Creative Incubation

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.
MaryAnn
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Posts: 4
Country: United States
State: Georgia
Pet name: Mina
My name: MaryAnn

Creative Incubation

Post by MaryAnn » 22 Sep 2019, 15:01

My dog does not like the food that has been incubated with enzymes. I need to find creative ways to get to her take the enzymes so they help her and so she eats. I have thrown away an unknown quantity of food trying to figure this out. I would appreciate any help possible. Thanks. MaryAnn Drake

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jilbert57
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Country: United States
State: Washington

Re: Creative Incubation

Post by jilbert57 » 22 Sep 2019, 15:12

Hi Mary Ann,
A lot of dogs are put off by the enzymes. Things you can try:

After incubation drizzle a smelly topping over the food, such as tuna water, parmesan cheese, etc...

Take some baby food or yogurt, room temperature, and mix enzymes in well. Let it set 15 mins to incubate then stir in kibble and coat. The kibble will be crunchier.

Feed the enzymed food on a flat plate so the nose is not directly in it.

Try putting the enzymes in a couple gel caps and feed prior to meal. This doesn't always work so you need to keep an eye on the poop.

How are you preparing enzymes and how much do you use per cup of kibble?

Jill
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.

MaryAnn
Member
Posts: 4
Country: United States
State: Georgia
Pet name: Mina
My name: MaryAnn

Re: Creative Incubation

Post by MaryAnn » 22 Sep 2019, 15:47

Hi Jill,

Thanks so much for answering.

I use one teaspoon of enzyme per cup of food. My dog is a German Shepherd. I do feed on a flat plate. When I sprinkle yummies on top, she eats those and avoids the kibble.

I can try incubating in a small amount of something and then mixing. We will see what happens.

Wish me luck,
MaryAnn

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jilbert57
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State: Washington

Re: Creative Incubation

Post by jilbert57 » 22 Sep 2019, 15:55

Good luck!

Jill
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.

Tuckaboo Pam
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Posts: 1345
Country: United States
State: Florida
Pet name: Tucker
My name: Pam H.

Re: Creative Incubation

Post by Tuckaboo Pam » 22 Sep 2019, 16:46

MaryAnn, I'm new here, but my dog eats the enzymes with no trouble. Maybe this would work for your pup. I make homeade turkey bone broth, and I put about 3 oz. of it mixed with a little water into the kibble & enzymes before incubating. I also wonder what would happen if you put the yummies under the kibble, instead of on top? What if you mixed them with peanut butter, smeared on the plate and then kibble?? Just a thought---Pam
Tucker was a shepherd/lab mix--- TLI 1.3, Folate 9.7, Cobalamin 666, Lipase 38. Took Diane's Enzymes 4 teaspoons/day, Wonderlabs B12 one capsule per day, and Tylan 1/16 teaspoon/ morning (to hold SID at bay). Taste of the Wild High Prairie, 1 1/2 cups/day, with a total of 4 cups of Fresh Pet. Stopped eating everything in sight, and went from 60 to 85 pounds! Tucker was my boyfriend, and my husband was OK with that. Tucker succumbed to hemangiosarcoma, but we cherished every day we had with that wonderful, beautiful boy. I will always, always miss my sweet big boy.

MaryAnn
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Posts: 4
Country: United States
State: Georgia
Pet name: Mina
My name: MaryAnn

Re: Creative Incubation

Post by MaryAnn » 22 Sep 2019, 17:30

Thanks. Good ideas.

MaryAnn
Member
Posts: 4
Country: United States
State: Georgia
Pet name: Mina
My name: MaryAnn

Re: Creative Incubation

Post by MaryAnn » 22 Sep 2019, 17:39

For how long is the incubated enzyme potent? If I mix some food with enzyme and she does not eat it all and I give it back to her later with additional food added on, do I just give the amount of enzyme for the new amount of food, or for the entire meal?

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Madelon
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Re: Creative Incubation

Post by Madelon » 23 Sep 2019, 22:29

Hi Mary Ann - have you tried feeding on a flat plate? Incubation time varies for every EPI dog but the general rule is incubate 20-30 minutes before serving. If you still have problems, you could try grinding the kibble in a blender, this has worked for some of our most difficult cases.
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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jilbert57
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Re: Creative Incubation

Post by jilbert57 » 23 Sep 2019, 22:49

Just make sure it doesn't set out long enough to start growing things. I am not so sure I would mix old food with new.

Someone else might chime in.

Jill
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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jordieboy
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Country: United States
State: Vermont
Pet name: Rosie
My name: Jennifer

Re: Creative Incubation

Post by jordieboy » 25 Sep 2019, 22:46

Hi MaryAnn,

Rosie and I are new here, as well, and have been figuring out how to eat the enzyme way too! So far, what has worked for Rosie is a flat plate with individual small piles of food that she can pick up easily. I sit by her with a bowl of her food and replenish the piles as she eats them. Not very efficient, but she HATES sticking her nose into mushy food. The other thing that seems to make her food more appealing to her is about half and half canned and kibble. The kibble gets softer while the food incubates, but not mushy, and it makes it easier for her to pick up each pile if it has some structure.

As to the smell/burning?/odd mouth actions that Rosie has had, it seems that if her food incubates for 30 minutes or more, it is better than right at the 20 minute mark. She also seems to like it as "leftovers", when I refrigerate what she doesn't eat immediately and offer it to her cold later. It's a little firmer, cold.

Good luck finding what works for you!
Jennifer and Rosie

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