HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

I just had my 10 month birthday.  I got special food (see earlier post) and Bob Barker didn't. 

Dad thinks he's a strong man.  Doesn't it look like I'm having fun?  Ya think?

EPI--CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

It's been awhile but a lot's been going on around here.

Well, everyone, I've got some bad news and some good news.  It seems that all that bitchina stuff was worse than I thought.  There's a disease out there called EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) that can be triggered by stress and I'm tellin' ya, being on your period for three freaking weeks is pretty darned stressful.  Come to find out, all that cow-patty poop was being caused from my pancreas not producing enough enzymes to digest my food.  Warning--this is gross--I was literally starving to death so being a dog (even Shilohs act like dogs occasionally), I was eating that nasty stuff and dirt and mulch and anything I could put in my mouth.  I lost about ten pounds while this was going on--made me cranky and tired and that Basset, Bob Barker, was as useful as a fur coat in summer with my needin' a stud--really, what dog (fixed or not) could resist my beauty and twitching tail?  Like I've said in the past, he's not the smartest wiener on the stick. 

Well, anyhows, my human Mom and Dad knew something wasn't right and after some e-mails and talking to my first Mom, Laura Kathryn, off to the vet we go to start some tests.  First, we needed to rule out Giardia--negative.  Then, Laura recommended a fasting TLI test.  My wonderful vet sent my blood off to Texas A&M University.  (Clemson University has taken over research but TAMU still tests for EPI.)  Normal ranges for the test are 5.7-45.2 pg/L and mine was <1.0!  Mom and Dad were just about as sick as I was when they got the news because they were afraid I wasn't going to make it.  They just didn't realize what a determined girl I am!  EPI dogs have to have enzymes added to all their food and the food has to 'incubate' for 20-30 minutes before it's ready. Up until now, I've been eating Canidae All Life Stages so we switched to Canidae Grain-free kibble (grains are a no-no with EPI).  Mom and Dad grind it up in the blender, add the enzymes, some coconut oil which is a MCT (medium chain triglyceride) and top it off with some good ole' smelly tuna and I'm happy as Lindsey Lohan with a Martini.  EPI, according to the experts, occurs in 52% of German Shepherd dogs...unfortunately, there are a few of us Shilohs that have it, too but with all the information we have from the forum, all of us are being very well taken care of and expect to live very long, normal lives.

The bad news about this is I will have this forever and I can't breed as planned.  The good news is, EPI is manageable and doesn't have to break the bank.  I weigh 75 lbs again (I gained back 8 lbs) and I'm full of energy, my coat is gorgeous and you'd never know anything is going on in that pancreas thing.  Some other important things Mom and Dad were talking about is how glad they were that they took everyone's advice on the ISSR forum and bought pet insurance when they got me back in October.  It has paid for itself and it even covers my enzymes and they're not cheap. 

So, please everyone--keep me in your thoughts.  I'm one lucky girl to have all these smart humans around...Bob Barker's  another story.