Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)

[EJQ]

"BB" my two year old was recently diagnosed with EPI. She started the enzyme treatment this week and will be on weekly vitamin B12 shots for the next six weeks and beyond.

I've done quite a bit of reading on the subject but have not gotten any real life feed back. If you have any practical experience in dealing with this condition I would really like to hear what you have to say.

Thanks!!

[fuzzybunny]

We thought Jazz had this so I did a lot of research at the time. There's a really fantastic EPI yahoo group I'd recommend you joining.

Also, Enzyme Diane is a website where you can purchase enzymes at half the price as you'd pay at the vet. Thought I'd mention it in case you haven't discovered it yet.

Enzyme Diane - ENZYME DIANE

[Heidigsd]

So sorry to hear that "BB" has EPI, Nikki was diagnosed about a year ago

Have you joined this group yet, lots of good info and experience over there.
Forum - EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Michaela

[ken k]

sorry to hear about BB, sounds like you have things under control, what enzyme are you using?, how long before you caught it?, best to look at poop everyday and weigh in once a week, so you can monitor the amount of enzymes your putting in the food, Max has been EPI for 3 years now, after the frist few months and getting things stabilized, hes done very well, we were using viokase v, about $200 a bottle, I switched to Enzyme Diane`s enzymes about 6 weeks ago everything is fine, a lot cheaper, and Max has been maintaining his 99.4lbs to 100.6lbs consistently, his food is mixed with the enzymes and a little water is added and let sit for 30 minutes string a couple of times, if your using the viokase powder, i`d stay on that till BB is stable and gaining weight, and back to where BB once was, then make the switch, you`ll have a reference point then

[Rerun]

You should run a search on the forum, there are a ton of us here who have EPI dogs and there have been quite a few (recent) threads about it.

[EJQ]

Thanks everyone - I will start following your suggestions and will report back!!

[ken k]

it will be a trial and error thing, no 2 EPI dogs are alike, just become an expert in looking at poop, that will take a lot of guess work out of it

[LovemyEli]

Hello!

Definitely join the EPI forum. It has so much information!

My boy was diagnosed 2 months ago and we have been through some stumbles but he is pretty much stable now!

He doesn't seem to need a lot of Enzymes per meal, I give 1 1/4 tsp per 2 and 1/4 dry. You will have to start at the recommended dosage then go up and down and see which yields best results. Also only make one change at a time. This is all explained in the welcome information on the forum.

I have him on the Sweet Potato and Bison Grain Free LID by Natural Balance. I love this food for my boy and I have heard a lot of EPI dogs do well on the Bison, Venison and Salmon Natural Balance LID. He also gets L Glutamine and probiotics every day. I plan to add more supplements eventually.

I have him on Dianes enzymes and he is doing well on them, better then the stuff from the vet. It is also cheaper ; )

[Renofan2]

Molly was diagnosed with EPI at around 2 1/2. As stated above, not all dogs are the same. Monitor poops, weight, etc and be willing to re-adjust meds, food, etc as needed. Molly had a bad bout with SIBO 2 years ago. Had to adjust her food, freqency of feeding and tylan powder for about 6 months, but since then she is maintaining her weight at 70 lbs. I have been able to cut back on the enzyme and was able to switch to a generic version that is $99.00 a bottle. This lasts approx. 5 weeks. I also give b12 shots every two weeks. This regiment has been working well for the past few years. I had switched her to Natural Balance reduced calorie but now have her on the Chicken or lamb and have not needed Tylan for over a year.

Good luck and if you ever need to discuss, please feel free to pm me. Molly went down to 46 lbs at one point, heart rate had dropped and kidneys were shutting down. I ended up taking her to a gastro specialist who helped me get her back on track. It can be very scarey, but from what I understand most dogs respond very well to the enzymes.

Cheryl