What percentage of German Shepherds have EPI?
In dogs diagnosed to have Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, the German Shepherd Dog is very common as well as the Rough-coated Collie. One estimate shows that about 70% of dogs diagnosed with EPI are German Shepherds and 20% are Rough-coated Collies.
Is EPI common in German Shepherds?
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a syndrome of maldigestion and malabsorption resulting from the failure of secretion of the pancreatic enzymes necessary for the normal digestion of food. It is a relatively common problem in dogs, especially in the German shepherd breed, but is quite rare in cats.
How long do dogs live with EPI?
EPI dogs can continue to live a full life and do all the activities they did before, EPI, in and of itself, when treated , does not shorten a dog’s lifespan, The key is successful management. Pictured to the left is Maia. Maia, now 7 1/2 years old, was diagnosed with EPI when she was about a year old.
Can dogs recover from EPI?
Is it possible to cure the condition? EPI due to chronic pancreatitis will sometimes resolve as the pancreas heals. However, the most common cause of EPI is the progressive destruction of the exocrine cells of the pancreas. This cannot be cured, only managed with medications and diet.
Does EPI shorten your life?
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough enzymes to break down food. Enzyme supplements can treat EPI. People with EPI have higher rates of cancer, heart disease, and malnutrition, which can affect life expectancy.
What is the best food to feed a dog with EPI?
Because most animals with EPI are fed a relatively low-fat diet, the addition of certain fatty acids and special fat sources called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) may be beneficial. These MCTs are more readily absorbed by animals with EPI and can be used in the body more efficiently.
How much does it cost to treat a dog with EPI?
The initial cost of tests and diagnosis of EPI can cost $150 to $300. The cost of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy varies widely depending on the dosage required. For large dogs requiring significantly more enzyme replacement, costs are greater.
What can I feed a dog with EPI?
Do dogs vomit with EPI?
Dogs and cats with EPI due to other causes are usually middle-aged to older and can be of any breed. Clinical signs most commonly reported are polyphagia, weight loss, and loose stools. Vomiting and anorexia are observed in some patients and may be a sign of concurrent conditions rather than EPI itself.
How serious is EPI?
Without treatment, EPI can make you malnourished — you won’t get enough important vitamins and nutrients from your diet — and it can lead to other serious conditions, such as thinning bones (osteoporosis) or the blood condition anemia.
How serious is EPI in dogs?
In time, EPI can lead to severe malnutrition because affected dogs, while eating normally, may not be able to digest and absorb sufficient nutrients – namely vitamins B12 (cobalamin), folate (another B vitamin), E and K (Williams, 1996) – due to the role of the pancreatic duct cells in secretion of bicarbonate and …
How does epi affect a German Shepherd Dog?
In dogs, this condition is often attributed to pancreatic acinar atrophy, wherein the enzyme-producing acinar cells are believed to be destroyed through an autoimmune process. Although EPI affects many diverse breeds, to date, molecular studies have been limited to the German Shepherd dog.
Which is the most common cause of Epi in dogs?
Because pancreatic acinar atrophy is the most common cause of EPI many of the dogs are German Shepherds. They tend to be young animals, usually younger than 2 years. 4. What are the clinical signs of EPI?
When to take your dog to the vet for epi?
If your dog has soft or loose stools for more than a few days, he’ll need to be checked out by the vet. By the time you notice signs of EPI, a lot of damage may have been done to the pancreas. The sooner your dog is diagnosed, the faster he can be treated and the better he’ll feel.
How to diagnose pancreatic enzyme deficiencies in German Shepherd?
Get additional blood tests. Once the vet has ruled out conditions your dog doesn’t have, the vet will order another round of blood tests (checking trypsin-like activity, folate and cobalamin levels) to evaluate your German Shepherd’s bowel function.
A German Shepherd with EPI will suffer from an inability to properly absorb nutrients and digest food, usually resulting in weigh loss in spite of an increase in appetite. Dogs with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency often endure great physical discomfort from their digestive problems, and, if the condition is left untreated, they can die from it.
Can a German Shepherd have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
Any breed can have EPI, not just German Shepherds. What are the symptoms of EPI? EPI can manifest anytime in a dog’s life, from a young pup to an elderly dog, with the severity and symptoms of the disease varying from dog to dog. The most common symptoms are:- Gradual wasting away despite a voracious appetite.
Can a dog have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency ( EPI )?
Your dog could have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) is the inability of the acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas to produce and secrete the 3 necessary enzymes needed to digest food.
How can I tell if my GSD has epi?
If signs typically associated with this condition, of hunger, weight loss and diarrhoea, are shown by a GSD of less than 5 years of age, EPI is likely to be suspected. EPI can be confirmed by measurement of blood trypsinogen levels. This is the serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) test.