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…Sirius
Geralda’s Sirius back in June 2009
And a super-sized, super-happy Sirius today, February 2013
We were much luckier than many with EPI dogs—my vet was familiar with the condition and a good friend’s GSD had had EPI. Also, Olesia’s article in “The Whole Dog Journal” was published only a month or so prior to his diagnosis; I used it as a bible for the first year or so. Sirius was diagnosed at 11 mos., after he had lost 7 pounds in about a month. My friend had leftover enzymes after her dog had died, which she donated to Sirius. He improved immediately with enzymes, and I then switched to Diane’s enzymes with no problem. He disliked the mushy food, so I attempted to change him over to Creon on several occasions, but he did not do well consistently. We did not initially test his B12 levels, but found them to be very low (<200) after he became more aggressive and developed tics, in early 2011. He did not maintain his B12 levels with the TAMU protocol, so switched him to the special oral B12 with the intrinsic factor, which has worked well. Since I found a grain-free food that he really likes (Fromm Salmon Tuna), he has done really well with Diane’s 8x enzymes, into his present chunky weight of 67 pounds. Perfect weight for him is about 62 pounds.
Member…Quantum
This is Katrina’s Quantum from New Zealand…..an amazing example of EPI recovery (and Chunky Monkey status) ….. Quantum just won
(Drum Roll Please!) the 2012 New Zealand (presented March 2013)
DOG OF THE YEAR !!!
(An amazing accomplishment)
Member…Hope
Nancy’s Hope was diagnosed on March 1st 2012 with EPI at 11.3 lbs…… Now on October 22, 2012, Hope is truly a Chunky Monkey at 16.2 lbs and doing great!
(sadly Hope passed away from another complication on March 2, 2013…. but she fought and won her battle with EPI)
This is HOPE cruising in her Harley Davidson duds …..
and HOPE relaxing !
Member…Nikki
This is Michaela and Nate’s EPI gal, “Nikki”…
Nikki’s first day home after spending four days at the hospital in guarded condition with EPI & septic abdomen in Dec 2010. She had lost 10 lbs in two weeks and weighed 47 lbs.
Almost two years later she weighs 64.9 lbs (two pounds over her ideal weight). It took a while to get here between trying different foods, dealing with SIBO & B12 deficiency but we made it and owe a lot to Olesia and the wonderful members of this group. Nikki enjoys her home cooked meals and we had to cut her calories back just a little bit so she wouldn’t gain anymore weight….WOW!
Member…Jewels
Jewels wearing the CHUNKY MONKEY COLLAR!!!
Ashley’s Jewels 13 year old Jack Russell Terrier diagnosed with EPI June 29 2011. Chunky Monkey Weight
18.8 lbs …. was a sad 9.2 lbs at time of the initial diagnosis!
What a difference proper treatment makes!!!!!
(sadly, Jewels passed away Nov 2012 from other complications)
Member…Brandy
Alan’s EPI dog Brandy has also joined the coveted ranks of “The Chunky Monkey Club”
This is Brandy when she was first diagnosed with EPI in March 2012 weighing only 50lbs
… and this is Brandy 6 months later, September 2012, weighing in at 73lbs
Brandy, whelped 5/16/10. Purebred Sable GSD DDR Female (Spayed). Diagnosed EPI March 2012 at <50lbs.
Went thru the SIBO routine and got it cleared up with Tylan (Tylosin) 40 day regime.
Feeding: Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Coastal Catch, 3x day – 1.5cup each. EnzymeDiane’s 6x – 1/2 tsp each feeding. TRINFAC-B Intrinsic Factor – 1 cap daily. Occasionally, as a topper, I add a couple spoons of Solid Gold Canned Green Tripe or Sardines in water or Tunafish. She loves it!
As of July 2012 she is doing GREAT and over 60lbs.
**Started feeding without incubation on Jul 17th and no problems.**
**Reduced feeding to twice daily on Aug 14th (as she was near her optimal weight).**
** Sept 4th, weighed in at 73 pounds (optimal weight for her size).**
Thanks to Olesia for this wonderful Site and the folks that participate in it. You ALL saved my Brandy. Also a BIG THANKS to Diane & Sarge (RIP).