Diagnosis 72 hours ago - jack Russell X
Posted: 04 May 2019, 08:03
Our 5 year old Jack Russell cross rescue has just had a confirmed diagnosis of EPI 72 hours ago following an 8 week period of significant weight loss and this website has provided so much information in relation to both the disease process and the individual focus required to manage it.
History: Archer is a 5 year old Jack Russell cross (with what we will never know but appears to have some Beagle) who came int our family as a 12 week old puppy. By 5 months of age he had developed a significant front leg growth deformity (Carpus Valgus) which we have conservatively managed with Gabapentin and anti -inflammatories pending an eventual amputation. As an adult we have kept him lean at 9.4-9.8kg (he is larger than a pure breed JR) in order to reduce the weight on his leg - he has been on a grain free diet for the last 3.5 years. 8 weeks ago we made a change of brand grain free diet and approx 10 days later he began producing large volumes of faeces multiple time per day (semi formed at this stage). He also began experiencing 'leaking; from the anus of a yellow like substance that had a strange but non-offensive odour - this was obviously irritating and he began licking to the point of redness.
Vet visit Number 1: weight loss (8.9kg), ? anal glands (which were milked with no result) back home.
3 weeks later: weight loss evident (8.3kg) , continual anal leaking, multiple large volume faeces with a yellow colour but very little odour, otherwise happy / requesting walks: Vet suggested 7 days of withholding anti-inflammatories, 7 days of chicken and rice diet, feed 3 times per day, commence probiotics.
2 weeks later: weight loss continues (no scales - 700kms away from a vet on holidays), anal leaking continues. Very large volumes of yellow soft faeces (1.5 tea cups 3 times per day). Commenced feeding 3 hourly, continue with chicken and rice. 4 days later - rice and chicken appears to be coming out with faeces undigested. Otherwise happy and enjoying swimming in the ocean, digging at the beach and going for walks. Very hungry. Stopped rice and began feeding 2 hourly small portions of homemade chicken and broth.
Return to the city: Vet appointment (now 6 weeks after first symptom)weight now 7.8kg (ribs / spine and hip bones evident) Routine Bloods taken and formal scan booked for 8 days time (earliest appt) Faeces - volume reduced but remains yellow, soft and has a ? sausage like casing. Continue with 2 hour feeding of chicken and broth for a total volume of 450 grams per day!. Tried a small piece of cooked salmon which resulted in very leaky anus ( I assume fat) started daily weights.
7 weeks post symptoms: More wight loss 7,7kg, faeces continues as above. Still happy and cannot understand why he is not been taken for his usual long daily walks. 2 hourly feeding continues - I decide to take him back to the vet as not happy to wait for scan - more bloods, vet decides to complete a scan at the clinic : Evidence of inflammed bowel and fluid in the abdominal cavity, unable to view the pancreas. Decides at the last minute to test for EPI (this is a $200 test in Australia on top of the normal blood test costs). Before we knew the results the vet requested that we consider a 'novel protein' The only two we could come up with were Venison and Crocodile and I couldn't find any that afternoon.
Wednesday morning: Confirmed diagnosis and commenced Creon granules, Flagyl and probiotics on Thursday afternoon.
It is now Saturday and we are feeding 5 small meals per day with the enzymes - Poo volume has decreased and while still remains yellow it has lost the greasy 'sausage film'. no anal leakage. There does not appear to be any further weight loss. He is happy and bouncing around like his usual self.
If you got this far.. I have a few questions:
1. We have been advised to mix the Creon dose in with the food and leave to sit for 10 minutes - is this correct given that they are enteric coated granules not the powder used in the USA?
2. I have been using the chicken and pumpkin diet we have been on until we get a few days under our belt but will probably need to consider adding a small amount of fat - what should I use? how much? (current portions: 75% chicken, 20% Pumpkin and I am guessing no more than 5% fat from the cooked chicken )
3. I bring his meal up to room temperature using a little boiling water (before adding granules) to mimic what the temp of the gastric environment would be- ? required.
4. Currently feeding him 420 grams per day over 5 meals (will need to go to 4 on Monday)
5. At some stage I would like to use a commercial grain free 'kibble' in conjunction with homemade food - when should I consider introducing this ?
