My dog is thinning. Can I safely increase her pancreatic enzyme dose?

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.

Thank you for your post regarding Wally! I am sorry to hear that he has Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency. This can be managed and it sounds like your vet has you on the right path for treatment. However, I am not familiar with Pancreatin and I know that it is a human formulation. I would suggest switching to a veterinary-specific pancreatic powder such as Pancreved, Panakare or Pancrezyme. The doses for these are specifically labelled on each of the bottles. The origin of the enzymes in the veterinary-specific enzymatic powders are different from that of the human formulations, which is why I would encourage you to use one of the powders mentioned above. I hope this guides you in the right direction. Please do feel free to contact me with any further questions / concerns.

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!

I believe you are asking about Pancreatic Insufficiency. The pancreas does not make the appropriate enzymes so the food is not digested properly. These dogs often very thin as they cannot properly absorb nutrients. Tests can determine if the pancreas is the cause and treatment is an enzyme supplement. If you suspect Kia has this problem, take her into see the veterinarian for an evaluation.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry to hear that Uma is losing weight! Typically, EPI affects younger dogs, and you are correct, they typically affect German Shepherds. A lot of the time, the cbc and chemistry panels are normal. Occasionally, you can see elevated liver enzymes like ALT on the chemistry. However, to properly diganose EPI, you need to send out a special test to a specific lab. This blood test is called canine serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity. This is a direct look at the pancreas' functionality. Given Uma's age, she less likely has EPI since she is almost 10 years old. Therefore, there may be another reason she is losing weight. If her bloodwork is all normal, then I would recommend abdominal radiographs or an abdominal ultrasound. Good luck and I hope she gets better soon!

It is best to go slow with feedings after a bout of pancreatitis. I suggest you continue with the 12 tablespoons and then speak to your vet tomorrow about how you should proceed. She won't starve, I promise!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The dose of Vetmedin is 0.25mg/kg twice daily. So for a 10 lb dog I would prescribe the 1.25mg tablet to give every 12 hours. I would go to 1/2 of a 1.25 mg twice daily around 6-7 lbs. I hope this helps!