Monday, March 25, 2024
HomeExclusiveExocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency In German Shepherds

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency In German Shepherds

Is It Possible To Treat Epi

exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in German Shepherds, consult Veterinarian

Highly digestible, low fat diets together with pancreatic enzyme replacement will usually stabilize the condition. Cobalamin supplementation may be considered by your veterinarian when hypocobalaminemia is documented. Treatment is usually for the rest of the dog’s life. If elevated folate levels are detected indicating an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, then an antibiotic called tylosin may be prescribed.

Sadly Some Dogs Perish

At ve years old, Wayde was taken in by German Shepherd Rescue of New England. Wayde was found to have EPI, an all-too-common problem with GSDs. He also had the secondary bacterial infection, SIBO. Even with enzymes added to his diet, Wayde continued to drop weight until he was only 54 pounds and seemed sad and listless all the time.

Wayde was in the kennel for many months. Finally, a couple who was familiar with EPI, Pamela and Peter Burghardt from Wilmot, New Hampshire, decided to foster Wayde. In their home, his whole demeanor changed he became happy and gained more than two pounds the rst week. Wayde soon settled in with his foster family and became a sweet Velcro dog. He became best friends with his foster sister, another white GSD.

Sadly, Wayde was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks after going into foster care and passed away four months later. Despite the cancer, he had gained 14 pounds and was active and happy to the end.

Olesia Kennedy, a retired research analyst, and previously involved in Canine Search & Rescue, currently devotes her skills and time to EPI research. She resides with her husband and three Spanish Water Dogs in Georgetown, Indiana.

Signs Of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency In Dogs

Amber is a professional writer and published author. She is also a professor of biology and veterinary sciences.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, also known as EPI, is a serious condition. Fortunately, it’s easy for your vet to detect EPI and once detected, it’s relatively easy to treat so your dog can return to normal health.

Don’t Miss: How To Buy German Shepherd Dog

Canine Pancreatic Insufficiency Feeding Guidelines

Enzymes should be mixed with about one to two ounces of room-temperature water per teaspoon of enzymes, then added to the food and allowed to incubate for 20 minutes or more. A couple of tablespoons of room temperature kefir or yogurt may be used instead of water to mix the enzymes. Once an EPI dog is stable, some owners find that they can cheat and give their dog a smidgeon of a treat without any enzymes on it. Others find the least little crumb ingested without enzymes will cause a flare-up.

If possible, feed two to four meals a day, taking into consideration whether the dogs condition has stabilized and whether the familys schedule can accommodate multiple feedings. Feeding smaller, more frequent meals puts less stress on the EPI dogs digestive system.

At first calculation, many owners of EPI dogs wonder if they can sustain the added expense of all these special foods in addition to the enzymes. It may take many attempts to find just the right diet for a dog with EPI that is also affordable by the owner, but it can be done. Following are some suggestions and techniques that EPI dog owners have successfully used.

Kibble or canned: Many EPI owners who feed commercial kibble or canned dog food have found more success when feeding a grain-free product. Much depends on the individual dog.

Epi In Dogs: Overview

EPI

1. When you see or hear about an apparently starved dog, please let the owner know about EPI. Few people know that it can affect any breed.

2. If your dogs digestion is poor, with frequent diarrhea, consider having him tested for EPI. Visible symptoms of the disease may not appear until 80 to 95 percent of the pancreas has atrophied. Early diagnosis and treatment improve his prospects.

Kanis Fitzhugh, a member of the Almost Home organization, knew she had to rescue Pandy, an extremely thin and seemingly vicious four-year-old Dachshund. Pandy had been relinquished to a shelter in Orange County , who turned her over to Southern California Dachshund Rescue. Deemed people- and animal-aggressive, Pandy appeared to have been starved, and weighed just 13 pounds. Fitzhugh thought the dog deserved a break, and brought Pandy home in May 2007.

