Now this could be a long post but please take time to read as it is very important to me to get things right here. Maddie has EPI, so enzymes are added to all foods, and I've just had the 'intolerance' results back and now I'm stuck as to what to do next. She is/was on naturediet sensitve but now she can't have that. Below is a list of food which is a definate no no
Beef, milk (lactose) soya, wheat, lamb, rice & sugar beet.
Food she can have:
chicken, rabbit, turkey, pork, fish, egg, corn, deer, duck, potato, carrot, yeast.
Can anyone suggest a balanced diet for her? Should I add vitamin B12? Probiotics?
Vet said to find a balance and stick to it for 8 weeks. And as you can see the naturediet, of which I have just had 6 boxes delivered yesterday, is no longer any good as it contains rice and tripe which I believe is beef?

Can anyone help?
If its easier to email me then pm me and I can give you my addy.

http://www.dogaware.com/specific.html#ibd

the above link should help you.

I would supplement with Vitamin E (natural not synthetic) and Vitamin B12 or a good Vit B Complex. 

Most dogs cannot digest lactose, or a lot of it as they lack the enzyme lactase with which to break it down, this should not be a problem as dogs should not be eating dairy products anyway.

You can buy commercial dry diets which contain fish and potato etc,capelin and tapioca I would not bother with yeast, why feed a fungus?

Alternatively you could home cook or feed raw.

HTH

Thanks Tohme, I'm trying to find the Dr Billinghurst diet, I know I have it somewhere! Its been strongly suggested I feed raw so that I know exactly what she is eating. When the enzymes have been soaked on dry food it is so very mushy, sloppy, like eating soup! I think I am going to try chicken, potatoes & carrots and supplements as suggested, keep to the same for 8 weeks. Obviously cooked potaotes but the chicken/veg raw.  Would this be the right balance do you think? 

Just going to have a look at the link you posted, cheers.

I would be careful about overdoing carrots, they are very sugary and so can contribute to yeast overgrowths etc, also remember they are high in beta carotene, your dog has a liver problem, don't add to it.

Ok. Didn't know that. Thank you.

Hi Dee,

Sorry about the news but at least you've got the bigger picture :(  Can't top tohme's advice really (she is much more knowledgable than I on fresh feeding issues).   If you do go the home prepared route you will at least be 100% sure of what Maddie is taking in and advice is on hand if you're worried about any defecits in such a diet. 

As to complete foods I've heard of the tapioca diet which hopefully is an option.  I'm pretty sure someone makes a venison & potato plus a duck & potato diet too.  Of course Wafcol as I think you know make the salmon & potato diet.  Obviously you'd need to check ingredients of all carefully that there is no soya or beet pulp added for flavouring :(

I think I'd be inclined to try home prepared if I were you.  Good luck, whichever route you decide.  Luv, Teri :) 

Thanks Teri.
I know it will be harder, for me anyway, to do home prepared but like you said at least I know what she will be eating. She is wolfing down minced chicken as we speak :D I have asked on the epi site for advice on diet, but as they are on the other side of the world I will have to wait till late tonight before I hear anything, and I know people like Tohme know about raw feeding which is why I asked here :D And I value all advice given. I've got my mate working on it too, she's been a great help since this started so between all of us hopefully I will get the balance right. Oh by the way, on the vitamins is it just one of each a day?

Yes, Vitamin B12 or the B complex are water soluble, it is pretty difficult to OD.

Vitamin E I would look for 400iu of d-alpha-tocopherol per day.

ps I meant a pancreatic problem not a liver problem, (doh) but I would still go easy on carrots!

Thank you very much, I will have to write that Vit E one down :P