Food suggestions not the list

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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Kohlesmomma
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Location: charleston sc
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State: South Carolina
Pet name: Kohle
My name: Kellie

Food suggestions not the list

Post by Kohlesmomma » 04 Jan 2021, 07:21

Hello everyone. I was hoping for suggestions of dry food that IS AGREEING with current users, not the list that is always sent, but actual opinions of people using a specific dry food that they are using that seems to be working well for them. I realize there is a list on here, I would like actual testimonials of foods that are agreeable, I realize all dogs are different but what brand of dry is working well for your dog?

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jilbert57
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Re: Food suggestions not the list

Post by jilbert57 » 04 Jan 2021, 08:57

Good morning Kellie,
Sport Dog Food Elite Herding is one that is being used currently by folks. I am sure reviews will follow shortly!

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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Kohlesmomma
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Location: charleston sc
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State: South Carolina
Pet name: Kohle
My name: Kellie

Re: Food suggestions not the list

Post by Kohlesmomma » 04 Jan 2021, 10:34

Thanks so much Jill. That is currently what I am feeding also. I'm seeing some issues lately with kohle, he has been on that food for well over a year it's really difficult to get the "perfect" food..no chicken, no peas, no rice, no corn, etc..
B12 levels are good, he's on slippery elm, and back on tylan..i don't know maybe it's just sid for kicking up for some reason. He literally gets nothing but that food , and yet all of a sudden for no real good reason he's having soft poos, marbly colored, like dark brown with yellow. All his labs are good as well, no issues with liver or kidney...poor dog it seems so unfair that innocent animals have to suffer with this bologna, but thank you! So much for your response and Happy New Year!

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Willow&Jen
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Location: Lincoln
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State: Nebraska
Pet name: Willow
My name: Jennifer

Re: Food suggestions not the list

Post by Willow&Jen » 04 Jan 2021, 13:52

I can’t give you a kibble suggestion, but you might find the EPI Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs Original Facebook group interesting if you have’t joined it already. It is more active in posts than here, and you will see more variety in what people do. It’s interesting on an anecdotal level at least. Though YMMV.
Willow is an Australian Shepherd born 11/2018 and diagnosed with EPI 10/9/2020. She weighs ~42 lb.

10/7/20 Non fasting test results: Cobalamin 593 ng/L, reference 251-908 ; Folate 15 μg/L ; reference 7.7-24.4; Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity 80 μg/L;
'TLI 1.1 μg/L ; reference 5.7-45.2 ;

11/18/20 Fasting test results: Cobalamin: 512 ng/L ; Folate 14.3 μg/L ; Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity: <30 μg/L ; TLI: <1.0 μg/L

9/16/21 Cobalamin only retest 673 ng/L

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jilbert57
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Re: Food suggestions not the list

Post by jilbert57 » 04 Jan 2021, 14:01

Kellie, as dogs age they seem to need a little more enzyme. You might try upping the enzyme amount by 1/8 teaspoon per meal.

Also, are you supplementing daily with oral B12 or has the level been blood tested recently? Epi dogs need to maintain a level of around 600 or higher

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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Kohlesmomma
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Posts: 60
Location: charleston sc
Country: United States
State: South Carolina
Pet name: Kohle
My name: Kellie

Re: Food suggestions not the list

Post by Kohlesmomma » 04 Jan 2021, 16:19

Thank you both for the feedback. And yes kohle gets b12 capsules twice daily and his levels are in the high 600's.
I also have b12 injectable, but give that only once monthly.
I may try adding a pinch more enzyme he on 6x...maybe he needs 8x, but lord I really don't want to increase the strength if I don't have too since that causes a stint of ridiculously frequent peeing until he gets use to it.
Thanks again-

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Madelon
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Re: Food suggestions not the list

Post by Madelon » 04 Jan 2021, 20:19

Hi Kellie. If he's been on the food and doing good for well over a year then I would tend to think it's not the food that is the issue but rather as Jill suggested he needs a pinch more enzymes or even the 8x. Just to share my experience, my boy is EXTREMELY SENSITIVE to everything and every little change - I decided to try the 8x after 5yrs managing EPI because the poops just weren't what they had been and he's been doing really good on it. So you might either try increasing the 6x by 1/8tsp per cup of food OR order a sample of the 8x.

Another thought, are you giving slippery elm? That's an easy, cheap thing you could try to see if the poop gets better.

It could also be stress - did you have company during the holidays? Or has anything in the routine changed?

If the B12 levels are 600+ with the WonderLabs pills I wouldn't also add shots as it may be way too much B12.
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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Olesia711
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My name: olesia

Re: Food suggestions not the list

Post by Olesia711 » 04 Jan 2021, 21:14

i too was going to suggest a pinch more enzymes.... many of these dogs, as they age... seem to need just a pinch more. Start with 1/8 tsp more... if things improve just not enough....... then try increasing to 1/4 tsp more enzymes per cup of food.

Please keep us posted!

Oh... and for a food suggestion, i used SPort Elite.... but the one i used was made with whitefish. Some folks find good luck with Taste of the wild- pacific stream.

But, as you know... when it comes to diet... it is very individualized with these dogs..................
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

Gunny

Re: Food suggestions not the list

Post by Gunny » 05 Jan 2021, 07:03

We had a terrible time trying to adjust after diagnosis and finally settled on Victor High Pro Plus after trying a half-dozen different brands of kibble. I tried it because it has the recommended minimum fiber <4%. Gunny has been feeding with it for 2 years now and Gunny has been consistently healthy.

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Kohlesmomma
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Posts: 60
Location: charleston sc
Country: United States
State: South Carolina
Pet name: Kohle
My name: Kellie

Re: Food suggestions not the list

Post by Kohlesmomma » 05 Jan 2021, 10:39

Thanks so much everyone!
So thankful for all the replies
I do give slippery elm with his food and I will now start to try a little more enzymes...thus crazy disease, I tell ya! My other dog with epilepsy was almost easier to keep straight. Kohle is such a "feeling" kind of dog...meaning so easily worried about things, I'm sure he feels my stress from the past year...but it could be worse. Here's hoping everyone of us has positives for 2021!!

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