EPI-Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

[4doggiemama]

I would like to know if there is anyone out there whose furbaby has been diagnosed with this disease and what approach has been the most successful. For those of you who don't know what EPI is....it is where the pancreas is not producing enzymes to digest food. Your dog is literally starving in front of your eyes despite the fact that their appetite is normal. My 10 yr. old Yorkie, Cocoa, has been diagnosed with EPI after extensive testing at K-State. My local vet had been leaning towards that direction but K-State confirmed it. Treatment: digestive enzymes-Pancrezyme, Vit. B-12 shots, and the antibiotic-Tylan. Cocoa is down to 2.5 lbs. and literally looks like she is dying from starvation. My vet, today wants her on a vitamin/mineral supplement and sent home Nutri-Cal with me rather than the actual vitamin/mineral pill/liquid. From the research I have done on the net a low-fat, low-carb, easily digestible food is suggested for EPI. The K-State vet said that there isn't any proof to that suggestion. My vet thought that it would be advantageous to keep the carbs to a minimum since they are not easily digestible. I am super worried about Cocoa. During her gallbladder surgery 3 mo. checkup, someone put her good hip out during an x-ray. Surgery was required to repair the damage. I am worried that her body will not be able to heal the incision. She is walking on her leg to go pee/poo, but it scares me to death. Any suggestion would be very much appreciated. ~Joanne~

[Wylie's Mom]

Oh Joanne ! How scary. I don't know a lot about EPI - I do know Crystal was looking into it for awhile when she suspected a few things w/ Ellie (but not the case) - so she may know more. I do have a link, which you probably already have:

EPI in Dogs

What do they think is the best diet for her? So, just low carb? You could cook for her and/or give her higher protein kibble. As for weight gain, can you give fats? If yes, then peanut butter, some cheese, good healthy treats. Shoot, just saw you said "low fat" so PB may be out.

I would suggest raw, as it can be a miracle for some dogs - but I don't think it is best until she is in better shape; I'd be worried about her immune system a little.

You'll get her through this, you will!

[Wylie's Mom]

Was just reading through the EPI link - if you need a good probiotic/digestive enzyme combo powder, I use and recommend this one: Nature's Farmacy - Store - Product Details

It looks like you also need other things, but at any rate - just in case...

[4doggiemama]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Was just reading through the EPI link - if you need a good probiotic/digestive enzyme combo powder, I use and recommend this one: Nature's Farmacy - Store - Product Details

It looks like you also need other things, but at any rate - just in case...

Thanks. The Pancrezyme is the digestive powder that K-State wants me to use. I just did a 'search' here on YT and came up with a couple interesting threads. Deegan's Mom has a Yorkie with an EPI diagnosis. On one of the threads it was suggested that I should get a hold of a nutritionist, Susan Davis, in California at Arroyo Animal Hospital. I think I'll try that. It's worth a try. Cocoa is so skinny it is scary.

[Ellie May]

What food are you using?
When was she diagnosed and has the vet adjusted the amount of pancreas supplement that you are giving so that she can gain some weight?

There is a group on the web and everyone there owns EPI dogs.
They should be able to help and I even heard something about a discount on the supplement but maybe not. Raw pancreas is another option is the supplement becomes too expensive but I'd talk to a vet extensively about it first.

I'd limit her activity until she gains some weight because you don't need her losing anymore.

Did she get tested for diabetes?

[4doggiemama]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

What food are you using?Right now I am using Merrick and trying to only use the ones that have the approved amount of calcium.
When was she diagnosed and has the vet adjusted the amount of pancreas supplement that you are giving so that she can gain some weight? She was diagnosed this last week when she went up to K-State for her 3-month gallbladder surgery checkup. My own vet was starting to treat her with EPI in mind---enzyme supplement and B-12 shots, and an antibiotic. I am supposed to give about 3/4 t. of the enzyme I picked up today----Pancrezyme--with every meal---3 x's per day.

There is a group on the web and everyone there owns EPI dogs.
They should be able to help and I even heard something about a discount on the supplement but maybe not. I just found a group on Yahoo that I discovered on a post by Deegan's Mom. I signed up for it and am waiting approval. Raw pancreas is another option is the supplement becomes too expensive but I'd talk to a vet extensively about it first. The K-State vet talked about raw pancreas but there is concern there about contamination---me, my kitchen, and an increased chance of infection for Cocoa. No sure why on the last one.

