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Chunky Monkey Club

Exclusive membership for the 'overachievers'

Welcome to the Chunky Monkey Club!

This is a fun page…… the Chunky Monkey Club… was started for EPI Dogs because so many of us started on this journey with dogs looking like they were knocking on deaths door….and we were scared….very scared that our babies just were not going to make it!  And then, once we found the balance to managing EPI they stopped losing weight…. then they started to gain weight…. and many (much to our pleasure) gained and gained…. and gained some more weight!  AND THEN…. many of us even had to put our once starving dog on a D-I-E-T!!!!!  Can you imagine?  So this “Chunky Monkey Club” was started in fun to simply celebrate !

New members: (to include your dog’s name (and picture if you’d like) please email to: olesia.kennedy@gmail.com and they will be uploaded here).

Founding CMC member…Olesia’a Izzy

Epi4dogs was started because of this plain, little, brown dog who was the first Spanish Water Dog world-wide to be diagnosed with EPI….EPI???? What is EPI?  I had no idea back then…..all i knew is that my little dog was sick, she only weighed 27lbs and i thought she was going to die.  After we got her on the right treatment, time flew by and my plain little brown dog got healthier and healthier…. she ended up hovering around 48/+ lbs and had to go on a diet multiple times throughout the years.  Izzy passed away at the age of 15, but she was the most vibrant and playful pup well into her senior years and did not falter until 1 week before she passed away.  She taught me so much … especially the meaning of living life to it’s fullest…. my forever heart dog………………………….

Member… Jersey

Member… Jersey

I’d like to introduce my dog, Jersey, to the club! I was so happy to encounter the Chunky Monkey club. 

Jersey is a 4 year old border collie originally from Edmonton, AB, Canada, and was diagnosed with EPI at 1.5 years old in the summer of 2020. It was a worrisome summer, as my young, energetic pooch turned into a frail, fatigued being that felt more like a skeleton than dog. Her body condition deteriorated quickly (as we were investigating the peculiar bowel movements) as did her interest in most of lives great things (squirrels, balls, runs). Her favourite hobbies quickly became trying to steal food off of dinner plates, being carried around, and coprophagia. 

Once her diagnosis was solidified, her stools did the same; the enzymes took immediate action. Since 2020, she has been well maintained, shown great success with oral B12 vitamins, and has even surpassed her incredibly athletic body condition for a ‘softer’ appearance, which we first recognized in October 2022. Her raincoat no longer fits which is a problem, as we now living on the rainy west coast of British Columbia, Canada!!

Member… Twiggy

 

This is our Twiggy, April 2022, our Chunky Monkey! 

Our Twiggy, an English Lab cross, was found as a stray living on the streets (June 25, 2021). When Edmonton’s Animal Care and Control Centre picked her up she was emaciated and weighed 48lbs. Her body condition score was 1 out of 9 and she was in danger of dying from starvation. 

Vet care began immediately. After 5 days the vet noted that humane euthanasia may be the kindest option. There were no clear answers from her bloodwork, or improvement from medication and Twiggy’s explosive liquid diarrhea had not let up. 

However, 7 days later, one last random test came back positive for Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency. Within 2 days receiving pancreatic enzymes Twiggy’s  diarrhea stopped and for the first time in a long while she started gaining weight. 

Infinite Woofs Animal Rescue Society accepted Twiggy and placed her in a volunteer foster home. 

We adopted Twiggy 3 months later. Our Great Dane had lost his best friend to heart failure and chose her over many other adoptable dogs. When Twiggy joined our family she still needed to gain more weight even after gaining 11 pounds while recovering in foster care. 

With help from our vet it took us 7 months to get Twiggy to a healthy 80lbs.

We also found Twiggy benefitted greatly from an over the counter vitamin B12 oral spray for humans. The B12 is absorbed through mucus membranes. 

A friend who had bariatric surgery suggested it.

https://www.jamiesonvitamins.com/products/vitamin-b12-energy-spray?_pos=3&_sid=8f557840c&_ss=r

In addition to Twiggy’s EPI journey….. she also shares an Instagram account with Duke, her new brother when she joined our family…  ….https://www.instagram.com/twiggyandduke/ 

Duke joined our family when he needed to be rehomed. Before we got Twiggy, Duke had spent 3 months every day lying for hours on his best friend’s grave. That ended the day he met Twiggy.  What a joy it is to watch these two dogs 🙂

 

Member … Yadira

Almost a year ago Yadira was 53 lbs and you could see her ribs from across the room. Saturday, January 22, 2022 at the vet she weighed 73 lbs and the Dr. ranked her a body condition of 6, 5 is a perfect body condition, 9 being very obese and 1 being emaciated.  She now weighs more at almost 2 1/2 than her 3 1/2 year old brother by a pound.
Thank you! Yadira’s mom Magchick

Member … Luz

Member … Luz

Hi this is Luz a 3 year old Goldendoodle and she has had EPI since 3 months ago. In July 2020 she was at 42 pounds. Now October 2020 she weighs 59 pounds   …. definitely a happier chunky monkey   ?❤️??? we are very very grateful for EPI4DOGS❤️??

Gina Butcher

 

Member … Tango

Member … Tango

Tango was born in a kill shelter on 4/11/16. He was rescued by a local rescue here in south Florida where he fought for his life with parvo. On July 23rd 2016 we walked in the shelter and instantly fell in love. Within weeks of bringing him home we knew something wasn’t right with Tango. Luckily for us we have an amazing vet. He had done a research paper on EPI in vet school and asked if he could test him. In November 2016 he was officially diagnosed with EPI and shortly after with diabetes as well. We have managed to keep him stable and very healthy. We’ve been asked to bring his weight down a few lbs a few times. I figure if he’s happy why change it. He is spoiled and loved by mom and dad and his 3 sisters and brother. 

Barbara Lin

Member … Arik

Member … Arik

Arik was diagnosed a year ago next month. He ended up losing more than half his body weight. I found this site and inquired with my Vet Dr. Delaney….2 weeks later, we received the EPI diagnosis. Understand that, I was so scared he was going to lose his battle before we could get some nutrients in him and some weight back on….well…..this Handsome Boy exceeded our expectations and was told by Dr. Delaney over Christmas “Ok Arik….time to cut back on the yummers…..you’re exceeding your weight” Needless to say, Arik was none too pleased with her assessment and would have liked Mommy to get a second opinion….Mommy had to gently tell him that he is starting to have the same shape as the coffee table….lol