking everyone’s advice into consideration, we switched Millie’s food back and had seen somewhat of better progress with her stools but it definitely is nowhere near normal. My biggest concern is with the powdered Viokase enzyme.. I have come to learn that it is $400 for a 12oz bottle. Not knowing how long 12 oz could last us, I don’t feel I can afford $400 medication for the rest of her life.
As you can see, I have been getting two different types of information and advice. I feel very lost with what to do with Millie.
She has lost 6 pounds and I don’t feel she has gained any back. I’m just looking for some guidance from the experts as to the best course of action for our Millie? Should we continue the combination of Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach with the Pancreatabs only twice a day? Is it a problem that she’s only getting these once a day and not every time she eats? Or is there another route that would be more beneficial to her?
Really would appreciate any advice at all regarding the best diet & enzyme combination for my situation. I didn’t want to bore everyone with the details so I am happy to elaborate if needed.
Thanks so much!