Epi Diet

[german_shepherd]

Hello,

I really need some help for my friends German Shepherd who has been diagnosed with EPI. He can digest Muscle, but not fat or starch.

The vet has recommended rice and chicken, but can not give a specific recipe. ;)

I would love some help from you all in what measurements or rice to chicken etc should be given. And how much should he eat in one day?

Also are there any other foods that he can be given to give some variety in his diet?

Thank you.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Hi there, do a search in this forum (top right on the banner) there was a long thread quite a while ago about a staffy who had it and another member helped out with a full diet and supplements. ;) Sorry I don't remember who it was.

Cheers,

Mel.

[german_shepherd]

Thanks Mel.

I did manage to find something and have pasted it below for reference if anyone else is reading this thread.

Following meals suggested a these amounts are for eating for a whole day

Cottage Cheese and Rice Diet

1 cup cottage cheese, 1% fat

5 3/4 cups cooked white rice

2 Hard boiled egg yolks, no whites

2 teaspoons bone meal

Multivitamin as directed on label

Now you can also omit the egg yolks and add 2 teaspoons Canola Oil instead. Everything else is the same.

Chicken and Rice Diet

1 1/3 cup Chicken Breast Cooked (no skin)

5 3/4 cups cooked white rice

2 tsp Canola Oil

3/10 tsp Salt

Multi Vitamin

Again here you can also interchange the egg yolk as in above diet with the canola oil.

Chicken and Potato Diet (this is still low fat, but we are increasing the protein)

2 cups Chicken Breast cooked no skin/fat

7 cups cooked potatoes with skin

2 tsp Canola Oil

2 tsp. Bone Meal

Multi Vitamin

You can omit the oil to make it even lower in fat if need be.

Cottage Cheese and Potato Diet

2 Cups Cottage Cheese, 1 %

7 Cups Potatoes with Skin

2 tsp. Canola Oil

2 tsp Bome Meal

Multi Vitamin

[bonny_beagle]

I don't know what EPI is but -

muscle = protein

fat = lipid

starch = a complex form of carbohydrate. There is heaps of starch in potatoes, and I'm pretty sure rice too so not sure how much sense the chicken and rice thing does.

Protein sources are lean meats, eggs etc.

Vege's would be ok as are very low carb and usually no fat (except for potato, sweet potato, parsnip)

Not sure if this info has clarified anything, goodluck though.

[scottie]

I've got a GSD with EPI too - if you do a search you'll find details of her history. Food wise it's horses for courses - mine can't digest the specialist diets ( & believe me we've tried the lot, from prescription to homemade) but bizarrely enough does OK on straightforward regular Eukanuba. Won't be the same for every dog though so a bit of trial & error I suspect. DO make sure that the dog is getting the correct enzyme replacements though - we've found that this is the real secret & it is a process that needs occasional tweaking over the years. Try Enzyplex (worked for mine for years & available without prescription from good pet shops or the vet) or failing this we've found the prescription drug Creon has been fantastic.

Good Luck with it - & take heart, it is a manageable condition (but avoid fats at all costs !)

[shekhina]

My father's dog has EPI, she was a literal walking skeleton and I imagine wasn't far off having her organs shut down when I finally convinced my father to change her diet.

She now eats lean meat, vet's all natural complete mix and a vegetable mix with things like pumpkin and sweet potato. She is also on a human medication called Creon. The combination of these things have brought her back to looking completely normal in a matter of weeks.

My parents tried both Enzyplex and Thrive D added to her food and neither worked very well, the Creon and Vet's All Natural really made a huge, huge difference and it has definitely saved her life.

Here is her thread if you'd like to read more: http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...c=90762&hl=

[InspectorRex]

EPI= Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

PM Rappie as Rappie is a Vet and is always there to help

Edited October 16, 2007 by InspectorRex

[german_shepherd]

Good Luck with it - & take heart, it is a manageable condition (but avoid fats at all costs !)

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your help. He is on Enzyplex which seems to be helping. It's ironic that when you *think* you are really caring for your dog by giving it variety in food, you could be doing more harm than good.