I'd limit her activity until she gains some weight because you don't need her losing anymore. Cocoa's activity is very limited because during an x-ray at K-State someone put her good hip out and surgery was needed to repair it. Normally, though, I carry her around a lot because she only weighs 2.5 lbs. right now. Very fragile.

Did she get tested for diabetes? Yes. X-rays also show that there is not deterioration of the pancreas.

Thank you for all the questions you asked. Was glad that I actually had some answers.

[Ellie May]

Well,I will say that those are some good answers.

You would have the same concerns that go with the raw diet with raw pancreas as far as I know but it's better than no supplement at all if you can't afford it (from what I've seen, it is soooo expensive). So just another option.

What Merricks are you feeding?
Because she needs low fat and low fiber, you may end up with an RX diet (which is way better than her getting worse).

If she doesn't thrive, thet vet may change the supplement dose because all dogs are different...

Originally Posted by 4doggiemama

Thank you for all the questions you asked. Was glad that I actually had some answers.

[4doggiemama]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Well,I will say that those are some good answers.

You would have the same concerns that go with the raw diet with raw pancreas as far as I know but it's better than no supplement at all if you can't afford it (from what I've seen, it is soooo expensive). So just another option.

What Merricks are you feeding? Merrick's Star Entree's for Dogs.
Because she needs low fat and low fiber, you may end up with an RX diet (which is way better than her getting worse). Are there any RX diet foods other than Science Diet?

If she doesn't thrive, thet vet may change the supplement dose because all dogs are different...

Some of the Merrick canned that I have purchased have ingredients that are considered high calcium foods.....spinach, brown rice, sweet potatoes. There are others. One that I just got done feeding Cocoa has venison, red jacket new potatoes, carrots, zucchini, sugar peas, and red apples. If I am correct all of these are allowed under a moderate to low calcium diet. But then I need mod. to higher fat, and very little carbs. Now that is a mix that is hard to come by. As you said I may be looking at an RX food. Am kind of wondering if the Royal Canine that the K-State nutritionist recommended could be an RX but I don't know anything about Royal Canine except that a lot of Yorkies are allergic to the ingredients.

[LuvMySissy]

I would highly suggest a consultation with Susan Davis. She has worked miracles on lots of our babies. My Sissy actually had a dianosis of early stage Protein Losing Enteropathy and recent blood tests are now showing normal.

Susan has several excellent supplements. Lypozyme is what she generally recommends to aid the pancreatic process. She has also suggested using baby food as it is very easily digestible, which is a key with EPI. You will definitely need a probiotic as well. I believe along with low fat and lower fiber you may also need lower protein. This combination can be very difficult to find in commercial foods. I can't say enough good things about her. She knows her stuff!!!!

Pet Health Pet Nutritionist Holistic Pet

[4doggiemama]

Thank you, Jodie. I plan on calling her tomorrow. I've been looking at some information on the net, and it appears it will be complicated to give Cocoa the type of diet that she needs. One place said that she needs about 43% fat in her diet with very low carbs. Said that it has been found that low-protein diets aren't good for EPIs. As skinny as Cocoa is getting I think it is imperative that I get help quickly.

[TLC]

YAY ~ So you have some answers ~ Great ~ Now you just have to get on the right path and the path to recovery

Let me know if I can do anything for you

[wemple2]

I really have no advise to offer...just my thoughts and prayers for Cocoa.

[Nancy1999]

I know you are going through so much with both Cocoa and Snowboy, I've heard some really good things about Susan, and hope she can help you. Sending my prayers your way.

[4doggiemama]

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. I just hope the starvation that her body has been going through will not have done any harm to any of her other organs. K-State ran many tests on her and everything came back negative. Just hope it was true. She's so skinny that her skin is hanging on her. Oh, I am so sad for my little Cocoa. Nancy, thank you for the thumbs up on Susan Davis. Hope she has time for me tomorrow. Need to get going on this. Oh, I checked on the label of the Merrick I have been feeding.....almost everyone has liver in it. That was one of the most negative foods listed for EPI. Well, that blows staying on the Merrick diet. A couple are okay so I will get some more of those until I can come up with a better solution. By the looks of Cocoa I don't have much time.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Keeping little Cocoa in our prayers.