EPI/Enzyme problems - Page 1

I'm hoping some of you with dogs that have stabalized EPI can help me.  My boy is stable, he was diagnosed about a year and a half ago.  The question I have is have you seen any side effects from the enzymes, especially nasal problems.  My boy either has a low immune system now, causing him to have continuous mild colds, or else the enzymes are playing havoc with his nasal system.  I also have noticed his tracking is not what it use to be.  Can the enzymes cause him to have less of a scenting ability?  I realize the tracking problems could be just that, but am surprised at how much his ability with tracking has declined.  I am hesitant to think it a training problem only.  He also has started to have sores on the side of his muzzle, I am using more water, and allowing a longer soak, hoping this will ease the sores the enzymes cause.

Anyone seen any of these side effects?

Thanks for any help.

HI,If I remember they use to have it in pill form also.You would have to check with your Vet and Company about dosing etc.You are aware that in order for the Vio-kase to properly work you must wait for it to do its job in breaking everything down.Sounds good that you are waiting longer.Hope your dog is ok.

I mix the enzyme powder (I have to use 4 tsp) with 1/3 can of wet dog food. I have to make sure it is mixed completely. If not, the insides of the muzzle get very red, almost like burns. I use Bio-kase V (which is a generic of Vio-kase V) which is about 1/2 the cost of Vio-kase V and it works great! 

My 4 year old male has had EPI since 9 months of age and today he is doing great.  He does seem to have a "phlem" problem at times that gags him. The vet seems to think it is sinus drainage. As far as tracking, if the sinuses are draining or blocked, it would just make sense that the tracking would be off.  I know we have "off" days when the "phlem" problem is present.

All in all, I'm very blessed that he pulled through and is doing well. 

I hope this helps and your boy does well.

Good luck!

macawpower58 have your dog checked for nasal mites--often missed by most vets.

Do a Google search for nasal mites in dogs.

Here are a few of many links:

http://www.purinaone.com/dogcare_cond_atoz_article.asp?Seed=800&ArticleNumber=30076

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/121603.htm

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1589&articleid=760

http://www.hundportalen.se/nose_mites_nasal_dogs.asp

I forgot this important URL where there is a discussion which associates nasal mites with a predisposition to bloat:

Abstract  The pathophysiology, clinical course and therapeutic management of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) in dogs are well known. However, the aetiology remains elusive. Aerophagia has often been put forward as a contributing cause of GDV. The most common clinical sign in dogs with nasal mite (Pneumonyssoides caninum) infection is reversed sneezing, which may result in aerophagia. A prospective one-year necropsy study was conducted. Of 250 dogs, 17 were GDV cases and, of these, 35% had concurrent nasal mite infection compared to 5% in the control population. Multivariate logistic regression analyses performed using the 187 dogs with complete records included nasal mite infection status, age, weight and gender. Nasal mite infection was found to be the most important risk factor for GDV in this study, with an odds ratio and confidence interval of 27.6 (4.8–157.5). Other risk factors that were marginally significant included weight and age with odds ratios of 1.08 (1.02–1.13) and 1.37 (1.04–1.79), respectively. Gender was not found to be a significant risk factor for GDV. This study suggests that nasal mite infection may contribute to the development of GDV in otherwise predisposed dogs.

I do know of a friend's GSD (previously treated for nasal mites) who suffered bloat during the past year. Interestingly another unrelated GSD in the same household has also had bloat surgery.

Thanks Louise, I'll check into them with my vet.  To tell the truth, I've never even heard of nasal mites....

Domenic, I use the 6x pancreatin powder.  I do know about the pills, and will check into them.  He is now doing weight wise and poop wise very well on the powder I have been using.  I wonder if changing the enzymes would cause him to backslide?

Deal with it, the flem problem does sound like what my boy is having also.  I use 1 tsp enzymes per cup of food.   He eats 3 cups in the morning and 2 cups in the evening.    I have allowed a half hour soak, instead of the 20 minutes I was doing.  I am also wiping his face now after he eats.  The red sores have almost gone, so I am happy about that.

I may have to live with his poorer tracking skills, if it is, that his nasal cavity is irritated at times.  Thanks for your input.

To tell the truth, I've never even heard of nasal mites....

Neither have most vets--nor had I until my friend's dog was finally diagnosed with them. Whereas diagnosis with a nasal swab is pretty non-invasive, the damned vets wanted to knock the dog out for rhinoscopy/biopsy to check for cancer, etc.