How much pancreatic enzyme should I give my puppy diagnosed with EPI?

There are a number of pancreatic supplements on the market. Some of the really inexpensive ones do not seem to work as well as the more expensive ones and since we don't yet have a diagnosis on Dexter, I would start with a proven product first to see if it works. (If it does, you could consider changing to a less expensive product later to see if it works as well.) The least expensive company I have found that has a good quality product is Enzyme Diane. http://www.enzymediane.com/ordersusa.htm The dosage instruction is based on the amount of food fed because you mix the enzymes into each meal. So, I would follow their recommendations for dosing instructions. If you go with a different product, I normally recommend dosing a dog at their ideal body weight, so I would dose Dexter at a 70 pound dose. Good luck with Dexter! I hope that helps! Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hello, sorry to hear about Kita. The short answer is that yes you can give 2 teaspoons. The recommended dose for the enzyme is 1 teaspoon for every 10 kg up to 2 times daily with a meal. Side effects have been reported to include bleeding from the gums. If the dose increase does not seem to help then Kita may need to be reevaluated as there could be other contributors to her weight loss. This could be anything from deficiency in vitamin 12 to other metabolic problems such as liver disease, kidney disease, and even cancer. Hope this helps and best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There are really no good at home remedies for this. She just needs to be supplemented with the appropriate pancreatic enzymes that she lacks. Usually this is easy and straightforward to treat. Good luck and have a great day!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry that Angel has been so sick! Usually the need for pancreatic enzyme supplementation is based on blood work. Usually the TLI (a pancreatic enzyme) is low. Pancreatic enzyme are used to treat exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Which can result from chronic pancreatitis as can Diabetes. Use in dogs and cats is considered off label, so you would have to discuss the use in Angel with a Vet that has examined her. Cats reportedly hate the taste but may accept the powder if mixed with fish/tuna oil and then thoroughly mixed with a canned food. If using solid dosage forms (enteric-coated tablets or compounded capsules made from powder or crushed tablets) be certain that immediately after dosing, water or food is consumed to reduce the risk for esophageal damage. You may also want to consider a probiotic, like Purina Fortiflora. I hope this helps and I wish you and Angel the best!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. There are some supplements you can try that have been suggested to help reduce the occurrence of acute pancreatitis. I typically recommend a low fat diet along with omega 3 fish oil (Welactin fish oil for dogs) as well as vitamin E supplementation. Some veterinarians have recommended using digestive powders to help try and reduce the work that the pancreas needs to do to digest food. Pancrezyme is one such digestive enzyme powder that you can try. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would not give Binx any additional medications or supplements as medications can cause pancreatitis. The pancreas aids in digestion by releasing digestive enzymes in to the duodenum (first segment of the small intestine). It also makes and releases insulin. Pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas. The digestive enzymes that are normally excreted in to the small intestine are activated to early with in the pancreas, in a sense causing digestion of the pancreas. Pancreatitis can be caused from medications, obesity, high fat foods or getting in to high fat foods and underlying diseases can be a risk factor. I hope this helps!

Here is a website with information on EPI. If your dog has the disease than he would need to have digestive enzyme replacement, like Viokase-V. He may also need an antibiotic, metronidazole, and vit B12 injections. Adding a probiotic to his diet may help, too. Without having a vet to diagnose and treat the disease will make it hard to manage. http://www.allshepherdrescue.com/info/display?PageID=9888