Epi4Dogs

It's been a frustrating couple of months trying to figure out what's wrong with my dog, Cody. He's had symptoms of EPI ever since I got him, but I chocked it up to other things - allergy, eating something he shouldn't have, just a stomach bug, etc. But things have escalated recently and he's dropping weight fast, as well as other changes to his body and personality. Two trips to the dog ER, and $1500 later - I'm now awaiting the results of the TLI (+Folate +B12) test, which may lead to a diagnoses of EPI. After learning about EPI, my dog's symptoms fit the description of EPI exactly. Honestly, I hope my dog is diagnosed with EPI because then I'd be able to take some action to treat him, and I can see this organization and this forum will be a great resource to help me along that path. However, it will be 1-2 weeks until the blood test comes back, he's diagnosed, and I can start a vet-prescribed treatment plan.

While I wait, I'm tempted to just buy these enzymes (non-prescription) and start sprinkling it on his food now. I figure if he doesn't have EPI it won't hurt anything. If he does have EPI, well then I've got a 2 week jump on starting treatment. I know treatment is more complicated then just sprinkling enzymes, but I can't just sit around for 2 more week while my dog continues to degrade.

My question - Is there anything I can do to help him while I wait for his diagnosis? For example - start him on probiotics, feed him as much bland diet as he wants, etc.

Thanks for your time and I appreciate any advice you have regarding what I can do while I wait. I'm having a hard time doing nothing.

Name: Cody
Sex: Male
Age: 1 1/2 years old
Breed: Shepherd Pit Mix
Weight: Starting - 60 lb Current - 51 lb

Hi, Mike. Cody is adorable! Boy, do I remember feeling the same way you do. So sorry this is happening.

Yes, you can go ahead and give him enzymes with his meals. I would recommend ordering from https://enzymediane.com/
You can get a sample bag. A few days on enzymes won't hurt, if he doesn't have EPI. I level teaspoon of enzymes per one cup of kibble, moistened & allow to sit for 20 minutes before feeding(not just sprinkled on). Feed 150% the amount you would feed if Cody weighed what he should. Break this into 3-4 meals. If Cody has EPI, everything he eats will need to have enzymes. If you follow the link, Diane will also offer info on buying emergency enzymes from a health food store, if you want to go that route. They will not be strong enough for long term treatment, though. Many of us use Diane, because hers are less expensive than the ones from the vet.

Diet should be grain free (very low ratio of peas & white potatoes), with less than 4% fiber. Here are a couple of suggestions--- https://www.sportdogfood.com/ I feed The Herding Dogs formula
https://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/ Pacific Stream

Doing these things could give you a head start, if Cody's test is positive. Please look back for more advice from staff. I'm a dog grandma with three years experience, just a member of the forum.

There will be a couple more twists to the routine, if you find Cody does have EPI, but for now these two things may help.

Best luck---Pam & Tucker

Hi MIke,

Thanks for writing in..... and thanks for sharing Cody's picture with us... he sure is a cutie and that picture.... oh my... made me laugh... with the B'day hat and cutest ever bow.

So... to answer your question... YES!!!! The enzymes (the real stuff) just like what Pam recommended... i'd go with EnzymeDiane's enzymes.... get the 6x.... to try... and if it is not EPI... the enzymes will not hurt... just that if it is not EPi, you don't want to keep him on the enzymes long term....

Also... in addition to what Pam suggested with regards to the food and enzymes..... since you already had the tests done, you might want to buy a small bottle of B12 from Wonderlabs.... https://www.wonderlabs.com/itemleft.php?itemnum=K9688 because if this is EPI, there is an 80% chance his B12 levels are not in the upper mid range and will need B12 supplemenation.... if it is not EPI but some other gastro problem, like IBD, IBS, Pancreatitis, etc, etc.... they all often need B12 supplementation either just short term to bring the B12 levels up... or ongoing if they have a chronic gastro condition.

The good thing about giving B12 is that if your dog doesn't need it, they will just pee out any extra unneeded B12.... BUT... if they DO need their B12 levels upped, then no matter how perfectly you follow any treatment protocol... if their B12 is not optimal they will not improve as well as expected.

SO.... in short.... might want to go ahead and give him some B12 too.

At his weight, he just needs one Pet Factor B12 capsule daily.

Hope this helps and PLEASE keep us posted.... and would love to see more pictures of Mr. Cody

I read your responses right away, @Olesia711 & @TuckabooPam, and I got to work on this stuff right away. Your info has kept me occupied and I feel more in control. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!

The enzymes are purchased and shipping now, and I'm looking into B12 supplements. I do think his personality has changed a bit, which may be related to low B12 levels. He's started to do new things that concern me - scared for no reason, growling randomly, and I catch him occasionally staring blankly at the wall for 30sec while standing still.

I hope I can reverse some of these things and get my old rambunctious dog back. I'm still waiting for the TLI test results to come back - I'll make sure to post an update.

Hi Mike. You have one handsome boy there. He's also very tolerant of dressing up. After following Olesia's and Pam's suggestions, you might also want to start a log/journal or notebook. Someone suggested it to us when our Kolby was diagnosed many years ago and it saved our sanity (for the most part!) Record everything you give Cody, the amounts and the resulting poos each day. It shows you what is working and what needs to be tweaked. You can use it even if he doesn't have EPI.

Many of us notice changes in our EPI pups before they start treatment. Kolby became fearful of things he was never afraid of, like riding in the car or seeing other dogs on the street etc. Most of these behaviors disappear once they receive the enzymes and start to absorb the nutrients from their food. If Cody does have EPI, once he starts treatment, and even as you start the interim treatment that Olesia and Pam suggested, you should see a change in that kind of behavior.

Let us know how it goes and the results of the tests when you get them.

Barb

Mike, yes, remember, if Cody does have EPI(and I agree with you that this would be a positive), then his body has been starving. This can cause all kinds of changes in behavior. Fortunately, you are figuring this all out early on. Tucker's decline was slow, and I feel sad that he suffered for so long. Let us know how things go!---Pam

Ugg, his TLI test came back negative for EPI. Makes me question my sanity.

TLI = 9
Cabalamin (B12) = 361
Folate = 11.9

Outliers in his bloodwork were:
Albumin = 2.6 (low range = 2.7)
Cholesterol = 88 (low range = 131)
SDMA = 17 (high range = 14)
Free T4 ng/dL = 4.0 (high range = 3.7)
Free T4 pmol/L = 51.5 (high range 47.6)

Now I'm back to researching what's going on. My vet had no good answers on what's wrong or what to test for next - she just told me just to feed him probiotics and wants to put him on a hydrolyzed protein diet and check back again in 3 months. He's a parvo survivor so she told me he might have Protein Losing Enteropathy.

Anyway, I'm back to square 1. Thank ya'll for the help, I really appreciate the support. If I ever get him a diagnosis, I'll report back here in this thread.

welcome from UK

did you defintely food fast for 12 hours before the blood test

Jean wrote: ↑01 Aug 2022, 12:29 welcome from UK

did you defintely food fast for 12 hours before the blood test

@Jean - yes. Definitely fasted

So sorry, Mike, I know you're disappointed. Keep checking back-somebody will have some ideas.---Pam