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.
Do dogs with EPI have shorter lives?
Conclusions and clinical importance: Long-term prognosis in canine EPI is favorable for dogs that survive the initial treatment period. Although there are few predictors of good RIT or long-term survival, severe cobalamin deficiency is associated with shorter survival .
Does EPI affect life expectancy?
How long can you live with EPI? People with EPI have a greater risk for malnutrition, which can affect life expectancy . Malnutrition can result from the poor absorption of nutrients, which can be a part of EPI. Also, sometimes EPI makes it hard to eat enough because of pain or other symptoms.
Is EPI in dogs fatal?
Once the pancreas is damaged to the point that symptoms of EPI develop, you will need to give your dog pancreatic enzyme supplements and possibly other treatments for the rest of their life. However, with proper management, your dog can live a healthy and happy life .
What happens if EPI is not treated in dogs?
(2) Exocrine cells produce and secrete digestive enzymes.
When EPI is undiagnosed and left untreated, the entire body is deprived of the nutrients needed for growth, renewal, and maintenance . In time, the body becomes so compromised that the dog either starves to death or dies of inevitable organ failure.
How long does it take for pancreatic enzymes to work in dogs?
This medication should take effect within 1 to 2 hours ; however, effects may not be visibly obvious and therefore laboratory tests may need to be done to evaluate how well this medication is working.
What does dog EPI poop look like?
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.
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.
Can old dogs get EPI?
Clinical Findings. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to pancreatic acinar atrophy is most frequent in young adult German Shepherds but has also been described in Rough Collies and Eurasians. Dogs and cats with EPI due to other causes are usually middle-aged to older and can be of any breed .
Does EPI get worse with age?
As you age, it’s possible for your pancreas not to work as well as it once did. If that happens, your EPI could worsen and trigger new symptoms, such as soreness, muscle weakness, weak bones, or numbness .
What is the most common cause of EPI in dogs?
EPI due to chronic pancreatitis will sometimes resolve as the pancreas heals. However, the most common cause of EPI is the progressive destruction of the exocrine cells of the pancreas . This cannot be cured, only managed with medications and diet.
How serious is EPI?
Without treatment, EPI can make you malnourished — you won’t get enough important vitamins and nutrients from your diet — and it can lead to other serious conditions, such as thinning bones (osteoporosis) or the blood condition anemia. You could have problems with walking and balance.
What foods can dogs with EPI eat?
The type of food an EPI dog responds best to depends on the individual EPI dog. Some respond best to raw food diets, However, many EPI dogs do well on commercial food, especially if the kibble or canned food is low fiber (dog food companies have coined some of these foods as “grain free”.
What do you feed a dog with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
For some, a very high-protein, grain-free food is the right choice, while other dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency actually need some grain, with its attendant fiber. Complicating the issue further is that there are two kinds of dietary fiber, soluble and insoluble.
Should I put my dog down with pancreatitis?
Some animals may be very severely ill with pancreatitis and will not recover despite treatment. Sadly in these cases euthanasia may be the kindest option to prevent suffering ..
Is pumpkin good for dogs with EPI?
1/2 to 1 teaspoon of canned pumpkin is usually good to add to the food for EPI dogs , especially if the grain free does not seem to be working as well as you think it should... it might mean that your dog needs a little bit of the right kind of fiber and pumpkin is a good fiber to start with.
Why do EPI dogs smell?
Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Recovery in Dogs
Dogs with EPI may experience food aversions and allergies, this may disappear with enzyme replacement therapy. Your dog may experience side effects including, a strong body odor , bleeding gums and mouth sores.
Can EPI cause pancreatitis in dogs?
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) is a lack of production of adequate amounts of digestive enzymes by the pancreas. Both dogs and cats can be affected . EPI can be genetic/heritable, from a single bout of severe acute pancreatitis or recurrent bouts of chronic pancreatitis , or idiopathic (cause unknown).
How do you comfort a dog with pancreatitis?
- Feed the Dog a Super Bland Diet. The vet will most likely suggest this as well but it’s important to feed your dog a bland diet during the first one or two weeks of recovery. ...
- Stop Feeding Your Dog Human Food. ...
- Make Sure Your Dog Leads a Healthy Lifestyle.
What color is dog poop with pancreatitis?
ORANGE : Stools that are orangeish in color frequently indicate inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
What foods should you avoid with EPI?
Avoidfried, creamy, or cheesy foods, such as pastries . You’ll also want to avoid trans fat, a hydrogenated oil and particularly unhealthy type of fat that’s often found in packaged food, says Massey, and steer clear of alcohol. While it may take some planning, it’s possible to eat a healthy, satisfying diet.
What is EPI German shepherd?
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a syndrome of maldigestion and malabsorption resulting from the failure of secretion of the pancreatic enzymes necessary for the normal digestion of food . It is a relatively common problem in dogs, especially in the German shepherd breed, but is quite rare in cats.
