What do you feed a dog with EPI?
- it's part of a balanced raw food diet (pancreas is offal),
- it can be used medicinally for dogs that have EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) or pancreatitis,
- it's great for digestion.
Is your dog suffering from epi?
Necrotizing pancreatitis when your dog’s pancreas starts to lead to chronic conditions such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) or diabetes. The age of your dog is another factor and how strong they are to manage complications caused by pancreatitis.
What are the symptoms of Epi in dogs?
The most common symptoms include:
- A gradual wasting away, even though there is a voracious appetite
- Defecating more frequently
- Stools are often greasy, voluminous, yellowish cow-plops, but can also be greyish
- Eating their own stools or other inappropriate substances
- Increased passing of wind
- Increased rumbling sounds from the abdomen
- Experiencing intermittent watery diarrhoea or vomiting
How to manage EPI in dogs?
- Sometimes too little enzymes cause acid reflux by not being enough enzymes to digest food properly causing fermentation and gut imbalance.
- Sometimes too much enzymes cause acid reflux (depending on why the acid reflux is happening) try reducing the enzymes by a pinch for a few days.
- Try Slippery Elm first before chemically prepared mfg acid reducers. ...
What is the life expectancy of a dog 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.
What triggers dog EPI?
What is the most common cause of EPI in dogs? Pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA) is the most common cause of EPI in dogs. PAA is primarily a genetic disease that leads to a dog's immune system destroying the cells in the pancreas that make digestive enzymes.
How do you fix a dog's EPI?
Probiotics are an important aspect of managing your dog's EPI and helping balance her gut bacteria. Feed your dog probiotic-rich foods like fermented veggies or give high quality probiotic and prebiotic supplements. Prebiotics help feed probiotics and make them more effective.
At what age does EPI start in dogs?
EPI can occur in dogs of any age, but signs are usually first seen between six months and six years of age (Hall et al., 2003).
What does EPI poop look like in dogs?
There are several symptoms you may notice in a dog with EPI including: Chronic diarrhea: The stool will be a light yellow or clay collar and have poor consistency. Increased appetite: Your dog will appear to be hungry all the time. Your dog is not digesting properly, and his body will not detect a 'full' feeling.
Are dogs with EPI always hungry?
A dog with EPI, although eating copious amounts of food, is constantly hungry becoming undernourished and can literally waste away. Without proper treatment, the EPI dog can suffer greatly and even die a painful death from malnourishment, starvation or organ failure.
What foods can dogs with EPI eat?
If using dry kibble or canned food, start with foods made with potato (sweet) or tapioca as they appear to work better with most, although not all, EPI dogs.
Can a dog with EPI have treats?
One question that comes up over and over with newly diagnosed cases of EPI is “What treats can my dog have?” Unfortunately, treats should be eliminated until the dog is stable, meaning good poops consistently for at least 3 months.
Is rice good for dogs with EPI?
Most however do respond best to low fiber, and sometimes there are cases where an EPi dog does not do well until a small amount of certain types of fibers (like rice) is added to the meal.
How much does it cost to treat EPI in dogs?
$150 to $300Cost of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement in Dogs 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.
What Is EPI in Dogs?
EPI stands for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. EPI in dogs is a health issue that has serious effects on the pancreas. It happens when most of the cells that produce digestive hormones don’t function normally.
How to treat EPI in dogs?
Treatment. Once EPI has been diagnosed, treatment most commonly consists of supplementing your dog's diet with a pancreatic enzyme replacement. These enzyme supplements come in a powdered form which may be mixed with food. Also, if your dog is undernourished, vitamin supplements may be necessary.
What is the best treatment for EPI in dogs?
Dogs with EPI are usually managed at home with pancreatic enzyme supplementation and cobalamin supplementation. Some dogs also require additional vitamin supplements, antibiotics, medications to reduce the secretion of stomach acid, and other treatments to manage their symptoms.
What happens if a dog's pancreas fails to produce enough enzymes?
If the pancreas fails to produce enough of these digestive enzymes, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or EPI, develops. EPI may affect a dog's gastrointestinal system, as well as general nutrition, and can cause problems such as weight loss and chronic diarrhea.
Why does my dog have EPI?
Causes. The most common cause of EPI in dogs is idiopathic pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA). The enzymes responsible for aiding the digestion of starches , fats , and proteins , are produced by cells in the pancreas known as pancreatic acinar cells. PAA develops when these cells fail to function properly, thereby leading to EPI.
