Hi guys.

Sorry have not posted for a while, just trying to deal with losing Harley.  Wanted to say once again thanks from me and Paul for all your kindness, support and wonderful messages.  I can't believe it's three weeks today since he went.  It doesn't feel any easier yet.   I now have other problems as well and wondered if you could perhaps give me some advice please.  Tyler our 4 1/2 year old GSD has Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency and has been fed on Nature Diet and done really well on it until about two days ago when he refused to eat it.  I think he is bored of it!! I read back on the boards and some people feed their dogs with EPI on Chappie or Butchers Tripe Mix.
This would be good if it suited him as have had awful trouble ordering foods from Nature Diet for the past few months!!.  I didn't realise you could feed tinned foods with EPI sufferers and have been searching for natural foods for him.  Any advice would be welcomed.

Best wishes

Fiona.  xx

Hi Fiona, sorry to hear you lost Harley :(

As for Tyler, as long as he hasn't any food allergies, having EPI will make no difference to what you can feed him as long as it is moistened to accomodate the enzymes. Moist food obviously is better for this than kibble (which needs to be soaked) so apart from raw feeding, any canned food that suits your boy will be fine I'm sure :) Maddie (epi) has food allergies so she can't have any tinned foods at all so she is on a raw diet because its what suits her best :)

Anyway, hope you find what that he likes soon :)

Thanks Missie

Have just mixed a bit of the new Forthglade natural food in with his Nature Diet and he gobbled the lot down so if it suits him (will probably find out shortly) i might change to this food.  It would be easier if he could go onto Chappie or something, only because it's easier to get from the supermarket than ordering food from Nature Diet as they are having a few problems but will have to see. 

Yes I heard ND were having problems. Maddie used to love that until we found it was the rice that was causing the 'problem' :rolleyes: but glad now that we moved onto something else before they started having problems. Good luck with the food :)

Hi Missie

I meant to ask, if Tyler can tolerate Chappie, what could I put with it or should he have it on it's own.

Hah your'e asking the wrong person here about food I'm afraid :D all I know is what I feed or would feed my dogs. For a dog your size, imo only ;) I would feed a medium sized tin and add mixer BUT whether he would need or want the mixture I truly don't know.
I used to feed a complete (autarky) to both my girls before one got epi/allergies and the other one decided she wouldn't eat it cos the other one, in her opinion ;) was getting better food i.e nature diet but then had to take one off that and so to cut a long story short, I decided going raw was the best option cos at least then I knew one of them wasn't getting any 'hidden' ingredients that could affect her, and the other was quite happy that she wasn't missing out :D

Sorry I can't help but as I said, epi shouldn't stop Tyler from eating whatever he wants.

Hi Fiona

I have two GSDs and they have a variety of foods, but neither has any allergy or EPI. However I do include Chappie (tinned) as part of the repertoire. They really enjoy it, and the young lad won best teenager in a GSD rally recently - and he looks fabulous.  It is recommended as a gentle food. You could feed it with a plain mixer (don't know the requirements of EPI) soaked if need be, or with a little complete food, and perhaps some vegetables. 

Kat

Hi Fiona,

tinned Chappie is already a complete food so, apart from the enzyme powder, there should be no need to add mixer or anything else to it (FWIW they also do a complete dry food) always provided your dog has no adverse reaction to the ingredients.

regards, Teri :)