6. Plan on weekly weights, watching for signs of mouth ulcers etc.. Will also ask the vet about B12 levels and treatment of required
Thankfully I have Pet insurance....
All the best
Littlepickle
History: Archer is a 5 year old Jack Russell cross (with what we will never know but appears to have some Beagle) who came int our family as a 12 week old puppy. By 5 months of age he had developed a significant front leg growth deformity (Carpus Valgus) which we have conservatively managed with Gabapentin and anti -inflammatories pending an eventual amputation. As an adult we have kept him lean at 9.4-9.8kg (he is larger than a pure breed JR) in order to reduce the weight on his leg - he has been on a grain free diet for the last 3.5 years. 8 weeks ago we made a change of brand grain free diet and approx 10 days later he began producing large volumes of faeces multiple time per day (semi formed at this stage). He also began experiencing 'leaking; from the anus of a yellow like substance that had a strange but non-offensive odour - this was obviously irritating and he began licking to the point of redness.
Vet visit Number 1: weight loss (8.9kg), ? anal glands (which were milked with no result) back home.
3 weeks later: weight loss evident (8.3kg) , continual anal leaking, multiple large volume faeces with a yellow colour but very little odour, otherwise happy / requesting walks: Vet suggested 7 days of withholding anti-inflammatories, 7 days of chicken and rice diet, feed 3 times per day, commence probiotics.
2 weeks later: weight loss continues (no scales - 700kms away from a vet on holidays), anal leaking continues. Very large volumes of yellow soft faeces (1.5 tea cups 3 times per day). Commenced feeding 3 hourly, continue with chicken and rice. 4 days later - rice and chicken appears to be coming out with faeces undigested. Otherwise happy and enjoying swimming in the ocean, digging at the beach and going for walks. Very hungry. Stopped rice and began feeding 2 hourly small portions of homemade chicken and broth.
Return to the city: Vet appointment (now 6 weeks after first symptom)weight now 7.8kg (ribs / spine and hip bones evident) Routine Bloods taken and formal scan booked for 8 days time (earliest appt) Faeces - volume reduced but remains yellow, soft and has a ? sausage like casing. Continue with 2 hour feeding of chicken and broth for a total volume of 450 grams per day!. Tried a small piece of cooked salmon which resulted in very leaky anus ( I assume fat) started daily weights.
7 weeks post symptoms: More wight loss 7,7kg, faeces continues as above. Still happy and cannot understand why he is not been taken for his usual long daily walks. 2 hourly feeding continues - I decide to take him back to the vet as not happy to wait for scan - more bloods, vet decides to complete a scan at the clinic : Evidence of inflammed bowel and fluid in the abdominal cavity, unable to view the pancreas. Decides at the last minute to test for EPI (this is a $200 test in Australia on top of the normal blood test costs). Before we knew the results the vet requested that we consider a 'novel protein' The only two we could come up with were Venison and Crocodile and I couldn't find any that afternoon.
Wednesday morning: Confirmed diagnosis and commenced Creon granules, Flagyl and probiotics on Thursday afternoon.
It is now Saturday and we are feeding 5 small meals per day with the enzymes - Poo volume has decreased and while still remains yellow it has lost the greasy 'sausage film'. no anal leakage. There does not appear to be any further weight loss. He is happy and bouncing around like his usual self.
If you got this far.. I have a few questions:
1. We have been advised to mix the Creon dose in with the food and leave to sit for 10 minutes - is this correct given that they are enteric coated granules not the powder used in the USA?
2. I have been using the chicken and pumpkin diet we have been on until we get a few days under our belt but will probably need to consider adding a small amount of fat - what should I use? how much? (current portions: 75% chicken, 20% Pumpkin and I am guessing no more than 5% fat from the cooked chicken )
3. I bring his meal up to room temperature using a little boiling water (before adding granules) to mimic what the temp of the gastric environment would be- ? required.
4. Currently feeding him 420 grams per day over 5 meals (will need to go to 4 on Monday)
5. At some stage I would like to use a commercial grain free 'kibble' in conjunction with homemade food - when should I consider introducing this ?
6. Plan on weekly weights, watching for signs of mouth ulcers etc.. Will also ask the vet about B12 levels and treatment of required
Thankfully I have Pet insurance....
All the best
Littlepickle