Epi4Dogs

Hi everyone,

Long, long ago, I had a foster collie with EPI named Jordie. I joined the yahoo EPI global group back then, and with their support and help, Jordie went from 38 pounds to about 60 pounds (where he should have been), regrew his coat, and became a happy, healthy boy. He was adopted by a family with a Saluki that also had EPI, so they knew what he needed to live a good life. This is a long-winded way of saying I know what EPI looks like, and I'm really suspicious my collie girl, Rosie, has it.

Two weeks ago, she started having diarrhea, her appetite went from her normal "meh, maybe I'll eat today" to "GIVE ME ALL THE FOODS!", and our sheltie suddenly found Rosie's smelly, squishy yellow poop delicious. Ugh. At first, I figured she might have had a dietary indiscretion and figured she would be back to normal in a couple days. Well, it's been two weeks and the smart part of my subconscious finally got a word in edgewise with my conscious brain and said "EPI, you dingbat!" So, off to the vet on Monday for a fasting blood test and whatever else the vet deems important (B12, Folate), etc. I'm hoping I'm wrong, and that it's just an easily treated infection, but I don't think so. The smell triggered memories...

So anyway, Hi! I'm so glad this forum exists!

Hi Jennifer and welcome. Let us know the results when you get them.
For sure have the B12 checked and folate is good.

Jill

Thank you! I figure I'll know for sure late this coming week and I'll let everyone know. Since my memory of Jordie clicked in, I've been rethinking Rosie's behavior for the last month or so (less laying on her back for tummy rubs, more burping, more gas, more interest in the kitchen table and countertop) and realizing that the bigger, "regular" poops that I'd been picking up and rationalizing as coming from my bigger collie boy were probably hers and the first indications of Rosie's maldigestion. Although, even if I realized there was a problem earlier, her symptoms were so mild and unspecific (fewer tummy rubs?) that I would have felt awkward taking her to the vet at that point. That is no longer the case!

welcome from the UK

It sure sounds like a maybe case of EPI

Please let us know the results



Jean

Good for you for putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. Let us know what the results of the test are.



Barb

Thank you. Rosie had blood drawn today to test her general stats plus TLI, B-12, and folate levels, got a B-12 shot, and some canned prescription food that my vet thought would be helpful until we get her results back. The vet thought EPI was most likely, giardia was possible and that Addison’s was a less likely but possible cause of her troubles. If the TLI test comes back normal, we’ll go down the list.

Now, to wait a couple days...

thats the hard part

let us know

j

Hi! Wow - so glad you recognize the symptoms and even if not EPI, could be some other type of maldigestion. These dogs have a way of finding us . Keep us posted on the results.

Okay, EPI is confirmed. Rosie's bloodwork came back today and her TLI is <1, her Cobalamin is 197, and her Folate is elevated. Two of her liver values were also slightly high, with her AST at 89 (normal is <66) and her ALT at 322 (normal <118). Her vet wants her on Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat for 6 weeks, plus weekly B-12 injections for 6 weeks (then monthly). She is also on a week of Metronidazole. She started on Diane's enzymes on Tuesday and had her first semi-normal poop in several weeks yesterday!

I'm hoping to find a low fiber food that she enjoys after the 6 weeks of prescription diet. I'm also hoping that since we figured this out quite early (Rosie has only lost 4 pounds, from 53 to 49), that stopping the loss and regaining weight will be a relatively smooth process. I know every dog is different, but I'm an optimist!

Does anyone have a good suggestions for enzymed treats I can make? My guys live for snacks a couple times a day, and I can't do that if Rosie can't join in. Then again, our Sheltie is a sausage. She's on anti-seizure meds that make her eat everything in sight, except pickles. Perhaps a more regimented diet would be good for the other dogs, too!

You might run it by your vet but there is no reason to restrict fat. Unless there is a different condition that requires low fat. Grain free diets seem to work best as grains can inhibit the actions of enzymes. Look for diets with 4% fiber and under. Here is a list from our site:

https://epi4dogs.com/dog-food-options/

Good for starting on the B12 shots. Here is a link to B12 caps with Intrinsic Factor from Wonderlabs to supplement:

https://epi4dogs.com/b12-in-brief-2/

Sometimes the liver enzymes are elevated in Epi before protocol is started. Keep an eye on them.

Jill