Every part of the body is at risk, even the nervous system (including the brain), which in turn wreaks havoc with the dog’s temperament. An EPI dog’s teeth may be slightly smaller, and older EPI dogs appear to have a higher incidence of hip dysplasia. – Intermittent watery diarrhea or vomiting.ĭue to the lack of absorbed nutrients, the body starves: muscle mass wastes away, and bones may also be affected. – Increased rumbling sounds from the abdomen, and passing increased amounts of gas. – Coprophagia (dog eats his own stools) and/or pica (dog eats other inappropriate substances). – Eliminating more frequently with voluminous yellowish or grayish soft “cow patty” stools. – Gradual wasting away despite a voracious appetite. The symptoms can be exacerbated by physical or emotional stress, change of food or routine, and/or environmental factors. EPI can be subclinical (no recognizable symptoms) for many months, sometimes even years, before it worsens and becomes noticeable. Severity of the disease may vary, making it even more difficult to diagnose. Treatment may also include supplemental cobalamin (B12) injections that help reestablish friendly bacteria colonies, which in turn helps inhibit the malabsorption. Treatment of SIBO includes a course of antibiotics, to eliminate the bad bacteria.
The condition occurs when the “bad” bacteria that is feeding on the fermenting food overpopulates the tissue lining the small intestine, further impairing the proper absorption of vital nutrients and depleting the body’s store of vitamin B12. If an EPI dog has a lot of belly grumbling/noises, gas, diarrhea, and sometimes vomiting, she most likely has SIBO. This can lead to a secondary condition that is common in many EPI dogs, called SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Incomplete digestion causes the continual presence of copious amounts of fermenting food in the small intestine. In time, the body becomes so compromised that the dog either starves to death or dies of inevitable organ failure. When EPI is undiagnosed and left untreated, the entire body is deprived of the nutrients needed for growth, renewal, and maintenance. Without a steady supply of these enzymes to help break down and absorb nutrients, the body starves. (2) Exocrine cells produce and secrete digestive enzymes.ĮPI is the inability of the pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes: amylase to digest starches, lipases to digest fats, and proteases to digest protein. (1) Endocrine cells produce and secrete hormones, insulin, and glucagons. There are two primary functions of the pancreas: Astonishingly, visible symptoms may not appear until 80 to 95 percent of the pancreas has atrophied. One of the major difficulties with this disease is in the prompt and accurate diagnosis. What is Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency?Įxocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, or EPI, also referred to as Pancreatic Hypoplasia or Pancreatic Acinar Atrophy (PAA), is a disease of maldigestion and malabsorption, which when left untreated eventually leads to starvation.
Within a year, Pandy had transformed into a beautiful, funny, 26-pound Dachshund who gets along great with all the human and animal members in the Fitzhugh household. With Fitzhugh’s loving care, including enzyme supplements and a change of diet, Pandy stabilized. Pandy’s voracious appetite, large voluminous stools, and aggressive disposition were all caused by a medical condition called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Pandy was rushed to the vet and emergency surgery was performed, as the bones had ruptured her stomach lining in three places. Fitzhugh thought the dog deserved a break, and brought Pandy home in May 2007.ĭuring 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. Deemed people- and animal-aggressive, Pandy appeared to have been starved, and weighed just 13 pounds. Pandy had been relinquished to a shelter in Orange County (California), who turned her over to Southern California Dachshund Rescue. 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. Early diagnosis and treatment improve his prospects. Visible symptoms of the disease may not appear until 80 to 95 percent of the pancreas has atrophied. If your dog’s digestion is poor, with frequent diarrhea, consider having him tested for EPI.
Few people know that it can affect any breed.Ģ. When you see or hear about an apparently starved (or extremely thin) dog, please let the owner know about EPI.
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