Brock has EPI- Exocrine Pancreatic Isufficency
Does anyone else on here have dogs with EPI or know anything about it? Brock was just diagnosed with it a week ago. :( This is why he's had diarrhea the last 6 or so weeks (it all started a week or less after I adopted him). For those of you who know nothing about it (as I did previously!) here is some brief, basic info I've learned over the past week:
what is it?:
There are a few suspected causes, usually in dogs it occurs in younger dogs (like Brock), and is thought to be an auto-immune disorder called PAA- pancreatic acinar atrophy, in which the body attacks and destroys part of the pancreas (opposite from the insulin producing side). (in older dogs, and in cats however, its most likely due to chronic pancreatitis). The body is therefore unable to produce the necessary pancreatic enzymes to digest food, so when untreated the dog basically starves. It is uncertain if it is hereditary, but it is extremely common in german shepherds, so its suspected that it may be hereditary in that breed.
common symptoms:
Weight loss (Brock's lost 8 lbs so far), diarrhea (definitely has this), increased appetite, even for things they normally would not eat, including their own feces (Brock's been doing that! >:P), increased rumbling sounds from the abdomen (I've noticed this also), and increased amounts of gas (only since we started him on the enzymes did Brock have gas).
diagnosis:
"The key diagnostic test for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is called the serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity test, or TLI. The affected animal’s blood sample for this test should be drawn after at least a twelve-hour fast. A low value on this test, accompanied by symptoms consistent with EPI, virtually confirms the diagnosis." (taken from the link below) (Brock had a 0.4- very low)
treatment:
For dogs with EPI caused by PAA (as Brock has), pancreatic enzyme suppliments are added to the diet to aid in digestion. Some dogs get powder, some capsules, some even raw pancreas, and some need a combnation of vitamin suppliments with the enzymes. It is different for each dog, as is the dosage, which can make it hard to get maintained at first. Changing diet can help also. A diet low in protien, fiber & fat is often recommended, as is a raw food diet.
Thankfully though, once the diease is maintained the dogs live perfectly happy, healthy lives, and it doesnt hinder their life span or quality of life in any way. (Its just getting to that point that is stressing me out right now!)
(For more detailed info this is a good site:
http://www.vetcentric.com/reference/...ness&MODE=full)
I've been reading a lot about it at the EPI yahoo group, (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/k9-EPIGLOBAL/) and the members have said the average DIAGNOSIS time is 6 months because its so uncommon and the symptoms are the same for many other more common illnesses. By that time the dogs are practically skin and bones, and it can take several more months to figure out what enzyme + dosage & diet, etc works best! So Im lucky we got Brock diagnosed so quickly. He is on a cheaper enzyme right now (we bought it by accident), hopefully it will work, otherwise we will have to get the more expensive, most common, enzyme brand.
One of the hardest things for me is, they cant get food without getting their enzymes at the same time, so he cant get any treats throughout the day. This is going to be difficult for training! Right now Im feeding him 3 times a day to help him gain weight, so I just do training with his kibble right after feeding him the enzymes in some wet food.
Anyhoo.. just thought Id share this info with you, since I hadnt heard of it prior to Brock, and also see if anyone else on PT suffers with the same disease. Hopefully I'll get Brock maintained soon.
