Pancreatic Insufficiency - Page 3

For many dogs who have some sort of pancreatic enzyme problem, the Royal Canin Maxi GSD 24 is too rich in FAT. It is the fat that is the problem in these dogs. They can not digest it. That is why switching to the Royal Canin Maxi Light or a similar food with lower fat is helpful. There are several ways to test for a pancreatic problem. However, in my experience, seeing the stool, and assessing the dog are often all that is necessary to suspect it. If the dog improves on an enzyme supplement that may be all one needs to know. However, as we have already pointed out, sometimes improvement is not seen initially. This can be caused by the bacterial overgrowth issue. If the gut bacteria is out of whack, you may have difficulty in seeing any improvement. There are several tests. One is a simple one and involves testing the feces for trypsin. A stool without it is almost a dead give away. However, sometimes there is trypsin and additional tests might need to be tried. I have already discribed the feces. It can be mucous looking depending on what has been fed. However, giardia infection also causes mucous in the stool, so one must be careful to make sure there is no giardia or other parasites present that cause this. Bacterial infection can also make stools nasty. Again, no one here is suggesting that a dog with any pancreatic insufficiency be bred. However, if a dog ends up with such a condition, it need not necessarily be a death sentence. I now board a dog who I accepted into my rescue program more than 6 years ago. He was about 4-5 at the time I took him. I discovered his pancreatic problem and he is healthy, although a little on the thin side, and happy and lives an otherwise normal life with caring owners.

For many dogs who have some sort of pancreatic enzyme problem, the Royal Canin Maxi GSD 24 is too rich in FAT. It is the fat that is the problem in these dogs. They can not digest it. That is why switching to the Royal Canin Maxi Light or a similar food with lower fat is helpful. There are several ways to test for a pancreatic problem. However, in my experience, seeing the stool, and assessing the dog are often all that is necessary to suspect it. If the dog improves on an enzyme supplement that may be all one needs to know. However, as we have already pointed out, sometimes improvement is not seen initially. This can be caused by the bacterial overgrowth issue. If the gut bacteria is out of whack, you may have difficulty in seeing any improvement. There are several tests. One is a simple one and involves testing the feces for trypsin. A stool without it is almost a dead give away. However, sometimes there is trypsin and additional tests might need to be tried. I have already discribed the feces. It can be mucous looking depending on what has been fed. However, giardia infection also causes mucous in the stool, so one must be careful to make sure there is no giardia or other parasites present that cause this. Bacterial infection can also make stools nasty. Again, no one here is suggesting that a dog with any pancreatic insufficiency be bred. However, if a dog ends up with such a condition, it need not necessarily be a death sentence. I now board a dog who I accepted into my rescue program more than 6 years ago. He was about 4-5 at the time I took him. I discovered his pancreatic problem and he is healthy, although a little on the thin side, and happy and lives an otherwise normal life with caring owners.

The Ultimate Question regarding EPI: I guess the tough question is should any sire or dam that has been proven (by clinical signs & lab tests)to have produced any progeny with EPI ever be bred again? If EPI is an autosomal recessive as many researchers believe, then both parents are carriers and probably shouldn't be used (unless the dog is so exceptional and irreplaceable for many desired traits that one has to find bitches with longproducing records suspected and believed to be non carriers, and vice-versa). If EPI is a dominant gene with incomplete penetrance then, it is much more difficult to ascertain which is the carrier, sire or dam, since the occorence is low %tagewise. I believe that it is an autosomal recessive with incomplete penetrance, ie masked by other recessives and thus appearing in intermittent generations, although most resarchers do not accept this concept, recent findings on junk DN & RNA (approx. 80+% of the genetic material bear this out--see subject of Dark DNA). My Vet believes that subclinical cases marked by unthriftiness and failure to bulk up (as seen in a significant number of working line dogs marked by constant pacing due to insatial prey drive from unsatisfied hunger)will show us as a low TLI blood test. I believe that positive gene location identification and testing for EPI and many other "lethals" is coming for sure and what a great day this will be. You can imagine just how much more valuable the high V-rated (non-VA rated Stud Dog will become if he turns out to be completely free of any of these "lethal genes", even if he ranks just below V and is a producer of good confirmation, or just how valuable a VA Stud could be if he just happens to be free also of these "lethal genes" and is producer also. I can assure you this will be only a few of all the top V and VA rated dogs.

S. Rogers which Dick van Patten Natural Balance Formula do you use with dog who has the EPI? Does the dog ever get an ovvasional flare up? Dawn Bonome

Typing error:0) I meant to ask, do any of your dogs get an occasional flare up? Dawn

Yes, he does get an occasional problem which requires antibiotics for a few days. I look for a real loose stool and start the antibiotics(Cephalexin 500 & Metronidazole) before other symptoms appear. The other symptoms are a skin rash and weight loss. The vet gives him Metraphrin Bolus if he is in really bad condition. This has only happened a couple of times. We have noticed that stress seems to bring on the problem. Such as when we board him at a strange facility or if he is around a female in season. The Natural Balance formula is the Ultra Premium Dog Food. They offer other formulas that have not worked as well. The Viokase is also required in our situation. We feed with water and let the Viokase soak for 20-30 minutes before feeding. We do not give him any other treats or foods.

Birdy, thank you for letting people know that the GSD EPI database exists! The database is under construction and will only be worthwhile to breeders and buyers if enough people tell the truth and register their EPI+ dogs in the database. Once the database is ready it will be available for public use online. The database will show the EPI+ dog, his parents (who are known carriers), grandparents (at least one is a known carrier), and any linebreeding within the first 5 generations. The database is allot of work, but well worth it if you help to build it by registering dogs known to be EPI+ or are known carriers of this horrific disorder! You can help by sending an e-mail to me at: margaretmbradley@sbcglobal.net . I will work with you to get the necessary information so that we can make this database worthwhile to future of our beloved German Shepherd Dog. Please send the EPI+ dogs full name and registration number along with an official pedigree showing the full names and registration numbers of the parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and confirmation/proof from a veterinarian that the dog being submitted truely is EPI+. This information is required for the EPI+ dog to be entered into the database. This information can be sent via fax, scanned and attached to an email, or sent by regular mail. The German Shepherd Dog needs your help and you can do that by helping to make this database worthwhile! Thank You! Margaret Bradley

My male was diagnosed at about 1 and 1/2 years of age.  He also went down to skin and bones.  He became so weak his back legs would collapse.  It took months of tests before I became aware of what was wrong with him.  GSD people are the ones that helped me get him diagnosed.  My vet  wasn't even looking for EPI, he also has SIBO and IRS.

For those buying enzymes from a vet, you are paying much more money than needed. 

There is a yahoo group called K9-EPIGlOBAL, this group has a huge amount of info and help available for those new to EPI:  

This is the link:  pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/k9-EPIGLOBAL/

You can order enymes from them here: www.k9-epi.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

I pay about 130.00 for a kilo of enzymes.  I also use a probiotic to help stabilize his SIBO.

Timberwolfs Organics has worked wonders for me.  It tooks months of different foods before I got his poo back to normal.

He is now the picture of glowing health.

 

My two year old has finally, fingers crossed, begun gaining slowly with Eukanuba Sporting. I hope it lasts longer than the last food. I had her on Innova Evo and it helped for a while, at least she was maintaining. Then she dropped and couldn't get her back up to mid 60's. now she's 66 and I'm hoping.

I get my enzymens from the yahoo group and it is a Godsend.