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EPI or Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency is sometimes nicknamed the Hush-Hush Disease because people don't talk about it. EPI causes starvation due to the dog's inability to digest their food. The most classic symptoms are frequent, cow patty, yellowish, foul smelling stools and a voracious appetite. Many dogs eat their own feces most likely because it contains much undigested food.
For years, only specific breeds got EPI, especially German Shepherds. Now EPI is found in every breed. Barnum is the first Leonberger on the EPI support forum with it. :frown:
Barnum didn't present with both classic symptoms though. His first symptom was a voracious appetite which existed from the moment we brought him home from the breeders at 8.5 weeks old. What soon followed was regurgitation of his food, usually at the end of the day, rather than after every meal. His stools were well-formed though smelly. We soon learned the regurgitation was due to pica. He'd eat anything and everything. His favorites were moss, sticks, twigs, toy stuffing, and squeakers.
Through experimentation with his diet, we found grain in the dog food increased Barnum's chance of regurgitation. At 5.5 months old, we switched him to EVO which decreased the regurgitating to every three days.
Barnum was diagnosed at 6.5 months and placed on digestive enzymes.
As a giant breed, Barnum wasn't gaining weight as he should at a young age. Normally, they gain about 3 pounds a week between 12 weeks and 24 weeks old, sometimes more, depending on the puppy. Our first Leo Behr gained around 5 pounds a week, but then he was a huge dog. Barnum was gaining about 2 pounds. However, he wasn't getting the nutrition he needed from his food. We suspect he won't get to his full height, structure, or potential because he was born with EPI.
We're hoping Barnum's old record of 17 day without an "owl pellet", as we jokingly call his regurgitations, will fall this week. Hopefully, he'll make it to 20 days. It's 18 days today. The owl pellets have become smaller each time. I remember the first time when Barnum lasted a week without an owl pellet. We knew he would get better.
Here is a link to more information on EPI:
EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency - Overview
For years, only specific breeds got EPI, especially German Shepherds. Now EPI is found in every breed. Barnum is the first Leonberger on the EPI support forum with it. :frown:
Barnum didn't present with both classic symptoms though. His first symptom was a voracious appetite which existed from the moment we brought him home from the breeders at 8.5 weeks old. What soon followed was regurgitation of his food, usually at the end of the day, rather than after every meal. His stools were well-formed though smelly. We soon learned the regurgitation was due to pica. He'd eat anything and everything. His favorites were moss, sticks, twigs, toy stuffing, and squeakers.
Through experimentation with his diet, we found grain in the dog food increased Barnum's chance of regurgitation. At 5.5 months old, we switched him to EVO which decreased the regurgitating to every three days.
Barnum was diagnosed at 6.5 months and placed on digestive enzymes.
As a giant breed, Barnum wasn't gaining weight as he should at a young age. Normally, they gain about 3 pounds a week between 12 weeks and 24 weeks old, sometimes more, depending on the puppy. Our first Leo Behr gained around 5 pounds a week, but then he was a huge dog. Barnum was gaining about 2 pounds. However, he wasn't getting the nutrition he needed from his food. We suspect he won't get to his full height, structure, or potential because he was born with EPI.
We're hoping Barnum's old record of 17 day without an "owl pellet", as we jokingly call his regurgitations, will fall this week. Hopefully, he'll make it to 20 days. It's 18 days today. The owl pellets have become smaller each time. I remember the first time when Barnum lasted a week without an owl pellet. We knew he would get better.
Here is a link to more information on EPI:
EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency - Overview
