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What You Need to Know About EPI

The rare condition often overlooked or misdiagnosed by veterinarians

By Xennariel RevenlyrPublished 3 years ago 7 min read
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My dog Zerphyr was diagnosed with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency at 11 months old

I’m here to raise awareness about a disease I had no idea existed until several months ago. I’m no expert, but I want to share everything I’ve learned as an owner of a dog diagnosed with EPI. Personal experience is often the best teacher.

Zephyr’s EPI story

When my Border Heeler pup Zephyr was about nine months old, we noticed he seemed to be losing weight and was always hungry. I didn’t think too much about him being hungry all the time. That’s not unusual for dogs. What was starting to worry me was his weight loss and unusual looking stools.

Zephyr’s poop started to be nothing but diarrhea that looked like cow patties dotting the side of our backyard where he liked to do his business. Having just lost my beloved first dog to lymphoma and kidney failure several months prior, I knew this was not at all normal. I was used to watching for any oddities in my dog’s poop since you can learn quite a bit about their health by the way it looks.

I tried the usual at-home remedies for doggy diarrhea in case it was maybe just the food or new snacks we’d been feeding him. Unfortunately, nothing was working. After this went on for a few days, I made an appointment with the vet for the next week.

The vet recommended the standard antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics work for most dogs in treating anything that could be causing diarrhea so we hoped it would work. Sadly, after a week of antibiotics, nothing changed.

We went back to the vet the next week. I mentioned the weight loss this time and they also took stool samples to test. The vet got back to me quickly after examining the samples. He said there was a lot of fat visible which isn’t normal.

This observation prompted him to take a sample of Zephyr’s blood and send it out to test his pancreas functionality. Testing for this consists of looking at the cTLI in the blood to determine how much trypsin and trypsinogen has entered the body from the pancreas and also measures vitamin B12 and folate levels.

Several days later, the results were in. It was, without a doubt, EPI.

What is EPI?

EPI stands for Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.

Basically, the pancreas does not produce digestive enzymes. This means that the dog (or cat) would waste away and starve to death without treatment as there is no way for them to absorb the nutrients they need to survive.

I’ve learned from my research and from testimonies from other EPI dog owners that it’s very rare and many vets do not even consider EPI when diagnosing a dog.

It was once a German Shepherd only condition, but in recent years it has been found in every dog breed. However, because it was only known to occur in German Shepherds for a long time, veterinarians will overlook or misdiagnose the condition if your dog is any other breed.

Most often, dogs with EPI are diagnosed with IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome instead.

I was told by many EPI dog owners that it took far too long for them to find a vet that actually could properly diagnose what was wrong with their dog. Thankfully, my vet was knowledgeable and knew to test for EPI right away. Not may dog owners are as fortunate so make sure to arm yourself with EPI knowledge if you ever notice any of the symptoms of the disease in your dog.

EPI is even more rare in cats, but has been known to occur.

The condition can rear its ugly head at any stage of life. Puppies could be born with it or it could manifest a few months or years down the road. Dogs that have had recurring bouts of pancreatitis are also susceptible.

It’s particularly important to catch the condition early for puppies because they miss out on crucial nutrients needed during their most important development phases. They can end up with underdeveloped and weaker bones which could cause mobility issues later on. A lack of nutrients being absorbed can hinder brain development too.

Zephyr was diagnosed at eleven months, but I’m positive it was going on for a while before we figured out what was wrong. His brain was not receiving the proper nutrients for development and, as a result, he seems to be a little slower than his brother from the same litter who does not have EPI. Zephyr acts pretty dopey, but he’s a happy boy. His tail is always wagging and though he might not know quite what’s going on all the time, he’s just happy to be wherever the action is.

Treatment

The good news is that there is a way to treat this condition!

By adding powdered enzymes to a dog’s meals, it helps break down the food and digest it for them so that they’re able to absorb those vital nutrients they need.

Fresh raw beef, porcine, or lamb pancreas also works! About two heaping tablespoons or spoonfuls per meal works for my 50 pound dog Zephyr.

I get raw pancreas from My Pet Carnivore. It’s a good price and comes packaged in a sealed container so it’s convenient and great for storing. You can keep it frozen until you need it, then thaw and keep in the fridge. Make sure to use it within a week or it will lose its potency and no longer contain enzymes. It can remain frozen for a few months without causing a problem.

Powdered enzymes purchased from your vet or online can be expensive. I buy Epizyme powder which runs about $100 for a 12 ounce bottle. Zephyr has three meals a day and gets once tablespoon of powder per meal (though the amount given depends on the strength of the enzyme).

This means that one bottle generally lasts me about one month. Thanks to my pet insurance, I only have to spend $10, but without insurance, $100 a month on medication alone is pretty pricey. That’s even the cheapest I could find online. The enzymes from my vet and other places were priced upwards of $150 per bottle.

Many EPI dog owners choose to purchase their enzymes from Enzyme Diane. She sells pancreatin, a mixture of enzymes from porcine pancreas glands. It’s a similar type of enzyme to what I buy, but more affordable.

Many dogs suffering from EPI will also have a vitamin B12 deficiency. Routine injections of vitamin B12 may be required on top of enzymes to properly treat the disease.

A change of food is also in order to help treat EPI. Food low in fat and fiber is better since those are the top two things that are hardest to digest.

Symptoms and signs of EPI

Here are the things to look for to determine if you dog is suffering from EPI.

  • Unusual and noticeable weight loss in your dog
  • Dog is always hungry and tries to eat everything, including poop which is known as coprophagia
  • Weakness and difficulty standing up from a laying position.
  • Lethargy
  • Loose and poops that are never solid, are greasy and look like cow patties
  • Change in temperament. Dogs with EPI tend to start showing aggression
  • Irritability

These are the signs I personally noticed in Zephyr. He started sleeping more, was being aggressive more often, started eating poop, and at one point a couple of days before his vet appointment he was sleeping on the couch and when he tried to stand up he wobbled and almost fell over trying to walk.

If your dog is showing any of these signs or has diarrhea for more than three days in a row, take them to the vet! These are signs of many illnesses in a dog, not just EPI.

While I’m on the subject, keep an eye out for greasy or goopy black colored stools. I know it’s gross sounding, but this is a sign of bleeding inside your dog and needs to be treated immediately!

For more information about Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency aka EPI in dogs, check out this website: EPI4Dogs

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About the Creator

Xennariel Revenlyr

Writer. Wannabe artist. Gamer. Animal lover. Lover of all things fantasy. My dogs Zephyr and Maverick are my life.

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