First time poster in need of help.

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.
Chance
Member
Posts: 195
Country: Canada
Pet name: Chance
My name: Andrea

Re: First time poster in need of help.

Post by Chance » 22 Nov 2022, 20:14

Ovol (Gas X) did also help Chance when he had gas pains during SIBO setbacks. It made it easier for him to burp out the gas to provide relief!

HunnysMom
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Posts: 57
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Hunny
My name: Jen

Re: First time poster in need of help.

Post by HunnysMom » 22 Nov 2022, 20:48

@Chance, I am going to go down to 3/4 teaspoon and see what happens 3x per day.

On the bottle it says 3/4 - 1 tsp per meal and I am understanding that meal doesnt necessarily mean 1 cup of food.

I started out with 1 tsp per cup and I was feeding her 2 cups.

Vet said to go to 3 cups so then I just gave her another teaspoon so 3 altogether.

I will try the 3/4 tsp per cup and see what happens.

I am really heart broken about all of this. My girl was healthy and happy and then after switching her food all of this started to happen. I do not know if she is genetically predisposed or what. I had successfully switched her food to an adult formula and it was easy peasy her poop was great. Then the store ran out and I grabbed a bag by the same company which was just the adult version of her original puppy food and then all hell started breaking loose at the end of Sept.

I am worried about her because its been almost 2 months and what I read about EPI is scary. On top of this her blood results are not really bad and not really showing the signs yet SHE is showing the signs.

I fear that if I can't get this right I will lose her.

HunnysMom
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Posts: 57
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Hunny
My name: Jen

Re: First time poster in need of help.

Post by HunnysMom » 22 Nov 2022, 20:56

I Just looked up taste of the wild salmon and i feel good about feeding hunny salmon.

Id rather not do kibble but I need something easy right now as I figure all of this out. I feel so alone. I have seen 2 vets and I dont know the plan. They didnt seem to know how much of the enzyme she needed either.

Chance
Member
Posts: 195
Country: Canada
Pet name: Chance
My name: Andrea

Re: First time poster in need of help.

Post by Chance » 22 Nov 2022, 22:49

I COMPLETELY understand where you are coming from! There has been more than once, very recently that I was certain I was losing my boy. I was living on adrenaline, looked and felt like a zombie. I was scared.

From a very nasty SIBO infection that my now former vet refused to treat. It got very severe. He went off food (which for a Lab, it's scary). He was losing the weight he'd started gaining. All while recovering from pneumonia. He didn't have much fight.

Finally found a new vet willing to take on a new client, and learn what he could about EPI.

Not long after, SIBO being treated, still recovering from pneumonia, I switched from B12 injections to the Wonderlabs B12. A few weeks later, he was so weak that getting out to pee took all the energy he could muster. It was scary how fast he was declining! He couldn't get up 3 steps to save his life. I didn't know if the pneumonia was coming back or otherwise affecting him, or what. A very healthy sized vet bill later, I found learned that the B12 capsules were 100% useless!! Back to injections, and the next morning he got up and started running around the house with my shoe in his mouth! He was sooo happy to be feeling better!

We've had a couple of setbacks since, but a vet that will listen, we got it sorted much more quickly. He's bright and happy. We are slowly building up his strength again. He can do 20 minute slow walks now. A month ago, 5 minutes at a time was his absolute limit. In a few days time, we'll go for 25 minute walks. He's ready. He's doing 20 minutes easily.

I still worry, and wonder when the next setback will be. But I am slowly gaining confidence that I can recognize symptoms and act very quickly, and prevent it from getting very bad. I know he's not stable yet; but I am determined to get there. I know we have the enzyme dose dialed in now(that took some tweaking. Mistakes going too high and Mistakes going too low). Gets his injections every other week. And his probiotics.

So I absolutely know how you feel. But it does get better. It does not get better overnight. But it does get better. You will get there!

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Olesia711
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Posts: 3857
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: First time poster in need of help.

Post by Olesia711 » 23 Nov 2022, 08:06

just wondering..... did you increase the meals to 3 cups per meal ?

If so.... this may also be an issue.... Usually with most gastro concerns..... you need to feed SMALLER portions of food. If EPI.... although you need to feed approximately 150% of what is normally required for the dog's weight.... what is strongly recommended is to feed small portion meals but feed more meals throughout the day to equal 150%..............
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.........

HunnysMom
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Posts: 57
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Hunny
My name: Jen

Re: First time poster in need of help.

Post by HunnysMom » 23 Nov 2022, 09:47

@olesia, maybe this is it too. She was eating 2 cups per day spread out over 4 feedings. So 1/2 cup 4x per day.

After seeing the vet she wanted hunny to be eating 3 cups because she’s so thin and wanted her calories to increase.

So then I decided to just do 1 cup 3x per day.

I could take the 3 and do 6 feedings throughout the day or just go back to her 2 cups.

What I have noticed over the last approx 2 weeks is her weight is stable. This seems like a miracle. It’s still so low at 29 lbs but I managed to weigh her yesterday on my own scale and she’s the same.

Further thoughts?

HunnysMom
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Posts: 57
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Hunny
My name: Jen

Re: First time poster in need of help.

Post by HunnysMom » 23 Nov 2022, 09:49

@olesia. I actually almost called you yesterday. I found the website a few days ago and have been searching and searching and I saw your number and thought maybe just call to get help. Thank you for staffing this organization. This is all so so brand new to me.

Do you have a food you recommend for someone just getting started? There are a ton of brands I see here but when I have too many options I worry about which is the best way to go.

HunnysMom
Member
Posts: 57
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Hunny
My name: Jen

Re: First time poster in need of help.

Post by HunnysMom » 23 Nov 2022, 09:52

Btw this is my girl right now at 29 lbs 😓
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And the of me and
The little girl was an accident. That’s my friends daughter!
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Tuckaboo Pam
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Posts: 1345
Country: United States
State: Florida
Pet name: Tucker
My name: Pam H.

Re: First time poster in need of help.

Post by Tuckaboo Pam » 23 Nov 2022, 18:48

The foods I have recommended are commonly listed, and I have used them all successfully. If you go to the Managing EPI tab, under Diet you will be able to read straight through for yourself. Here are links to a couple of the diet chapters. May be easier to understand, than it is for all of us giving our opinions.

Having said that, anecdotal evidence sometimes holds the key.

https://epi4dogs.com/why-grainfree-foods/
https://epi4dogs.com/epi-diets-are-tricky/
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.

HunnysMom
Member
Posts: 57
Country: United States
State: Texas
Pet name: Hunny
My name: Jen

Re: First time poster in need of help.

Post by HunnysMom » 24 Nov 2022, 11:56

@tuckaboo pam - thank you. One question about the taste of the wild. i noted that peas are about 4th or 5th on the ingredient list but from what I am reading they should avoid legumes?

Thoughts?

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