Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

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
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Posts: 1317
Location: Nashville, TN
Country: United States
State: Tennessee
Pet name: Doc

Re: Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

Post by Madelon » 21 Apr 2019, 19:06

Doc started losing weight at 10mos old and was diagnosed at 13mos old - EPI sure did not affect his growth at all! His weight loss started slow so I think the pancreas was functioning enough not to affect his growth too much - he weighed 95lbs at 10mos old and lost 20lbs by the time he was diagnosed. He is a BEAST!! Most people who meet him who have experience with GSD say he is one of the biggest they've ever seen.

As far as the poop goes - you said it's not a 2 or 3 like it had been. Has something changed? Have you checked your log? If nothing has changed and the poops are constant less than 2 or 3 then it could be SID or the food does not agree with her.

As for enzymes - this is the first I've heard of Diane having an issue with the enzymes since I've been buying them (4yrs now) but as Elisabeth said she did have the 8x enzymes available. I personally do the same as Elisabeth - about 2-3 weeks out I order another kilogram but you have to do what you feel comfortable with.
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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Jean
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Posts: 1707
Location: South Liverpool
Country: United Kingdom - England
Pet name: Kara, lost 10th May 2019
My name: Jean

Re: Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

Post by Jean » 22 Apr 2019, 03:16

Kara was 39 pounds at 15 months old and a mess, its done nothing to stunt her growth

just chill, and enjoy her progress, its something I learned very early on, or you go round the pipe !

we Liverpool people have a sense of humour little understand, but it gets me by

Jean
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

RichardB
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Posts: 55
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Country: United States
State: California
Pet name: Sassy
My name: Richard

Re: Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

Post by RichardB » 01 May 2019, 22:37

Hi All,
Sorry I haven't updated in about 2 weeks, I've been busy. All is well, poops are back to about a 2-3 and have been holding there for almost 2 weeks.
I do have one question though: Do EPI dogs continue to have larger poops in size and quantity than non-EPI dogs? She does eat more than her brother, but she doesn't have that ravenous appetite anymore. I did start cutting her back about a week ago. I give her 2 cups in the morning, 1 in the afternoon now and 2 at dinner. May stop the afternoon feeding in another week. She needs to be coaxed now into eating all her food on most meals. I've started adding a little gravy today which helped entice her and her brother. I don't see her eating her poop anymore either, yuck!!!
I'm wondering if, because of the EPI, she still isn't digesting/using all her food like her brother is, and that's why the poops are bigger/more? Any info on that?
I'm sorry to say, I'm not keeping up on my journal like I should. I'm trying to do as little change as possible.
Over the past couple weeks I've also been taking care of my 84 YO neighbor who had back surgery, lives alone with 1 inside cat and 2 outside cats. I water her lawn and plants and try to take care of her the best I can. She is somewhat mobile with a walker, just can't do too much now.
So....I hope all is well for all of you! And thank you again for all your help, it really worked!!!

Thanks,
Richard and Sassy

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Miss Maddie Moo
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Posts: 120
Country: United Kingdom - England

Re: Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

Post by Miss Maddie Moo » 02 May 2019, 04:55

I had this with Maddie she didn't want to eat all her food so i gradually tapered the midday feed down by 1/2 cup per week.
I also found that when she went to 2 feeds a day the amount of poop reduced.
You have done a great job.
Maddie DX April 2011 along with low B12 she was feed with a low fibre food below 3% , fat was not restricted ( she wasnt good on pea based foods ) She initially had a course of B12 shots weekly over a period of 6 months and then we used the B12 pills from Chemeyes in the UK . We used Panzym and slowly had to increase the dose as she aged when she was first DX she was 23kg but she gained weight quickly and got back to 33 kg .
Maddie gained her angel wings in Jan 2018 at the age of 10 to a condition unrelated to EPI.
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Jean
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Posts: 1707
Location: South Liverpool
Country: United Kingdom - England
Pet name: Kara, lost 10th May 2019
My name: Jean

Re: Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

Post by Jean » 02 May 2019, 05:58

firstly, at the moment the neighbour is number 1, and you are a treasure

if she is struggling to finish her food, then her body will need to expell the extra some way, so Yes, I would reduce her feeds and amounts

Jean
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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jilbert57
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Posts: 2092
Country: United States
State: Washington

Re: Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

Post by jilbert57 » 02 May 2019, 08:45

Good morning and great job you are doing! Keep it up😁
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.

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Madelon
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Posts: 1317
Location: Nashville, TN
Country: United States
State: Tennessee
Pet name: Doc

Re: Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

Post by Madelon » 05 May 2019, 13:23

Bless your heart! I hope I have a neighbor like you when I'm that age. I agree with everyone - if she's not wanting to finish her food it may be time to cut out/reduce mid day meal and hopefully that will help with the extra output.
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.

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

Re: Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

Post by Barb » 05 May 2019, 15:29

You have certainly made it a "beautiful day in the neighborhood" ......well done.

It sounds like she's giving you signs that you can reduce the midday meal. Just keep you eye out for signs of SID. Kolby starts to leave portions of his food when his gut is not feeling well.

You're doing a great job all the way around.

Barb

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Riley's Mom
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Posts: 203
Country: United States
State: Virginia

Re: Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

Post by Riley's Mom » 05 May 2019, 15:33

I'm in agreement, it might be time to taper down to regular amounts of food instead of the 150%.
Good job!
Elisabeth

Riley is a 10 year old Labradoodle. She was diagnosed with EPI in 2014.
She currently eats Taste of the Wild, I cup in the morning, 2 cups in the evening, each meal with 1 Wonderlabs B12 sprinkled over her dinner. Enzymes are EnzymeDiane, 1 tsp per cup of food, mixed in home made bone broth. No other supplements or meds at this time.
Riley currently weighs about 44 pounds, which is pretty heavy for her.

RichardB
Member
Posts: 55
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Country: United States
State: California
Pet name: Sassy
My name: Richard

Re: Sassy says HI and Thank You!!!

Post by RichardB » 10 May 2019, 11:38

All is well!!! She's down to 2 meals a day now and doing fine. She's doing better than her brother!!! She finishes her meals in the morning and the evening. Her brother many days doesn't touch his breakfast until 2 in the afternoon, so I have to put it away so Sassy can't get at his food and then try again later. He doesn't finish dinner either but eats most of it. It doesn't appear to be hurting him any, and I figure when he's hungry enough he'll eat; I'm not getting worried about it because he is eating.
Sassy is still at 2 - 3 on the poop chart and holding.

Thank You All for leading us to where we are now!!!
Richard and Sassy

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