I read a little about this and I'm thinking this might be what Cody has...but I really REALLY hope he doesn't.

He has had diarrhea for a couple months now and we even took him to the vets and had his stool tested but they said it was all normal. He gave us this packet to help regulate his tummy but it only worked for a week or so and then stopped working.

He has lost weight, maybe 10lbs. A week ago I noticed his hair on the top becoming brittle and it easily comes out when brushed. His hair is thin in some places. But he does not eat like he's starving. Sometimes he doesn't even want to eat his food.

This same thing happened a couple years ago and he lost 20lbs but nothing was found and he eventually gained it all back plus more and nothing like this has happened again until now.

If he does have this condition, I feel so horrible for "starving" my poor baby even though it's obviously not intentional. I'm taking him to the vets saturday since I work tomorrow.

Awww Missy, I dont know about this but I hope Cody doesnt have it, I will be thinking good thoughts for you guys on Sat. Poor boy.

Fingers crossed that the vet visit shows something that is 'easy to fix'

There are so many different things it *might* be, but if you are going to test for EPI, which is always good to eliminate with a GSD, be sure to fast for the blood test. Someone will know how long to fast for, I don't recall off the top of my head. Also good to throw in a B-12/folate test to check for SIBO. Fecals are very limited, there's so much that won't show up in a regular fecal.

The EPI test requires dogs to be fasted for 12 hours.

I would check this as it is so common in GSD's and is usually the first think most vets look for with a GSD and otherwise unexplained diarrhea and weight loss. He may well be borderline.

I'm sorry Cody's not feeling well. Hopefully your appt will give you some answers.

Is it possible though for epi to show only once then again years later? I thought it would be a daily problem.

As Kathy said, if he's borderline, or if there is some weird play between epi and sibo, I think it could. Gracie is an example of a borderline epi dog not on enzymes that has flairs.

There is a thought that over time the TLI will decrease, so bordeline could be going into full fledge epi. Or not, I think Risa's TLI has fluctuated up and down.

Poor Cody. With the GI issues GSDs are prone to, I would second (third? fourth?) the recommendation to run the TLI/Cobalamine/B12 test. Make sure to fast him for 12 hours prior to the blood draw. It's possible he could just have SIBO, IBD, or EPI. Or some combination of them as SIBO is often secondary to another problem.

Lisa is correct that Risa's TLI numbers actually went up from her first blood draw to her second. In 2007 her values were 12.7 ug/L (reference range 5-35) and in 2008 17.8 ug/L (reference range 5.7-45.2). Risa has never been diagnosed with EPI, only SIBO. She also experiences loose stools (often orange in color) and weight loss. Though, unfortunately, no one has ever been able to put a finger on WHY.

Good luck figuring things out with Cody. I do hope it's something simple and easy to handle!

His allergies this year have been so bad that he's been scratching himself raw and licking his tummy area, he does it so much he has an odor. ick
I had to give him two baths in a week, the first because he hadn't had one in a month and the second was because he smelt and had fleas. I've never had fleas on my dogs before except the poodle we had.

His diarrhea is the normal poop color just most times it's either watery or it's the mooshy comes out in clumps type. Only a few times has it been normal.

I'm hoping it's just his horrible allergies that are making him like this... Besides him being skinnier and the diarrhea his attitude hasn't changed at all.

I just read about EPI. Wow, a lot of that, ok practically all of it sounds like what Cody's going through. Even the cowpie poops. If he has this, how much am I looking at for medicine a month? Would I have to change his food? He already can only eat 2 types of dog food because he's highly allergic to almost everything.

Emma has some EPI symptoms, with the diarrhea, weight loss, and she always eats like she's starving to death. I started her on jarrow porcine enzymes and she is doing much better. Has gained weight, and no diarrhea. She's even starting to slow down and not act starving while eating. You could give the OTC enzymes a shot.

Though I have absolutely no proof to back it up, it is possible it could be allergies. With Ris' issues popping up in the spring or fall, I've always considered her GI problems to be possible allergies.

I definitely think your best bet is to run the GI blood panel and see where you stand from there. I hope it's something easy for you guys. I really do. GI stuff is no fun!

I wasn't able to go to the vets because the vet I go to is gone for a few days, so I'll have to wait till he gets back as he's the only vet I trust.

I have to totally agree with you. I have posted pics before and after of Ramsey who was diag. with mild EPI through the blood work sent to A&M. he has been treated accordingly with Porcine based Enzymes as well as a food change to Grain Free limited ingrediant NB sweet potato and fish. i got decent weight gain with no Poop problems. however there has been a shortage of U.S. based pancreatin from Enzymme diane and i was leary about using a European based product. i started rationing the enzymes and ran completely out 2 months ago. as of yet
(2months) there has not been a single Poop issue or weight loss issue with ramsey without any enzymes. i dont doubt the blood work results from A&M but i now think the underlying problem was definitly a Major food allergy/ immature digestive system. i think i will hold off on any Enzymes until i see any changes.

marko, keep us posted on how the enzyme/no enzyme issue evolves. That's pretty interesting.

Will definitly do.

Yea, thats really interesting! Emma is young as well, I wonder if in the future I'll be able to wean her off the enzymes.

Very interesting indeed!!

Took him to the vets yesturday so we're just waiting for the results.
Please be good ones...

*Fingers crossed*