New and overwhelmed

[SueZ]

We began our journey with Trixzee (5-year-old, female, GSD) in August 2024. We noticed more and more episodes of diarrhea and vomiting shortly after she ate her meals. One thing that I noticed was that T's vomit had no smell. It was just plain undigested kibble. There was no odor of stomach acid. This is when we began to suspect that Trixzee was not absorbing nutrition. We also noticed the rapid weight loss.

We started with basic blood work. Her white cell count was elevated. The EPI test was normal. B12 was very low and folate was normal. The vet started treatment with B12 supplements and Metronidazole. There were no improvements, and T was losing more weight. We switched her to 6 weeks of injectable B12 and still there no improvements. Trix started losing interest in eating. We started to add some freeze-dried raw dog food to her kibble to entice her to eat. It wasn't long before Trixzee became extremely emaciated. We were losing ground with her fast.

The vet did an ultrasound and more labs. Both were inconclusive. Our vet began to suspect EPI. He added the digestive enzymes to her diet. so far, it has been hit or miss with the foods that we try. She did a little better this week with some rice and boiled lean hamburger added to her kibble with the enzymes. The vet wanted a repeat of the ultrasound focusing on the pancreas. We should get the results of that tomorrow.

This is so overwhelming as we watch our dog suffering and loosing so much weight. I am so grateful to have found this group. I am learning that there is no, one correct way to treat this. I want Trixzee to get better but it is looking like it's going to be a long slow road.

[jilbert57]

Hi Sue. What was the Tli results? Did you fast her 8-12 hrs before the test?

Jill

[Olesia711]

HI Sue and thanks for writing in.
You mentioned that initially the EPI test (i am assuming the TLI test) was "normal" can you please give us the test results. The standard range for the TLI test has changed quite a bit.... so depending on what the score was... it is possible that Trixzee does have EPI but if test analysis was compared to the "old" range... it would say she is normal/no EPI when she is positive for EPI... in any case. PLEASE let us know what the test score was.

Also... what enzymes are you using.... this can make a HUGE difference....also how much enzymes are you using with how much food and how are you preparing the enzymes with the food......and even if you are doing everything correct.... with some dogs, the fiber in food has to be limited once they are started on enzymes.

And the other issue could be that this is not EPI.... the cTLI blood test is the gold standard to test for EPI...

If you give us more detail, that would really be helpful!

[Chance]

How long was the food in the stomach before it would get puked out undigested? If a meal was recent, you would expect the food to be undigested. If it's many hours later, that's more of a concern.

3 possibles that come to my mind, regarding weight loss. More an uneducated guess.

EPI. Yes, it's possible. Especially if, as Olesia mentioned, they might be comparing Trixzee against the *older* reference range. So if you have the numbers, that might help a lot. IBD is also a possibility, but that's determined using biopsies. But bad cases would show on ultrasound, most likely. EPI should respond very quickly to pancreatin based enzymes. IBD might be more hit or miss, as they may be sensitive to certain foods. (With EPI alone, you don't get much in the way of food sensitivity). EPI dogs are typically starving....literally.

Addison's disease. This causes very rapid weight loss; but for different reasons. Symptoms often mimic EPI; often causing vomiting and/or diarrhea. Most often reduced appetite and reduced energy levels. "Stress" usually causes worsening symptoms for a few days, then back to *their* normal. Loss of appetite is quite common.

Thyroid: this is less likely, but not impossible. Most commonly, a hypothyroid dog will put on weight. But apparently about 10% experience weight loss instead. Doctors say no one has any idea why that happens. (I was a very skinny hypothyroid. I could have passed for anorexic! I did gain weight with is treatment). So it's rare, but it happens. It happened to me.

If you do have the results of the GI Panel. Cuz if the TLI is even close to the low range, it could be a red flag.