A decreased appetite, as I'm sure you know, can have many causes. Let's start with the simplest-
sometimes a particular bag or brand of food is not fresh and the dog doesn't want to eat it. Try a new bag or new cans of food to see if that does the trick. Same goes for the Viokase, check the expiration date on the medication to make sure it hasn't spoiled. Dogs tend to eat less in warmer weather, if you are in an area where it has been very warm lately, that could be affecting her appetite. Stress may also be a factor. Some Shepherds are nervous or high strung and very sensitive to changes in the enviroment- new people or pets, changes in owners work schedule, etc. Think about everything that's been going on around her and see if you can think of anything that she might find stressful.
Next move onto her mouth. Animals with dental problems are often reluctant to eat due to pain in their mouths. If she'll allow you to do it, take a nice look around in there to see if there is significant build-up on the teeth, redness of the gum tissue, any sores or drainage visible. If so, she should have her teeth cleaned under anesthesia. If things look pretty good to you, then it's probably something else.
Most of the other causes will require a visit to your veterinarians' office. If this is a struggle for her sometimes your vet can prescribe a mild sedative to give prior to the appointment to "take the edge off".
In a dog with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency one thing I would be concerned about is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Since dogs with EPI do not possess the natural protective mechanisms (i.e., pancreatic enzymes) to destroy bacteria in the small intestines, the bacterial populations can flourish resulting in disease in its own right. More than 2/3 of dogs with EPI also develop SIBO. Clinical signs associated with SIBO can include diarrhea (no mucus or fresh blood, no straining), a normal appetite or waxing and waning appetite, occasional vomiting, and weight loss. The best test for SIBO is bloodwork to check for serum cobalamin and folate levels. Treatment is with a broad spectrum antibiotic which often needs to be given for several weeks. The condition often recurs and so antibiotic therapy will need to be repeated when it does.
Other possible causes of a decreased appetite in a senior dog (a 7 yr old Shepherd is considered a senior) include disease (benign or malignant) of a major organ system such as the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, etc., pain as from arthritis, infectious or immune-mediated diseases. A thorough physical examination, bloodwork, and possibly imaging (x-rays or ultrasound), if needed would help rule out causes.
As for the eye issue, from your description the things I would most be concerned about are:
1. Allergy- now is the time of year when you can see red, watery eyes associated with pollens, grasses, trees, etc. They will often get a crusty build-up around the eyes if there is a secondary infection involved. An antibiotic ointment would be needed for secondary infection. Benadryl may be used for allergy and eye drops can help quiet the eyes.
2. A condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye). In this condition the dog does not produce the watery portion of the tear film adequately. As a result the eyes become dry, and excess mucus builds up around and often on the eye itself. The best treatment for this is a medication called cyclosporine which is applied topcially. Next best would be very frequent daily applications of a saline eye drop to help keep the eye moist.
German Shepherds are also prone to a condition called pannus, but usually you see significant changes to the surface of the eye and you did not mention any such thing.
Hope this helps you out and that one of the simpler explanations is the reason for your dog's loss of appetite. If not, she will need to be evaluated by her vet to get to the root of the problem. Good luck.
