EPI or Poor Keeper? - Page 2

Panacur always makes sense - EPI, I don´t know...

Are you able to ask the former owner about the food she got before your friend bought her? Any known problems before the new owner got her?
For how long is this dog "crated" at a time? What about the "spinning" ? Might she be nervous, not feeling "at home" yet, or did she do this before?

I might got this wrong, but you told us that the new owner got her in June, the former owner bred her, but the puppies  still "grabbed the milk" during fall ?
Another litter, a new litter, or did the new owner get the puppies, too?

Might be a translation problem, but I´m confused.

A stool check before deworming is always a good idea. Adult dogs seldom have intestinal parasites, so she may not need to be challenged with poisonous drugs especially if she is not up to par.

Susie, she had a new litter with the new owner. I kinda didn't want to mention it....

Hey, all you people who blasted my friend for breeding her without having her hips done...how about her PREVIOUS OWNER, who bred her, and had her whelp FOURTEEN PUPPIES!!

This litter was only 4, and she was in better body condition during and prior to the pregnancy than she is now. So, that's what has me going 'hmmmmm....'

She spends a fair bit of time outside, and has lots of room to run. However, we got over a foot of snow in the last 2 days, and she doesn't have a lot of coat, so I'll have to be more careful about leaving her outside now, as there's not any shelter in the yard. Part of it is roofed, but there is no shelter from the wind.

She's at my kennel now as she's in heat, and it's just easier to look after her here with the secure fencing and large indoor kennels I have. At my friend's place, she would have to be crated most of the time when inside to keep her away from the boys!

Blitzen, only thing obviously wrong with this dog is she's skinny. Other than that, coat is shiny, tons of energy, good appetite, etc. etc.

First thing I need to do is ask my friend about her worming history. Obviously, both she and the pups had the usual course of wormers.  I keep forgetting to ask her, and she's very busy right now, so when we do talk it's very brief.

Sorry, didn´t want to stick my finger into something...just wondered.

A lot of changes for one single dog over a short period of time, plus a lot of females need a lot of food during the heat, and they don´t tend to look really good during that time...   I´d try to feed some raw meat in case she is fine with it.

Otherwise, once again, I´d ask the former owner about the food she was used to.

Am I the only dog owner who doesn't routinely deworm dogs unless there is a positive stool check? Why give a dog a poison that it probably doesn't need?  Any dog that eats a ton of food and is still skinny is not healthy IMO.. 

Never mind, copywrited material. 

For EPI diagnosis you need a stool sample, the vet looking for the amount of Elastase 1.
Living with a dog with EPI means feeding enzymes and low fat food, that´s not expensive, and not difficult.

EPI usually doesn´t start in a almost 5 years old dog, but years earlier ( 18-24 months ).
You really need to talk to the former owner.

Blitzen, especially if importing or buying from kennels,  adults often DO have parasites. I have had better luck giving fenbendazole for giardia & parasites than any other course of action for those who just aren't quite right. I cannot think of anything "safer" to give than fenbendazole as far as dewormers. No, I don't routinely deworm mine either,  but if a dog is eating that much food and not getting fat and stools are giving the appearance that there's a digestive issue, and the dog was recently acquired, especially if imported or from a multi-dog home/kennel, yes, giardia is going to be high on my list of possible reasons. After that, whips. There are several bugs that can often show a false negative on a stool check. 

I have to say I feel sorry for this dog. She doesn't deserve a trip to the vet for the 18 pups she's produced in the last 6 months or so? 

Blitzen - you are not alone.  Overuse of wormers on horses have caused a resistance problem.  Owners were routinely worming every two months whether it was needed or not.  Same thing with the overuse/misuse of antibiotics on both people and animals.  I don't agree with the "just in case let's use ...." mentality on medication.

I would suspect a digestive issue more than worms.  Either way, I hope she gets healthy.

I´d run a bloodtest ( vitamins ), a stool sample ( EPI and worms ) , but first of all I´d try to make her feel comfortable and at home.