Newbie to 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.
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TrixEPIMama
Member
Posts: 65
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Trixie

Re: Newbie to EPI

Post by TrixEPIMama » 16 May 2022, 13:49

Greetings and welcome, Meredith. Thunder is a beauty -- and as others have said, EPI is actually very manageable, and once it's under control, Thunder will almost certainly act, feel, and develop as normal as can be.

I'm also new to EPI and bless this forum for many reasons.

I got my Trixie as a rescue last November. At the time she came to me, the vet and rescuers knew she had something wrong with her digestion, but had no idea what. Within a month, with the help of my Dear Vet, we figured it out - and literally within days of starting pancreatic enzyme supplements Trixie was putting on weight and her poops had firmed up.

It's pretty amazing that a dog can seem to be (and actually be) dying of starvation, then turn around within a week or two.

Yes, some cases of EPI are more of a struggle to manage. But if Thunder turns out to be one of the difficult ones, you have surely come to the right place to figure out any problems. Don't despair!

Personally, so far, the hardest part for us hasn't been managing Trixie's EPI. As you've discovered, the hard part is getting a vet or vets first to take you seriously, and then to properly treat the condition. You may discover that, over the course of Thunder's life YOU will end up educating your vets, rather than vice versa.

Keep us posted!
Trixie is an Australian cattle dog or mix, likely born in the Fall of 2020. Picked up as a stray, she was already suffering undiagnosed EPI when we adopted her. Test later showed TLI <1 and cobalamin 189.

Her (non-standard) treatment is 1900 mcg of pure freeze-dried pork pancreas from Allergy Research Group per day. Also 1/4 teaspoon of slippery elm powder and 1/2 (previously one) capsule a day of WonderLabs TrinFac-B, all mixed into her food and served immediately, without the usual 20-minute wait.

We feed Canidae Angus Beef and Barley, which may not yet be the perfect food, but she's doing well and has "happy" normal poops.

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Olesia711
Founder & Research Director
Posts: 3857
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: Newbie to EPI

Post by Olesia711 » 17 May 2022, 10:07

well said everyone ... thanks :)
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

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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: Newbie to EPI

Post by Jean » 17 May 2022, 10:52

as previously said "its your dog/cat your money" stand firm
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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Fuzzysmom
Member
Posts: 15
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Fuzzy
My name: Melanie

Re: Newbie to EPI

Post by Fuzzysmom » 17 May 2022, 17:09

Hello to you and Thunder

Please understand it's ok to be angry, upset etc. I am with you on that especially when it hits a young dog. Fuzzy had just turned 2 when he was diagnosed. He went from a large, very active, muscular "puppy", not even full grown, to a sack of bones and oozing sores in 2 weeks.

My vet, who is very good otherwise, didn't even look at possible EPI. Giardia, severe environmental allergies, maybe something ingested. I had a niggling feeling about EPI and I didn't push at first. In hindsight I realize what was attributed to seasonal/environmental allergies for almost a year was more than likely malnutrition from EPI onset. The sores that sprouted and scabbed over fast with hair loss all over his body.

Fuzzy went from 176lbs to 150 in a couple of weeks. My first post here was "Thank You all for Saving My sanity" and I meant every word. I was depressed and disheartened especially at first when your very thin dog has no energy and doesn't want to eat and all the ups and downs. I've done hide the enzymes in a meatball and that worked until I had a very strong batch. At times I was literally making mush for Fuzzy with enzymes and food that I shoveled down his throat with a large rubber spatula spoon 4 times a day. Some days he still gets sketchy about his food I show him "his spatula" he gives me the stink eye but he'll eat. If he didn't I'd go right back to shoveling. I spent a lot of tears when he wouldn't eat and so I drew the line, food will go in 1 way or another. That took a lot of stress off the situation.

That's what all these wonderful people and advice are here are for. To help you and Thunder along.

You will get through this and you won't have to do it alone. The best advice I ever grasped onto was the "not everything works for each dog"
Below you can see Fuzzy before Christmas 2 very sick a few weeks later and 3 getting better in late March
F good.jpg
F good.jpg (111.48 KiB) Viewed 810 times
F sick.jpg
F sick.jpg (235.3 KiB) Viewed 810 times
F getting better.jpg
F getting better.jpg (239.73 KiB) Viewed 810 times
Fuzzy is a Boerboel dob 8/29/19 diagnosed by TLI 1/5/22 Ideal weight 175lbs + Still growing so he's fed to lean body condition for growth. After regulation enzyme amt. went from 1 tsp a cup>1 1/2 tsp per meal> NOW 1/2 tsp per meal!

1st meal: 2 cups Inukshuk Marine 25 2 cup raw blend(tripe,organs,beef) 1/2 tsp Pantennex 2 B12,
2nd : 1 cup Inukshuk Marine 25 , 1cup raw 1/2 tsp Pantennex

He is completely off the slippery elm maintenance amt (1/8 tsp)although I keep on hand in case of sibo. 2 Prescript Assist Soil based probiotics every 4 days

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Olesia711
Founder & Research Director
Posts: 3857
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: Newbie to EPI

Post by Olesia711 » 17 May 2022, 20:16

Thank you for sharing Fuzzy's story... and i LOVE the picture of him.... OMG... his facial expressions are priceless!!! What a sweet dog.
So glad to hear that he is doing so much better now.

And THANK YOU for the absolutely PERFECT advice.... that not everything works for each dog.

Effectively treating EPI is all about treating the WHOLE dog and the trick is finding the right balance of the recommended of EPI protocol that works best for YOUR special and unique EPI dog... as they certainly are not a perfect copies of one another.. they really are unique!

Today i started reading a little bit about TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine and it was like a light bulb went off.... TCM's approach is to treat the whole body and that each individual is unique.... and i thought WOW.... that is what works for EPI dogs too.. treating the whole body but understanding that each EPI dog is still unique....so we often have to modify the recommended protocol somewhat to meet each dogs unique requirements!
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

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TrixEPIMama
Member
Posts: 65
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Trixie

Re: Newbie to EPI

Post by TrixEPIMama » 18 Jun 2022, 13:18

I'm just giving this thread a bump, hoping Meredith will see it and come back to update us about Thunder.
Trixie is an Australian cattle dog or mix, likely born in the Fall of 2020. Picked up as a stray, she was already suffering undiagnosed EPI when we adopted her. Test later showed TLI <1 and cobalamin 189.

Her (non-standard) treatment is 1900 mcg of pure freeze-dried pork pancreas from Allergy Research Group per day. Also 1/4 teaspoon of slippery elm powder and 1/2 (previously one) capsule a day of WonderLabs TrinFac-B, all mixed into her food and served immediately, without the usual 20-minute wait.

We feed Canidae Angus Beef and Barley, which may not yet be the perfect food, but she's doing well and has "happy" normal poops.

User avatar
Olesia711
Founder & Research Director
Posts: 3857
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: Newbie to EPI

Post by Olesia711 » 18 Jun 2022, 13:42

thatnks for bringing this thread back to the forefront.... i hope we hear from her..........with an update on Thunder.
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

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

Re: Newbie to EPI

Post by Barb » 19 Jun 2022, 15:13

Me, too.

Barb

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