Losing Hope for Xena. Trying Panzquin.

[Lolly]

PS I did order Raw Pancreas. Maybe Xena is one that will do better on that. My Vet did tell me the only other dog he had with EPI belonged to a butcher (lucky dog!) and he fed him raw pancreas and he flourished.

[Eddiespaghetti]

I haven't seen it mentioned here, but you can try a topper. I have been using them to get Eddie to eat for a while. He used to get a lot of medications and it was always easier to hide them.
https://a.co/d/h9vB3LA
This one is a variety pack. Maybe they will love one of them.
https://a.co/d/2kOb2UR
Simple broth that Eddie loves.

[Patsy]

I know how you feel . Years ago my dog suffered the same as yours. My vet had never seen anything like this before but did his own research.
He decided to keep things simple and first treat the most dangerous symptoms.
This was the ascites that was pressing on her pleural cavity holding her lungs and heart. Epi wasn’t killing her. Because albumin was leaked into her blood, fluid was leaking everywhere. This is called Protein Losing Enteropathy. He treated with steroids , B12 injections and a very low fat diet .
When you had three blood tests did they mention any problems with albumin? What about liver and kidney functions?

Make sure she is drinking, and maybe feed her home cooked white fish / chicken breast and a little sweet potato and broccoli. No added fats.
Slippery elm is ok and enzymes, but my vet said to not worry about the guts yet. I know how ill she is, so let her rest and be loved and get the ascites away.
If the blood tests showed other issues, are they being seen to ?
Hugs to both of you xx

[Lolly]

Patsy,
That is exactly what she is low in. Her Albumin is 1.2 g/dL. Do you remember what your dogs was?

He did talk to me about that. Her liver and kidney functions were normal. She was on steroids previously and he didn't start them back up. She did get a B12 shot today.

I will start walking her more. Haven't been doing that!

Thank you!!!!!!

[Montgomery]

My veterinarian had been in practice nearly three decades when she met Montgomery. He was the first case of EPI she had ever seen in practise. She was the one who ended up diagnosing Montgomery, though, and it was at their first meeting. The veterinarian she bought the clinic from, who had been in practice since 1979, had no clue what to do with my little Spitfire. Neither had the three other veterinarians he had also seen, including an old-fashioned country veterinarian who had also been in practice for decades. It's so hit and miss. I'm glad it's uncommon, but it's frustrating at the same time. Who else has been told by their veterinarian that, "You know more than I do at this point?"
I will say, a good veterinarian is one that will learn what they do not know, so that they can best help their patient. If you have a veterinarian who will go to the textbooks, you've got a good veterinarian.

[Lolly]

Patsy,

I wish I knew how to post her Labs here.

Other things that were low...
CA 7.3 mg/dl
CREA .04 mg//dL
GLOB 2.3 g/dL
TP 3.5 g/dL

Everything else in normal range. Of course her B12 was low at 170. And her TLI was 1.7.

Folate was ok at 9.1.

Thyroid Normal

I am just happy I talked them in to a B12 shot today.

[Lolly]

Yes I went to 3 Vets before Xena was diagnosed and one was a GI specialist. Go figure! The Vet I go to for everything else diagnosed her. He had seen it once before. But he would like me to find a Vet that knows more than he does. He is a good guy.

[Lolly]

I just want her to eat. Really I would sleep so much better at night if she would eat.

[Patsy]

The B12 regime is one injection daily for 7 days then once a week for 6 weeks .
It’s the same for humans , mine had dropped to 190 . Another suggest ion for your vet !

[Olesia711]

hi Xena's mom...... catching up here.... so glad Patsy chimed in and shared her experience with you. I did not realize that Xena was fighting low Albumin.... like Patsy said that's PLE. We have an entire section on that here
https://epi4dogs.com/ple/
... and as Patsy explained... THAT is was what her vet gave preferential treatment to over EPI.

WHen a dog has PLE, the first thing you want to do is restrict fat from the diet- -even try an ultra low fat diet..........and then, my understanding is prednisone with an antibiotic (it used to be Metronidazole- - not sure if this is still the main protocol but... jsut want to say, even though we strongly advise against giving Metro with an EPI dogs.. if you are battling a life threatening situation like some cases of PLE can be....and if Metro is what the vet recommends... then that is what should be used.).... so.....as i remember from a few years ago.... this is the first line of defense... ..however..... the PLE protocol may have since changed........

Again, my heart goes out to you dealing with this.... i hope the raw pancreas works.... and please keep us posted.