EPI DISEASE - Page 1

I have a 15 mo old female LONG HAIRED GSD.  Diagnosed with EPI disease March 2007. She is on Enzymes and hates them, it is a battle to get her to eat. I spoon feed her. Any help is aprecieated. Has anyone tried Tagmet for the stomach??  HELPPPPP PLEASSSE  kathy

Kathy,

Go to Yahoo.com and search "EPI message list" and there is a site (I think it's K9epiglobal.com but don't have it in front of me).  They have an extremely supportive and helpful group-lot's of combined experience. You have to join the board. They also have a co-op for buying enzymes which is MUCH cheaper than the vets. Same stuff just bought in higher quantities and split up amongst the board. I'm sure they can help you. My girl hasn't had a problem with eating it so I'm afraid I don't have any tricks for it.

Good luck and please feel free to PM me if you want.

Dawg

KDHORSES. -  let me extend my empathy to you . I had a Lasso V Nueunberg  and Jeck Noricum offspring that had EPI . he was fantastic .. could have gone VA and had enough to match any working line GSD.. I personally trained him Sch , fFench Ring and then Personal Protection .. the good news for you .. your dog has the ability to live a long , fruitful life. I have gotten much flack .. and critism when i discuss the intenese linebreeding from VA dogs and the deleterious health  effects . show line or working lines. Would you be so kind as to share with me the lineages of you GSD . in truth ..i would like to know if again thisa shows up n a high end lineage. --thank you     ps .. i cannot tell you the number of times i have seen this in the GSD .. good luck

This is the best side of the board, you can get help when you need it.  I am sorry for your girl and you.

1doggie2,

Ddittos! This thread, so far has made my heart smile.  A welcome change from the "norm" around here.

Stephen

I don't know about the enzymes you're trying to get her to eat, but if it's okay to not mix them in her food you could ask your local pharmacy to order you some empty gelatin capsules that can be filled with the powder. I believe they are also available on line.

Are you mixing the enzymes with kibble and warm water and waiting 20 minutes before feeding?  This helped us in the beginning, as the enzymes burned my dog's mouth.  I also add a scoop of Solid Gold Green tripe canned food to help discuise the taste of the enzymes.  I only use 1 teaspoon of enzymes per cup of kibble and this seems to work for us.  I have joined the Yahoo list for help too.  It is helpful, but sometimes the moderators aren't so nice, so I don't post much, but do lurk to learn!!    I also get my enzymes from the sister list which you can join after joining the EpiGlobal list.  This is saving us BIG BUCKS!!    It is so hard when they don't understand what you have done to their food!  But once you get on track, everything will go fine.  My girl was diagnosed in Oct 07 and has been pretty much stable with a couple of minor set backs.  She has earned 2 obedience titles since the diagnosis and is also herding sheep.  So nothing has changed since the diagnosis (except for the long meal preparation for me!!)

Good Luck!

Rozoan

Oh, and I forgot.....I also give a Pepcid to her at her evening meal (20 min before her meal).  This helps with the tummy growling!

Rozoan

Hey guys I have a question.....

When did you notice signs that your dog had EPI.....age?

What were the first signs???

I think someone I know has a dog that might have this problem......I don't know the bloodline on the father line...but the mother line comes from Jaguar vom Monchberg.

Thanks in advance.

Robin

Just a word about the green tripe from personal experience-Don't want to open it indoors or after eating a large meal? Gawd, it is the most disgusting thing I have ever smelled!