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by flygirl55 on 06 March 2009 - 21:03
Louise,
You might want to take a look at www.whole-dog-journal for this month. They have an excellent article on EPI in this issue. My 5 1/2 year old GSD female was diagnosed with EPI at about 2. It was a long process to get her diagnosed because many vets don't think of EPI, but IBO of some sort. I use Pancrezyme (I tablespoon per meal) as her supplement. For the first 2 -2 1/2 years, she was on a raw diet, because there was no commerical kibble that I used that would work. What Hodie has said is correct - this will take time to get the dog back right again. And there will be times when you get a lapse and have to start from the beginning. But they can do well - my girl went from 53 lbs to now 70 (which is slightly light but fine) and now she can eat what the rest of the family get... I don't know if anyone has mentioned but there is an EPI user group on Yahoo that is very very good. You might want to get in touch with them....
by Vom Schutz on 23 March 2009 - 02:03
I have a 3 year old german import with EPI. I would be happy to help you with any questions you have. Our GSD is doing amazing now. She was 43 lbs when we got her off the plane and now is 90 and not overweight! Shoot me an email if you need anything, questions, concerns, help, or anything!
Best of Luck!
Melissa
by starrchar on 23 March 2009 - 04:03
A great website to check out is http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com . My dog was also recently diagnosed with Epi and this website helped me tremendously. It was recommended by another person on this board and I am so grateful she told me about it.
Best of luck to you and your pup,
Char
by Baldursmom on 23 March 2009 - 12:03
Char:
EPI is short for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, another genetic problem in this breed, not epilepsy also abbreviated Epi, but the lower case helps differenciate the too.
I am sorry to hear you have this issue with your dog. Both are devestating to an owner.
Another Char
by starrchar on 23 March 2009 - 18:03
I have that recorded somewhere in the brain, but with my girl just being diagnosed with epilepsy and with most people referring to Epilepsy as Epi, it just didn't register! The interesting thing is that the diet recommendations are pretty much the same for dogs with both EPI and epilepsy. I was a little perplexed about the weight loss issue and the TLI, but figured i must've missed something in my obsessive quest to learn as much as possible. Char
by Baldursmom on 23 March 2009 - 19:03
by OGBS on 23 March 2009 - 20:03
A raw diet is probably best for your dog, but, if you aren't able to or don't want to do raw look at kibbles that are low in fat as the above have stated. Grain-free and a little higher in protein are what my vet told me when I had an EPI dog (R.I.P. Lola).
I don't know if this food is available over in Germany, but, after much research this is the kibble I finally found that seemed to be what an EPI dog needed.
http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_wellness_grain_reduced.html
Even if you go with a kibble try to find a butcher that will sell you raw pigs pancreas or beef pancreas. You need to make sure that they are giving you the correct thing and it should be ground up, but, it does work.
I hope this helps and don't give up. EPI can be frustrating at times, but, you can manage it and as some have stated I have heard of dogs that sort of get kick-started and then the pancreas starts working.
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