Why is PAA so common in dogs?
PAA appears to be an autoimmune disease, meaning that a dog’s own immune system attacks and destroys the pancreatic cells responsible for producing digestive enzymes. The primary risk factor for PAA in dogs is genetic, which is why EPI is seen more frequently in certain breeds of dogs.
What tests are done to check for EPI in dogs?
Blood Chemistry Test and Complete Blood Cell Count. The veterinarian will run blood chemistry tests and a complete blood cell count to get a picture of your dog’s overall health and to look for problems, like anemia (a low red blood cell count), that are sometimes associated with EPI.
How to treat EPI in dogs?
EPI is treated (even in conventional medicine) using pancreatic enzymes to compensate for your dog’s own lacking enzyme production. Porcine enzymes in a powder given with food are considered the best. If your dog doesn’t tolerate pork well, there are also beef-based or plant enzymes. The powder must be “incubated,” which means you add it to your dog’s food moisten the powder, and let it sit at room temperature for 20 to 60 minutes before feeding. Otherwise the enzymes can cause mouth bleeding or sores. If that happens, reducing the dose usually resolves the problem.
What vitamins are in EPI dogs?
According to Merck Veterinary Manual, over 80% of EPI dogs are deficient in cobalamin (vitamin B12), and some also may lack nutrients like zinc or vitamins E or K. 2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
What Is Malabsorption In Dogs?
The Merck Veterinary Manual defines malabsorption as “the defective uptake of a dietary constituent resulting from interference with its digestion or absorption…” This is usually caused by a small intestinal disease that interferes with the digestive processes.
How does the immune system work in dogs with leaky gut?
And the immune system is activated to fight the intruders. The body’s systems can get overwhelmed, resulting in inflammation … but as the immune system attacks these intruders, it can also lead to allergies and other chronic disease, including the potential for autoimmune disease. Because these invaders include undigested food particles, the body starts to treat food as its enemy – so dogs with leaky gut often have multiple allergies to many different proteins as well as vegetables and grains.
Can EPI cause diarrhea?
Chronic loose stools or diarrhea may be the first sign of EPI. Many veterinarians assume the diarrhea is due to intestinal bacteria and may not even think of EPI as a possible cause until they’ ve exhausted other possibilities like giardia or other parasites. So keep EPI in mind yourself.
How to diagnose EPI?
EPI is diagnosed by measurement of serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity concentration.
What are the symptoms of EPI?
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. The feces are most commonly pale, loose, and voluminous and may be malodorous. In rare cases, watery diarrhea may be seen.
What causes exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in German Shepherds?
Pancreatic acinar atrophy is the most common cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in German Shepherds, Rough Collies, and Eurasians, whereas chronic pancreatitis is the most common cause in dogs of other breeds and cats. Less common causes of EPI in dogs and cats are pancreatic or extrapancreatic masses that lead to obstruction of the pancreatic duct.
What causes pancreatic insufficiency in dogs?
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs and Cats. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is caused by decreased production of digestive enzymes by the pancreas. The most common clinical signs are polyphagia, weight loss, and a large volume of loose stools. Diagnosis is made by measurement of serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity.
Can EPI cause weight loss?
The lack of nutrients also causes weight loss and may lead to vitamin deficiencies . In animals with EPI caused by chronic pancreatitis, destruction of pancreatic tissue may not be limited to the acinar cells, and concurrent diabetes mellitus may develop.
Is cobalamin deficiency a risk factor for EPI?
Also, cobalamin deficiency was the only independent risk factor for poor outcome in a study of dogs with EPI. Thus, serum cobalamin and folate concentrations should be routinely evaluated in small animals with suspected EPI.
Can you supplement pancreatic enzymes for dogs?
Most dogs and cats with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency can be successfully treated by supplementation with pancreatic enzymes. Powder is more effective than tablets, capsules, and especially enteric-coated products.
What is an EPI in dogs?
Canine exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a digestive disorder resulting from the insufficient secretion of enzymes from the pancreas. This condition is frequently attributed to pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA) in the dog, in which the enzyme-producing acinar cells are believed to be destroyed by a hereditary autoimmune process ...
How old is a dog when it has EPI?
