Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
This is mainly found in German Shepherds and Rough Collies. It is an inherited disease and is now thought to be due to an autosomal recessive gene (ie: both parents will carry the defective gene).
It occurs from 6 months to 5 years of age. A healthy pancreas is needed for the digestion of food, especially fat, but in the case of EPI, there is a slow degeneration of the pancreas causing the following symptoms.
Signs
The dog remains thin, despite a ravenous appetite. His faeces are large and voluminous, often loose, pale or clay coloured and have a foul, rancid smell.
Diagnosis
is made by a simple blood test called a Trypsin-Like Immunoreactivity (TLI).
Treatment
consists of feeding an easily digestible diet with the addition of pancreatic enzymes. These enzymes are available in powder or tablet form from the veterinary surgeon or some canine chemists. A cheaper and very (if not more) effective alternative is to use pigs' pancreas, bought fresh from an abattoir and frozen in 50-100g portions.
Sometimes a newly diagnosed dog will also have a bacterial overgrowth, which is diagnosed by a blood test for B12 and Folate. These dogs will also require antibiotics (usually tetracycline, Tylosin or metronidazole) for a month.
Affected animals often lead a normal life but require life long treatment.
Affected animals should not be used for breeding.
