Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency - Page 1

I have an 8 month old male GSD.  Is there anyone out there knowledgeable about Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.  At what ages is it apparent?  Is it congenital? And, is it found in any certain bloodlines? I know one of the decisive factors is a Trypsin-like Immunoassay. I have read that it mimics some of the G.I. diseases caused by protozoans i.e. Giardia, Coccidiosis. If someone has knowledge and will take the time to look at my dogs pedigree, here is the link. Thanks in advance. I know there are some sharp GSD folks on this site.
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/5144449.html

Sorry about the link! The dog's name is Leonhart's Viejas Darc. Thanks for the views!

We still can't find the dog.

www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/514449.html

Try this link

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/514449.html

Don, has your dog been tested with a TLI blood test yet?  That will confirm the diagnosis.  Both parents must carry the gene to produce it.  I believe symptoms can start as young as your dog.  Mine was diagnosed at 3 years.  She pooped in huge amounts all her life, and at age 3 started to rapidly lose weight in a mater of a couple of months.  She never had the classic symptoms of  "cowpie" type poops and dull looking coat, so my vet was reluctant to do the TLI test, but I requested it and sure enough she scored a .06 (normal range is 7-35, if I remember right).  I don't know anything about it running in certain lines.  Mine is show lines.  You can learn a lot by joining a Yahoo list: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/k9-EPIGLOBAL/  The enzymes that I have ordered from this groups sister group have kept my girl at a healthy weight for almost a year now.  They are WAY cheaper than ordering from your vet!!!

Good luck.  I'm not sure if I was much help!! 

Rozoan

For the dogs that poop lots but haven't started to loose weight yet, but have a postive result on the TLI - I feed 2 table spoons of unflavored yogurt with probiotics in it with each meal.  Since using it the dogs poops have signifcantly improved - indicating better absorption of the food.  He is only 2 years old and will eventually need the suppliments but is doing OK right now.

-Calvin

Again I see true comraderie in the GSD lovers ranks! Thanks for the save GS Mom and RoZoAn!  I too have a dog that looks good RoZoAn and he is crazy to work. He doesn't have the classic outward physical manifestations like depression and poor coat condition. The TLI is the next step. I have treated him for both the Giardia and Coccidiosis several times back to back as suggested by my vet.  He was positive for both when I got him from the breeder.  Maybe he is still shedding. His living conditions are cleaner than mine LOL as I keep his surrondings as spotless as possible to not reinfect. He has been with me for 2 months and he does undergo some stress as we train in one or more areas of SchH on a mostly daily basis. The Coccidiosis is an oppurtunistic organism related to stressful conditions as far as precipitating an outbreak. I'll hope for the best and wait for the worst. I almost gave up on participating on this web site due to some of the shenanigans going on in the posts. It's great to see that the vision of one person helping another has not been lost to sight. Thanks again!

Not to be a pessimast, but I'd be scared of a dog with ANY line breeding on either Grim z Pohranicni Straze or Ben z Bolfu (Grim's Father). If this is the only problem, you're having good luck...I'd x-ray those hips though. But, here's the good news, that line breeding is a bit far back, nothing to worry TOO much about. I second what Rozoan said, have the TLI blood testing.

Don, Good luck, hope your dog is Ok; we miss you here! jo

Sadly EPI can go undetected in dogs until thay are well past maturity, around 6 years of age, due to their being asymptomatic until that time.  Most times these dogs have already been bred and have either produced progeny with EPI  or are showing symptoms of EPI themselves.

There is a form that manifests itself in puppies and is "outgrown" at maturity. This is thought to be the result of an imbalance in the growth pattern where the pancreas may not be keep up with the rest of the digestive system. When these pups reach maturity, there will no longer be the need to treat them as the pancreas can now do its "job". Many feel that EPI may be masked in puppies depending on their diet. A diet rich in digestive enzymes is suspected to keep the disease controlled in some puppies until they dogs reach maturity and overcome it on their own. Some commercial dog foods like Eagle Pak kibble contain a high amount of these enzymes and there is also the theory that feeding that such a brand masks EPI allowing dogs with the disease to slip through the cracks so to speak. They enter the breeding base undetected and go on to produce more with EPI.

It's not as simple as both need to be carriers. The more dog researchers learn about this disease, the more likely it looks that there are some dogs that carry the gene/s for EPI dominantly. It also look as if there is going to be more than one form of EPI, probably each inherited independently, one from the other.

The hope in the dog world is that a DNA test will soon bceome available to identify asymptomatic carriers. Combined with the tests that are already available to diagnose EPI, it will give breeders the information they need to make informed decisions on how to avoid EPI while keeping the better dogs in the gene pool. The past has demonstrated to most dog breeders that eliminating all dogs that carry certain unwanted traits is not a good thing. A test that would positively identify carriers would allow breeders to still use these good dogs by breeding them to other dogs that do not carry that gene/s and that test negative for EPI themselves.

Last I heard there is some research being conducted on EPI and there will be a call for DNA and/or blood samples from dogs with EPI and those that have produced EPI. If I hear anymore on this DNA testing, I'll post it here. Maybe one of you already knows. For the time being it seems prudent to me to not breed dogs with EPI or those that have produced it in multiple litters with different partners from different bloodlines. There is even the chance that it is so ingrained in this breed that the majority of the more popular GSD studs will test positive for carrier status. What breeders do with this information will tell alot about what the future holds as far as eliminating EPI in the breed.