EPI can occur in dogs of any age, but signs are usually first seen between six months and six years of age (Hall et al., 2003). The exocrine pancreas has a large functional reserve resulting in clinical signs being frequently observed quite late into the disease process where circa 90 percent of the functional mass of the acinar cells have been ...
What is the best treatment for EPI in dogs?
Management of EPI cases revolves largely around supplementation with pancreatic enzymes, which can be provided in numerous forms including tablets, capsules, granules, uncoated enzyme powder and raw pancreas. There has been considerable debate about efficacy of such products, with earlier work suggesting that dogs given uncoated enzymes had a better response to therapy as reported by Hall et al. (1991), but more recent work has not shown such a difference (Simpson, 2005). Due to the associated deficiencies in cobalamin with this condition, supplementation with vitamin B12 is required as part of ongoing management (Simpson et al., 1989) to ensure the dogs are receiving a complete balance of nutrients.
How to determine if a dog has pancreatic exocrine function?
In dogs, pancreatic exocrine function is reliably assessed by measuring blood trypsinogen levels using the serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) test. A value below 2.5μg/L is highly suggestive of EPI (Suchodolski and Steiner, 2003); however, diagnosis is more difficult when EPI is subclinical (Mansfield, 2015). Any dog presenting with gastrointestinal signs should be considered worthwhile of investigation for EPI because of the varied presentation of these cases, which do not always follow the prescribed list of clinical signs (Batchelor et al., 2007a).
What is the best diet for dogs with EPI?
Historically, dogs with EPI were fed a diet that was digestible with relatively low fibre and low-to-moderate fat levels (Hand et al., 2011), because fat is considered the most difficult nutrient for the intestine to assimilate and lipase activity is the limiting step in digestion of fat (Simpson, 2006). The rationale for lowering the fat content is that intestinal bacteria metabolise unabsorbed fat to hydrolysed fatty acids, which stimulate secretion of fluids in the distal small intestine and colon, potentially worsening the diarrhoea (Westermarck et al., 1995; Simpson, 2006). However, a canine EPI study found that feeding a moderate fat, low fibre, highly digestible food decreased flatulence, borborygmi, faecal volume and defecation frequency compared to feeding the original diets (Westermarck et al., 1995). In another study, a diet with up to 43 percent calories from fat, with a focus on the digestibility of the protein, fat and carbohydrates, yielded positive results in reduction of clinical signs (Suziki et al., 1999) compared to diets containing 18 and 27 percent of calories from fat. In a study of dogs with experimental EPI, a high-fat, high-protein diet in combination with enzyme replacement therapy optimised fat absorption (Suziki et al., 1999).
What is the pancreas of a dog?
The pancreas of the dog is a V-shaped gland located in the cranial abdomen comprising the exocrine (acinar cells) and endocrine (islets of Langerhans) portions. The exocrine pancreas secretes digestive enzymes, fluid and bicarbonate in response to food ingestion (Singh et al., 2018).
What is the best diet for dogs with pancreatic insufficiency?
In addition to supplementation with replacement pancreatic enzymes and vitamin B12, feeding a highly digestible, high energy density, complete and balanced diet is recommended. High-fibre diets should be avoided, as fibre may interfere with the fat absorption including essential fatty acids and vitamins.
What causes EPI in German Shepherds?
1. The most common cause of EPI in German Shepherds, Rough Collies, and Eurasian breeds is atrophy of the acinar cells of the pancreas
What is the effect of EPI on the pancreas?
This decreases the body’s ability to digest food, and in turn, reduces the amount of nutrition able to be absorbed.
How to treat a dog with a swollen pancreas?
Treatment is chronic/lifelong. Your vet will prescribe your pet a pancreatic digestive enzyme powder (or tablet/capsule) to mix into your pet’s meals daily. Your vet should prescribe the amount of enzyme and monitor progress until the lowest amount needed to maintain a healthy pet has been ascertained. This may take weeks to months, depending on each animal and their condition when first presented to the vet. You may also discuss feeding raw pancreas as an alternative to enzyme powders with your vet. Sadly, many animals may have this condition and it goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for some time before treating it properly.
What is the pancreatic insufficiency in dogs?
The pancreas is an organ that has many functions, including producing enzymes to help digest food from what is called the ‘exocrine’ portion of the pancreas (there is also an ‘endocrine’ portion). EPI is a syndrome where the pancreas does not produce or secrete enough of these enzymes.
