Hello everyone. New EPI mom here. My GSD mix Vesper (1 year and 4 months) was diagnosed with EPI this past Wednesday. The vet has been wonderful and I have already started her on B12 and enzymes along with a low fiber diet. However, I wanted to get some advice on chews. Vesper, while done growing for the most part, is still an avid chewer. It's her favorite past-time. I'm not a big fan of bones (except raw meaty), but I do purchase yak cheese, tracheas, cow ears, and bullysticks for her. Tracheas are definitely her favorite. Will giving her those on occassion mess with her system? Should I try to plan it around meal times? What advice do you all have?
I just want to add that finding this site has been an absolute life saver. It was actually what prompted me to ask the vet to specifically work up to testing Vesper for EPI (saved me a lot of $$). This has been the greatest source for a new EPI pup mom. Thank you so much!
Chew Recommendations
- VespersEclipse
- Member
- Posts: 3
- Country: United States
- State: Texas
- Pet name: Vesper
- My name: Aly
Re: Chew Recommendations
I would wait on treats for Vesper until the poop is consistently good.
If you want to try small chew yes, please do it after an enzymed meal. If you find the poop goes south you might need to rethink.
Jill
If you want to try small chew yes, please do it after an enzymed meal. If you find the poop goes south you might need to rethink.
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.
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.
- VespersEclipse
- Member
- Posts: 3
- Country: United States
- State: Texas
- Pet name: Vesper
- My name: Aly
Re: Chew Recommendations
Thank you, Jill! Definitely seems reasonable.
- Olesia711
- Founder & Research Director
- Posts: 3937
- Location: North Carolina
- Country: United States
- State: North Carolina
- Pet name: Izzy
- My name: olesia
Re: Chew Recommendations
Hi Aly,
just catching up now on some posts..... and i LOVE LOVE LOVE the pic of Vesper in your profile pic! What a cutie!
SO... Jill correctly answered your question. If possible, just hold off on these extra "treats" until things settle down.... and once introducing... try just a tiny piece of it near an enzymed meal (within 1 hr of a meal).. give it a few days to make sure loose or softer stools don't happen. However.... if loose stools do happen... then see if you can switch to heavy meaty soup bones or something.........
just catching up now on some posts..... and i LOVE LOVE LOVE the pic of Vesper in your profile pic! What a cutie!
SO... Jill correctly answered your question. If possible, just hold off on these extra "treats" until things settle down.... and once introducing... try just a tiny piece of it near an enzymed meal (within 1 hr of a meal).. give it a few days to make sure loose or softer stools don't happen. However.... if loose stools do happen... then see if you can switch to heavy meaty soup bones or something.........
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.........
- VespersEclipse
- Member
- Posts: 3
- Country: United States
- State: Texas
- Pet name: Vesper
- My name: Aly
Re: Chew Recommendations
Hi Olesia.
Haha! Thank you, she's quite the ham.
And thank you so much for providing that time window. That really helps a lot!
Haha! Thank you, she's quite the ham.
And thank you so much for providing that time window. That really helps a lot!
- Olesia711
- Founder & Research Director
- Posts: 3937
- Location: North Carolina
- Country: United States
- State: North Carolina
- Pet name: Izzy
- My name: olesia
Re: Chew Recommendations
Hi Aly, you are very welcome... and i should also add... when first giving big raw meaty bones (big soup bones) trim all the fat and grizzle off the bone that you can take off
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.........