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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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Pnagasaki
Member
Posts: 8
Country: United States
State: Hawaii
Pet name: Bella
My name: Patricia Nagasaki

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Post by Pnagasaki » 16 Jul 2020, 04:29

My 10 y/o cavalierkingcharles Bella just got diagnosed with epi. We thought through an ultrasound that she had bid so we started her on metro for 2 weeks but didn’t help then prednisone for 2 weeks but that didn’t help. She started to have blood in her stool so took her to er. They ran the tli test. Now I have her on enzyme powder for 6 days. Her stools are getting better but still not up to normal. Does anyone know how long it takes for it to return to normal. She was 26 lbs and now 18 lbs. I feed her 4 times a day 1/2 c dry kibble with 1/2 tsp powder. She is soooo hungry.. thanks

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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

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Post by Jean » 16 Jul 2020, 08:53

Good afternoon Patricia from the UK

What a beautiful place to live

OK

just so we understand , is it that you have HAD her on enzymes for 6 days, or you have been given 6 days enzymes

EPI is for life unfortunately, it never gets better

So the ratio of enzymes is correct , 1 t spoon of enzyme to 1 cup (8 ounces)

So what enzymes are you using ?

You might want to look at Enzyme Diane, she does discounted enzymes in USA


As to food what are you feeding

We recommend grain and rice free , low fibre, usually no chicken or poultry fat they dont seem to tolerate it

So she is hungry, try feeding 50% over and above what the food instructions state for the weight the dog SHOULD be over ,as you are doing ,several meals a day, you might want to give a small meal of scrambled egg and mashed potato enzymed before bed, it's a long time until breakfast

Was any suggestion made of b12 supplement , it is essential to an EPI dogs digestion

Any tummy rumbling ?

Most dogs have SID small intestinal symbiosis, and a course of Tylan is recommended

Keep a journal/ diary on everything

Until everything is joined together the stools will be abnormal , but that is normal at the start

Let us know
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

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

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Post by Barb » 16 Jul 2020, 15:23

Hello Patricia and welcome to you and Bella.

The beginning of treatment for EPI is the hardest part. It will get easier, as Jean said, once you balance the Food, Enzymes, B12 and antibiotics. If you can answer some of Jean's questions, we can better help you. Especially let us know what enzymes you are using and if she is getting B12 supplementation. Most of our dogs have low B12 when they are first diagnosed. Enzyme Diane is a member here and provides us with an excellent product at a fraction of the price of commercial brands. You can go to her website and look at her information. She publishes her phone number and is wonderful to work with.

I heartily support the log/journal. It helps you to see what works and what needs to be adjusted. Record everything you give Bella each day, the amounts, and the resulting poos.
It saved our sanity.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Try not to feel too overwhelmed. It will get easier.

Barb

Pnagasaki
Member
Posts: 8
Country: United States
State: Hawaii
Pet name: Bella
My name: Patricia Nagasaki

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Post by Pnagasaki » 16 Jul 2020, 15:46

Hi everyone thanks for all the info. Bella is on z/d diet because the vet said she had ibd at first. She was eating grain free food all this time but the ultrasound showed her heart is enlarged and she has severe heart issue being a cavalier. I got the enzymes from the er vet and it was so expensive I was shocked when they told me the price. I went online and am going to get the pan-tenex enzymes next. But I will go check out the EnzymeDiane web site next. I will go and schedule a b-12 test next I suppose. Her poop is getting better day by day. I will see what else my vet will recommend..thank you all for the support

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Montgomery
Member
Posts: 418
Country: Canada
Pet name: Montgomery (I'm a CAT!)
My name: V

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Post by Montgomery » 16 Jul 2020, 19:13

Welcome!
It took a good six months with Montgomery, and every now and then we find we still have to tweak something or other. He was diagnosed four years ago. Hang in there!
Montgomery was born 20 March 2012. He eats extra lean ground chicken, lean ground pork and lean ground beef completed with Alnutrin and freeze-dried chicken liver, with hard-cooked egg. He gets two size zero capsules of Enzyme Diane's enzymes at each of his six meals, and a size four capsule of Tylan three times a day. He's a fierce little Spitfire with a roaring Merlin engine.

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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

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Post by Jean » 17 Jul 2020, 08:06

Hi Patricia

It's one of the biggies the price of enzymes

If you go for the b12 cobalamin test it 12 hours food fasting, the labs are now saying 8 hours, but if you book first thing in the morning its doable, and not Friday, as it's the weekend

It seems to be an issue with Cavaliers having heart trouble, was there symptoms at all ? Is she on meds for this ?

You will get there

J
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: 2091
Country: United States
State: Washington

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Post by jilbert57 » 17 Jul 2020, 09:59

Hi Patricia,
Just in case you need enzymes inbetween your shipment here is some information:

https://epi4dogs.com/emergency-enzymes/

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

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Post by Madelon » 18 Jul 2020, 23:43

Hi and welcome to you and Bella. I'm so sorry to hear she has a heart condition. I had a miniature pincher with a heart condition - he lived a long healthy life with meds. With EPI we always say treat the concurrent condition first then treat the EPI - so while we normally recommend grain free if your vet says a rx diet which includes grain is best for the heart condition then please follow that and just know you might have to adjust the enzymes. Glad you are looking into EnzymeDiane as it will save you a lot of money. They should have tested B12 (cobalamin) and Folate when they tested TLI so if you have those results and post them it would help us.

B12 is critical to properly managing EPI. EPI dogs need their B12 on the high side of normal 600+ and supplementing is for life.

Keep us posted on how she's doing.
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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