Can pancreatitis cause EPI in cats?
Chronic pancreatitis can lead to EPI in other dog breeds and cats. Animals with EPI due to chronic pancreatitis may also have diabetes mellitus, as insulin is also made by the pancreas. 3. Much less commonly, in both dogs and cats, masses/tumors of the pancreas or outside of the pancreas that obstruct the pancreatic duct can lead to EPI.
Can elastase be found in dogs stool?
There is also a test for the presence of a pancreatic enzyme called elastase in the stool. However, this can be unreliable to diagnose EPI in dogs with chronic or co-existing gastrointestinal disease.
Does supplementing your pet's pancreatic enzymes stop clinical signs?
Supplementing your pet’s pancreatic enzymes will stop clinical signs but does not normalize the absorption of fats. Although there are low-fat diets that may help decrease this problem, in turn, the pet may develop fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies.
How to diagnose EPI in dogs?
Diagnosing EPI. To diagnose EPI, the veterinarian may run the following tests: Serum sample: Measures levels of Trypsinogen (TPI) in the serum of your dog's body; a dog will have reduced amount of TPI if EPI is present. Blood sample: The complete blood count (CBC) will be analyzed. Urinalysis: Urine analysis, as well as blood samples, ...
What causes EPI?
Pancreatic Acinar Atrophy: Pancreatic Acinar Atrphic, PAA, is the most common cause of EPI.
What causes pancreatic insufficiency in dogs?
There are three main causes of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency including: 1 Pancreatic Acinar Atrophy: Pancreatic Acinar Atrphic, PAA, is the most common cause of EPI. 2 Chronic Pancreatitis: If your dog has chronic pancreatitis, this can become EPI. When this happens it is especially dangerous because many pet owners continue to treat the pancreatitis without realizing the disease has advanced into the more severe EPI. 3 Congenital hypoplasia: Congenital hypoplasia is when your dog was born without a fully functional pancreas.
What causes a dog to have a pancreatitis?
Cause of EPI. There are three main causes of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency including: Pancreatic Acinar Atrophy: Pancreatic Acinar Atrphic, PAA , is the most common cause of EPI. Chronic Pancreatitis: If your dog has chronic pancreatitis, this can become EPI. When this happens it is especially dangerous because many pet owners continue ...
What breed of dog has endocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
German Shepherds and Rough-Coated Collies are known to develop Endocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency more than other dog breeds. Research has often found young adult dogs are most prone to developing this condition.
What is a serum sample for dogs?
Serum sample: Measures levels of Trypsinogen (TPI) in the serum of your dog's body; a dog will have reduced amount of TPI if EPI is present.
What is the role of the pancreas in dogs?
Your dog's pancreas is responsible for producing insulin that helps regulate sugar levels. In addition to being responsible for the production of insulin, the pancreas also plays a critical role in producing enzymes to aid in digestion. When the pancreas does not produce the correct amount of digestive enzymes, this leads to EPI, ...
What is the meaning of "EPI" in a dog's blood test?
For the purpose of this reading, it is assumed that you have confirmed through a TLI blood test by your veterinarian that your dog has EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency). While SID (small intestinal dysbiosis) formerly known as SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and Vitamin B12 levels are also important topics to cover in managing EPI, this reading will focus specifically on choosing the correct strength of pancreatic enzyme for your pet.
What is the best enzyme for EPI?
Choosing a pancreatic enzyme with the Highest Potency is very important to correctly manage EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) . Many EPI pet owners are familiar with pancreatic enzymes that have a 6x or 8x potency (aka Pancreatin 6x or 8x). However, there is a much better option available for your EPI dog.
What is the first step in stabilizing a dog?
As you are probably aware, pancreatic enzyme supplementation is the first step in stabilizing your dog and they will require these enzymes with every meal for the rest of their lives to properly manage EPI.
What is Pan Tenex?
The management team behind Pan-tenex™ has over 30 years of experience in the animal supplement industry. Our primary goal is to empower the consumer by offering innovative products of the highest quality, yet affordable enough to assist them in providing proper care to their pets.
Is there a 10x enzyme for EPI dogs?