During the first couple of weeks in her new home, Pandy managed to pull a chicken down from the counter and proceeded to eat the entire bird, including bones, plastic tray, and grocery bag, in less than the 10 minutes that Fitzhugh was out of the room. Pandy was rushed to the vet and emergency surgery was performed, as the bones had ruptured her stomach lining in three places. Luckily, she survived.

Read Also: Are German Shepherds A Good Guard Dog

Border Collie German Shepherd Personality And Temperament

Personality and temperament are among the most critical factors to think of when considering getting a dog. Will they get along with the kids and the family? Will they gel well with the other pets already home? What about strangers? These are all questions you should ask yourself before bringing a pup home.

Both parents are loyal, intelligent, playful, strong, energetic, and loving, with the average Shollie also having these traits. The affectionate hybrid will go to great lengths to ensure its human are happy, so long as you play with them.

Shollies, like Borders and GSDs, are fond of children as they can match their energy levels and may even herd them. However, their playful nature means they arent too self-aware of their own size. This can put the kids at the risk of getting injured as the Shollie can easily overpower them during friendly play.

Thanks to the parents herding history and ability to work with other animals, you can rest assured theyll get along with other well-mannered pets. But as always, be sure to keep an eye on them for any behavioral issues.

Due to the German Shepherds aloof nature, Shollies may also display this aloofness toward strangers. However, they are rarely too shy or too aggressive towards people they dont know, so you can count on them for protection or friendliness.

You May Like: Why German Shepherds Are Awesome

What Are The Signs Your German Shepherd May Have Epi

The fact that something is wrong with your beloved pet will be rather obvious with EPI. Common signs include:

Weight Loss

Weight loss is a classic and almost universal sign of EPI. Since EPI German Shepherds are not producing enzymes to break down their food, they cannot gain any nutritional value.

The body is actually starving itself, and you will notice pronounced weight loss, as well as failure to gain muscles or padding.

Many dogs appear emaciated with ribs, pelvis, and bones of the head and face pronouncing themselves more than usual.

A telltale sign of EPI is when your dog appears to eat normal amounts but still seems to lose weight. Even feeding your dog extra meals appears to accomplish nothing at all.

Also worth noting is that puppies with EPI will fail to thrive, often having dull coats.

Ravenous Appetite

Unlike many other illnesses, dogs with often eat like they are starving. A ravenous appetite also may spill into coprophagy, or eating their feces.

You may also observe your dog has a desire to eat anything that is not nailed down, including foreign objects.

Beyond a puppys behavior of putting everything in their mouths, you will notice an EPI German Shepherd has a fixation with eating.

See also: 6 Best Dog Foods for EPI German Shepherds

Foul-Smelling Copious Stools

When a dog has exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, you will see evidence of undigested waste. EPI dogs tend to have stools with high volume and a distinctive foul odor.

Recommended Reading: Is A German Shepherd The Right Dog For Me

Prognosis For Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

While there is no cure for Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, with proper treatment, a German Shepherd with this condition will live a long and healthy life.

Through the use of enzyme supplements, a change in diet, and administration of antibiotics, EPI can easily be controlled. With these treatments, a German Shepherd will experience very little further discomfort from the disease.

However, it is important to watch for the symptoms and get a clear diagnosis as soon as possible. A dog with EPI that goes undiagnosed or untreated can easily die from malnutrition.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency In The German Shepherd

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in the German Shepherd – EPI

In all dogs diagnosed to have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, the German Shepherd Dog is very often seen as well as the Rough-coated Collie. One estimate shows that about 70% of all dogs diagnosed with EPI are German Shepherds while 20% are Rough-coated Collies.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a medical condition in which the pancreas of the affected German Shepherd Dog stops producing enough digestive enzymes to digest food normally in its small intestine.

EPI in the German Shepherd can result from primary pancreatic disease or several other diseases that interfere with the correct production of enzymes by the pancreas or of activation of the enzymes in the intestine.

What is the pancreas and EPI? And what does this have to do with my own personal German Shepherd?

