Well as some of you know Maddie has been back to the vets for tests and biopsies, still waiting for the biopsies, but the vet phoned me tonight to tell me that Maddie has, amongst other things, EPI - Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.
Got to go down there in the morning to see him but said he can't treat her efficiently until he knows the other results, so she will have some powdered enzyme for now. He also mentioned 'intestinal food'?
Done a bit of research on this and it can be caused by stress i.e operations (which she had in January) and is also hereditary and therefore she  can never be bred from. Also can be caused by diet? Now my vet, like most vets I imagine, is against raw food and I'm thinking that maybe he's going to tell me that she cannot have raw food ever again! I also believe he wants to do some tests re food intolerance.
I need to ask him so many questions tomorrow but I know when I get there I will forget, must write them down, just wondering if any one here can think of anything to ask him that I need to know? Also to what extent is her liver damaged (result of earlier test taken same time) and what to do about that :(
Poor girl :(

Dee

Dee have pm'd you some info and sent a regular mail - nothing like bombarding someone with a problem (providing it's helpful bombardment ;)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/k9-EPIGLOBAL/
This is an internet group specifically for dogs suffering with this condition that I knew I had saved somewhere when researching the condition for a dog walking buddy without pc access.  I don't know enough myself but there will certainly be folks on there that do becaue they live with it :)  I'd strongly recommend joining it NOW and print off any Q&A pages, taking them with you to the vet - then even if you're not feeling clear headed enough he can go through them one by one and answer you.  Take a note book too!  Good luck and PLEASE keep us posted when you have a chance.  Really rooting for you!  {{{hugs}}} to your girl and you!  Teri x

Have a look Here You'll need to scroll down the page a bit.

Anne

Thank you. Saw the vet this morning, gave me some lypex and intestinal food for maddie. He reckons she could have had this BEFORE the intersusception and that was five months ago! Anyway, not going to dwell on that. Thanks for the links, I've got some reading to do :)  and I think I better inform her breeder as I think she should know what I know so far, vet said biopsy results should be here next week so fingers and paws crossed.

Dee (who's off to get more ciggies and coffee :(  )

Hi
Well the intestinal food was no good as it contains things she can't eat but I didn't realise that till sunday when we had a very runny leo! so went back today saw the 'leading' vet and he's suggested she has nature diet. Also now on antibiotcis for helicobacter gastro-something-or-other, so thats six lots of pills three times a day, plus enzyme on pre-soaked food which has to be left for 20 minutes before she can eat it.
Bless her she has hardly any energy left and the weights' just falling off her, today I thought she was going to topple over as she weaved up the garden path!
Thanks for your support Teri,

Dee

Hi Dee, get in touch any time :)  Hopefully Maddie will show signs of progress now that she has her meds and a less complex diet.  Nature Diet is a very good complete food and most dogs enjoy it but Maddie may take a few days to feel like eating in any great quantity since she's been so poorly and coupled with all the tablets she may be a bit nauseous at first :(  Try not to be over anxious but do get onto your specialist vet immediately if her tummy & appetite take longer than 48 from the morning to show at least a little relief.
Re. the ND, it comes in a variety of flavours and all are rice based which if she can take - great, but watch which meat source is in the diet.  Don't mix the protein - I don't recall you establishing all she's intolerant of yet.  So for example if you go with chicken don't also give her the one which is a mix of tripe AND chicken together - that way if she has an upset tummy you won't know whether it was the chicken or the tripe content that caused it.  Buy a few packs of one base protein ingredient and see how she copes with that.  In lecture mode again - sorry, nag by nature :P  Keep us posted, {hugs} Teri x   

Hi Teri, just been on the phone to naturediet, and managed to find a supplier of the herbal gold sensitive who is right opposite my vets! Shes ordered me for tomorrow the oceans fish and tripe, both of which I know she's ok with. It also contains potato, carrots, seaweed, herbs and vitamins. My only concern is that it contains brown rice BUT with the enzyme added it might just be ok. Fingers crossed anyway. Back off to the vets tonight for more pills! Poor girl will rattle when she walks but the double start dose of anitbiotics seems to haved helped her cos she looks much better today and so I have felt better myself :)

Dee

PS will email you in future with updates :)