The EPI forums & firms offering these 6x and 8x products never mention that there is a 10x potency available because they are unable to offer you this superior grade of product. The 10x potency found in Pan-tenex™ is the correct & preferred strength of pancreatic enzyme that consistently works the best for EPI dogs. Pan-tenex™ is not only more potent, but is also more affordable than any 6x or 8x generic pancreatic enzyme on the market.
Do EPI forums have a hidden agenda?
While online EPI dog forums can be a valuable resource, the reader should know that these sites have a hidden agenda. In fact, all the EPI forums have a financial interest in the 6x and 8x enzymes they promote and do not tell you this. They promote only one brand of enzymes and incorrectly tell readers that these 6x and 8x enzymes are equivalent to prescription strength products when; They Are Not! They do not provide their readers any true enzyme options and will only recommend that you buy enzymes from one source that is promoted on their site.
Is Pan-tenex good for EPI dogs?
However, there is a much better option available for your EPI dog. There is a 10x potency (aka Pancreatin 10x USP) available in Pan-tenex™ | Enzymes For Dogs that is much stronger and more effective than 6x or 8x enzymes. Simply put, the 10x potency found in Pan-tenex™ consistently works the best for EPI dogs. ...
What is EPI in dogs?
Managing EPI. Dogs with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) have a malabsorption and maldigestion condition where the pancreas is no longer producing enough pancreatic enzymes to digest fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Because of this, dogs (and also cats) will often present with unexplained weight loss, diarrhea/cow-patty like yellow/pale ...
What is the purpose of Epi4Dogs Foundation?
Epi4Dogs Foundation Inc.’s purpose is advancement of science and education of EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency for dogs) by raising funds for EPI research that will yield useful insights or positive outcomes in better managing the EPI health condition in dogs and cats , and promoting EPI education through EPI awareness efforts by educating the public and offering assistance to pet owners, vet schools, veterinarians and veterinary researchers.
What is the term for a dog's exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
A treatable condition. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) in dogs and cats is when acinar cells atrophy, sometimes called Pancreatic Acinar Atrophy (PAA), in the exocrine part of the pancreas and is no longer producing sufficient digestive enzymes: Lipase, Amylase, Trypsin & Protease that are needed to properly digest nutrients from food.
How many members does Epi4Dogs have?
Epi4Dogs now has over 7,500 members and has assisted almost 3,000,000 people world-wide since it’s existence. And finally, EPI is now recognized in all breeds. Over the years, Epi4Dogs has connected with some of the best veterinarian researchers and veterinarian universities worldwide.
Is EPI a German Shepherd?
Although EPI was once thought to be just a German Shepherd condition , it is now found in all breeds. That is why Epi4Dogs was created, because of Izzy, a little Spanish Water Dog born on July 11, 2005 diagnosed with EPI on December 15, 2006, who wasn’t supposed to have ‘that German Shepherd condition’. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 ...
Who rescued Rilind from EPI?
This is Rilind, rescued by The Pit Sisters a wonderful organization, who joined our EPI forum and properly diagnosed Rilind with EPI…
Who is Izzy from Epi4Dogs?
Izzy, who developed EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency), was the inspiration for Epi4Dogs, that was started 12 years ago and later became a non-profit charitable organization. At the time of her diagnosis she was only 1+1/2 years old. I had no idea what this condition was.
Pathophysiology
Health
- EPI may affect a dog's gastrointestinal system, as well as general nutrition, and can cause problems such as weight loss and chronic diarrhea. The condition is thought to be hereditary in German Shepherds.
Other animals
- The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.
Symptoms
- EPI may cause digestive problems, malnutrition, and/or improper absorption of nutrients into the body, which can contribute to an overgrowth of bacteria in the intestines. Symptoms may include chronic diarrhea; weight loss despite a normal or increased appetite; frequent or greater volume of stool and gas; and coprophagia, a condition which causes an animal to eat its own stool.
Causes
- The most common cause of EPI in dogs is idiopathic pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA). The enzymes responsible for aiding the digestion of starches, fats, and proteins, are produced by cells in the pancreas known as pancreatic acinar cells. PAA develops when these cells fail to function properly, thereby leading to EPI. The second most common cause of...
Diagnosis
- If symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are apparent, a number of pancreatic function tests can be done. A serum sample that measures the amount of the chemical trypsinogen (TLI) released into the blood from the pancreas should reveal problems in the pancreas. A dog with EPI will have reduced amounts of TLI. A number of other tests may be conducted, including urine an…