Briefly: the “exocrine” part of the pancreas produces the enzymes we use to digest our food in the proper way. Without adequate production of these particular enzymes your German Shepherd cannot digest its food properly either.

If your German Shepherd can’t digest it’s food, it will not be able to absorb all the food’s nutrients properly. Keep in mind, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency can be potentially life threatening, especially in its acute form, but often responds well to ongoing and daily treatments when diagnosed and treated with the proper drugs.

Signs of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in the GSD:

Diarrhea and foul smelling “cow patty” feces.

Ravenous appetite.

Recommended Reading: How Much Exercise Does A German Shepherd Puppy Need

Many Epi Dogs Flourish

Kara surfaced as a stray in a shelter and was subsequently turned over to the Long Island Shetland Sheepdog Rescue group. When they received her, they did not expect her to survive the night, she was so sick and emaciated. They guessed that she was probably one to two years old, but she weighed barely seven pounds half her ideal weight.

Kara was lucky she was diagnosed promptly with EPI. While in foster care for four months, Audrey Blake met Kara twice during training classes and the frail little dog with the outgoing personality captured her heart. Although she understood that Kara would need pancreatic enzymes for every meal and a special diet, Blake took Kara home. Today, Kara is known as U-CD Twenty Four Karat Gold, UD, TDI, CGC , Rescue Sheltie, and happily resides with Blake on Long Island, New York.

Is There A Cure For Epi

There is no cure for EPI, but treatments can be quite effective in enabling EPI German Shepherds to live full and healthy life.

Please note when starting treatments that you must adjust dosages for each individual dog.

Once enzymes are at appropriate levels for your dog, you should expect smooth and predictable results of weight gain and the resolution of diarrhea.

Treatment for EPI usually involves a three-pronged attack.

Enzyme Supplements

The chance your dog will spontaneously recover from EPI is exceedingly low. Rare cases exist where a canid with pancreatic insufficiency secondary to acute pancreatitis eventually regained enzymatic function.

EPI often calls for a lifelong commitment to enzyme supplementation.

Your veterinarian will prescribe enzymes for your German Shepherd in the form of powder, tablets, or capsules. The powder is by far the most effective formulation.

If you subscribe to holistic or all-natural treatments, you can talk to your veterinarian about providing enzymes via fresh frozen pig pancreas.

According to Epi4dogs.com, you can also use beef or lamb. A fresh-frozen pancreas complements raw diets especially well.

Cooking raw pancreas destroys enzymatic action, but uncooked meat can be susceptible to bacterial contamination.

Recommended amounts to feed your GSD are three to four ounces of the minced pancreas.

Whether the powder you use is prescription or over-the-counter, you will achieve the best results if you add warm water to activate the enzymes.

You May Like: Can German Shepherds Eat Watermelon

Epi In German Shepherds 5 Things To Remember

Recapping the top five facts you can take away regarding EPI in German Shepherds:

  • Its not common 1% of German Shepherds acquire it, but the German Shepherd is the most overrepresented breed
  • Its not curable, but is highly treatable Enzyme supplementation and intestinal support are for life
  • Must confirm the diagnosis with a specific test
  • Do not take EPI lightly EPI can cause your dog to starve to death
  • With treatment, EPI does not shorten your dogs life nor affect the quality of life. Your German Shepherd can work, play, and serve as your loyal companion for years to come!

Rather than show videos of emaciated German Shepherds, we would like to end on a positive note. This video shows a German Shepherd returning to normal weight after battling an EPI diagnosis.

Caretakers of rescue dogs must always be vigilant as it is easy to confuse exocrine pancreatic insufficiency with starvation when a dog first comes to a shelter.

  • Why Does My German Shepherd Have Diarrhea: Causes and What To DoDecember 11, 2022
  • The Complete Guide On Natural Death VS Euthanasia In DogsDecember 10, 2022
  • Do Some German Shepherds Have Floppy Ears? Things To KnowDecember 10, 2022
  • German Shepherd Broken Ear Cartilage December 10, 2022
  • German Shepherd Puppy Ear Stages: When Will Your GSDs Ears Stand Up?December 9, 2022

How To Treat Pancreatic Enzyme Deficiencies In German Shepherds

K9 Digestive Enzymes

This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 13,985 times.

