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Brenna

slurpslurp		 
 
Barked: Sat Feb 23, '08 11:27pm PST 
There are no members yet, but anyone is welcome to join. My GSD, Brenna, has EPI, luckily it seems to be fairly mild compared to some cases I've read about.

I have tried different things using trial and error to see what works. Before I heard about EPI, the only thing I could get to firm up her stools was Evo canned rabbit food. It became so expensive I eventually had to switch back to dry food and the trial and error began again. Someone mentioned EPI to me so I asked the vet to prescribe pancreazine and lo and behold, it worked! I found biocase to be more affordable and convenient (since it is OTC) so thats what she has been on for a while now.

Just recently I switched to raw, within 1 day her poop was noticeably firmer and within 2-3 days it was solid! Starting yesterday I have tentatively began feeding her raw with no enzymes, so far she has not had a reaction! cheer

Before switching to raw I was feeding her a mixture of kibble (soaked in water overnight or else she couldn't digest it very well), enzyme powder, and canned food. She did not like it one bit, the enzymes turned the soggy kibble into sludge and she reluctantly lapped it up every meal. I was on the fence about the raw but when I had to start spoon feeding her just so she would eat, I knew I had to change something.

I have also had good results from the missing link supplement, but beware, a little goes a long way! Brenna only gets 1/2 tsp per day and it is enough to make her coat silky and shiny.

I would like to hear how others have dealt with this condition in their dogs, and I will offer any advice I can, though I admit I am not an expert by any means!
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Sabre

World Domination- muaghaghaghagh!!
 
 
Barked: Fri Apr 18, '08 12:40am PST 
wave Hey there ....

I am a male GSD who just turned 4 years old 2 days ago .... I mention this as there was a time when mom didnt think I would make it to this grand young age ...

I was diagnosed 3 years ago finally after a lengthy time of being unwell ... operations ... tests gallore ... well you name it I was serously ILL .. eventually after changing vets and many thousands of pounds worth of costs they tested my TLI levels and ran biopsies on my intestines and I was diagnosed with EPI, Disease of the small bowel and SIBO (Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) ...

The VET man prescribed me with Metrodizinole, Prednisolone and Enzymes .... that combined with trying very bland diets started to help me a little .. for a while anyway .. then I would severley relapse ... so they would up the meds and try a different diet ... this went on for a while and mom found a group on the internet just for dogs with this condition ... as it is a rare condition but when found it is predominently in GSD's .... trying to find help in the UK was hard as you can imagine it is a small country and is very rarely less heard of there ....

The guys n gals in this group were great as mom and i were at the end of all hope ... that is when they recommended trying raw .... mom approached the VET who shouted her NOT to be SO STUPID ... ha ha .. well mom being mom said we have tried everything else so what have i to loose ..... and from that point we have never looked back ... I AM TOTALLY on a BARF diet ... have been now for over 2 years ... and I am great ... when you see me you wouldnt know I had a serious condition I weigh in at a grand 50kgs, my fur is all shiny and best of all my poo is white and solid ... (that is the raw bones that makes it white) no longer yellow and greasy slop ha ha xx

I do have relapses now and again .. mum just whacks up the steroids, antibiotics and enzymes and this is usually enough to get me through the episode ... My steroids have now changed from prednisolone to Budenofalk as the pred made me incontinent of urine from the dosage i was on ....

I have on a couple of occasions had severe enough relapses that required hospitilisation .. one of which I deteriorated seriously overnight whilst in there ....but it turned out the silly nurse had given me some normal food .. but all in all I am a strong healthy lad and like others live daily to the full xx

Me and my mom would be more than happy to help anyone out there with our advise ... again it is not vetinary advice but advice from one who lives and has battled through this very serious condition .. which when looked after and treated right is no more a hinderence than a cold xx
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