The pancreas is an upside-down, V-shaped organ located near the stomach and small intestine. Part of the pancreas, called the exocrine pancreas, secretes digestive enzymes that break down food. If the exocrine pancreas stops working well, an enzyme deficiency called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency can develop. German Shepherds are very prone to developing EPI.XResearch source If your vet has diagnosed EPI in your German Shepherd, veterinary care will be required to treat the condition.

Recommended Reading: German Shepherd For Sale Nc

A Quick Review Of Canine Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

The pancreas has two separate functions within the body, often referred to as the exocrine and endocrine pancreata.

The pancreas has two separate functions within the body, often referred to as the exocrine and endocrine pancreata. The endocrine pancreas secretes hormones, including insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood glucose metabolism. The exocrine pancreas secretes zymogens and active enzymes that, ultimately, aid in digestion. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a condition of maldigestion and usually doe not involve the endocrine pancreas. In this article, we review the etiologic factors, diagnostic tools, and management recommendations for dogs with EPI.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency May Have Complex Inheritance Pattern

Researchers studying exocrine pancreatic insufficiency , a disease in which food is not properly digested and absorbed, believe that the condition may have a complex mode of inheritance. Prevalent in German Shepherd Dogs, Rough-Coated Collies and Chow Chows, EPI affects more than 100 breeds.

Leigh Anne Clark, Ph.D., assistant professor of genetics and biochemistry at Clemson University, is studying the genetic variations between 100 healthy German Shepherd Dogs and 100 EPI-affected German Shepherd Dogs. “EPI may result from mutations in multiple genes or from both genetic and environmental factors,” she says. “If we can identify the gene or major gene causative for EPI, we will be able to develop a genetic test. Breeders could then determine which dogs are at risk for developing EPI.”

EPI is a disorder in which the pancreas fails to produce an adequate amount of digestive enzymes. Without those enzymes, food is not properly digested and absorbed. No matter how much food is ingested, a dog with EPI can literally starve to death.

Signs of EPI include weight loss, ravenous appetite, diarrhea, eating feces, vomiting, gas, changes in temperament, and loose, foul-smelling stool. The disease can strike at any age, but signs many not appear until as much as 90 percent of the pancreas is destroyed.

Recommended Reading: What Brand Of Dog Food Is Best For German Shepherds

What Are The Causes Of Epi

The most common cause of EPI is a lack of the cells that make digestive enzymes. Cells can be lacking due to wasting away , damage from inflammation, a blockage of the pancreatic duct, or other causes. In most cases, there are no digestive enzymes at all however, in rare cases, just one enzyme may be missing in your pet.

Any dog or cat can develop EPI. Some dog breeds may be more likely to develop EPI than others, including young German Shepherds, Rough-Coated Collies, and Eurasiers. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels may be predisposed to EPI following chronic inflammation of the pancreas, also known as pancreatitis. Domestic shorthair cats may also be more likely to have EPI.

How Do You Know If An Animal Is A Carrier Or Likely To Become Affected

Arctic German Shepherd Rescue

The genetics of the condition remain unclear and it is not known if carriers exist . When choosing a puppy, it is important to check that its parents are free of EPI. The older the parents are, the less likely they are to go on to develop EPI at a later date. There are currently no tests that can show whether or not a puppy is likely to develop EPI when older.

Don’t Miss: Royal Canin Dry Dog Food German Shepherd

How Do You Know For Sure Your German Shepherd Has Epi

You can only be certain whether or not your dog has EPI by taking her to a veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis.

Your veterinarian will perform a blood test to check for canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity. They will also look for vitamin B12 deficiency with a Cobalamin/Folate test.

Tests for EPI involve specialized instruments. Your veterinarian will probably have to send the blood sample to a remote laboratory, and you may have to wait a couple of days for the results.

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular