Disease Description: With exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), there is gradual wasting away (atrophy) of the acini. Clinical signs do not develop until most of the acini are gone. As dogs lose the ability to digest protein, they progressively lose weight despite a voracious appetite.
Inherit Mode: This is thought to be an autosomal recessive trait in the German shepherd.
Disease Symptom: Affected dogs lose weight despite voracious appetites, and usually pass large amounts of semi-formed feces. They often eat their own stools, or other inappropriate substances. Some dogs with this condition do not show these typical signs, and may experience intermittent watery diarrhea or vomiting.
Disease Cause: -
Disease Diagnose: The clinical signs of weight loss and increased appetite may occur with malabsorption of nutrients due to a variety of causes. Routine diagnostic tests will eliminate some of these as possibilities. Once EPI is suspected, there are specific laboratory tests that will diagnose this disorder.
Treat Method: Although this disorder can not be cured, management is generally fairly straightforward. Powdered pancreatic enzyme extract is mixed in with each meal. Within a few days, your dog's appetite and stools should become more normal, and s/he will begin to gain weight. Your veterinarian will work with you to determine the best regime (what dose of extract, 1 or 2 feedings per day) to keep your dog free of clinical signs. Enzyme supplementation of your dog's food will be necessary for life. Some dogs fail to gain weight despite treatment, and this may be due to chronic bacterial overgrowth. A course of antibiotic therapy may be useful in these dogs.
Breeder Advice: Affected dogs, and in German shepherds, their parents (considered carriers) and siblings (suspect carriers) should not be used for breeding.
Disease Description Source: Link
| Disease Name | Other Name | Mode of inheritance | Link ID | Possible OMIM ID | Gene |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pancreatic insufficiency, exocrine | Pancreatic acinar atrophy | Multifactorial | - |
| iDog Breed Number | Breed Name | Personality | Height | Weight | Breed Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB110 | German Shepherd Dog | Smart, confident, courageous, and steady; a true dog lover's dog | 61-66 cm (male), 55.9-61 cm (female) | 29.5-40.8 kg (male), 22.7-31.8 kg (female) | Germany |
| 2013 |
Tsai,K.L.,Starr-Moss,A.N.,Venkataraman,G.M.,Robinson,C.,Kennedy,L.J.,Steiner,J.M.,Clark,L.A.: :
Alleles of the major histocompatibility complex play a role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic acinar atrophy in dogs. Immunogenetics 65:501-9, 2013. Pubmed reference: 23604463 . DOI: 10.1007/s00251-013-0704-y . |
| 2012 |
Clark,L.A.,Cox,M.L.: :
Current status of genetic studies of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs. Top Companion Anim Med 27:109-12, 2012. Pubmed reference: 23148850 . DOI: 10.1053/j.tcam.2012.04.001 . |
| 2012 |
German,A.J.: :
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in the dog: breed associations, nutritional considerations, and long-term outcome. Top Companion Anim Med 27:104-8, 2012. Pubmed reference: 23148849 . DOI: 10.1053/j.tcam.2012.04.004 . |
| 2012 |
Kennedy,O.C.,Williams,D.A.: :
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs and cats: online support for veterinarians and owners. Top Companion Anim Med 27:117-22, 2012. Pubmed reference: 23148852 . DOI: 10.1053/j.tcam.2012.05.001 . |
| 2012 |
Tsai,K.L.,Noorai,R.E.,Starr-Moss,A.N.,Quignon,P.,Rinz,C.J.,Ostrander,E.A.,Steiner,J.M.,Murphy,K.E.,Clark,L.A.: :
Genome-wide association studies for multiple diseases of the German Shepherd Dog. Mamm Genome 23:203-11, 2012. Pubmed reference: 22105877 . DOI: 10.1007/s00335-011-9376-9 . |
| 2012 |
Westermarck,E.,Wiberg,M.: :
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in the dog: historical background, diagnosis, and treatment. Top Companion Anim Med 27:96-103, 2012. Pubmed reference: 23148848 . DOI: 10.1053/j.tcam.2012.05.002 . |
| 2010 |
Westermarck,E.,Saari,SA.,Wiberg,ME.: :
Heritability of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in German Shepherd Dogs. J Vet Intern Med :, 2010. Pubmed reference: 20102502 . DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0461.x . |
| 2009 |
Mas,A.,Noble,PJ.,German,AJ.: :
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency treatment study. Vet Rec 165:62, 2009. Pubmed reference: 19596684 . |
| 2006 |
Snead,E.: :
Oral ulceration and bleeding associated with pancreatic enzyme supplementation in a German shepherd with pancreatic acinar atrophy. Can Vet J 47:579-82, 2006. Pubmed reference: 16808232 . |
| 2005 |
Clark,LA.,Wahl,JM.,Steiner,JM.,Zhou,W.,Ji,W.,Famula,TR.,Williams,DA.,Murphy,KE.: :
Linkage analysis and gene expression profile of pancreatic acinar atrophy in the German Shepherd Dog. Mamm Genome 16:955-62, 2005. Pubmed reference: 16341675 . DOI: 10.1007/s00335-005-0076-1 . |
| 2005 |
Kim,JW.,Jung,DI.,Kang,BT.,Kim,HJ.,Park,C.,Park,EH.,Lim,CY.,Park,HM.: :
Canine exocrine pancreatic insufficiency treated with porcine pancreatic extract. J Vet Sci 6:263-6, 2005. Pubmed reference: 16131834 . |
| 2004 |
Bishop,MA.,Steiner,JM.,Moore,LE.,Williams,DA.: :
Evaluation of the cationic trypsinogen gene for potential mutations in miniature schnauzers with pancreatitis. Can J Vet Res 68:315-8, 2004. Pubmed reference: 15581228 . |
| 2004 |
Rutz,GM.,Steiner,JM.,Bauer,JE.,Williams,DA.: :
Effects of exchange of dietary medium chain triglycerides for long-chain triglycerides on serum biochemical variables and subjectively assessed well-being of dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Am J Vet Res 65:1293-302, 2004. Pubmed reference: 15478780 . |
| 2004 |
Wiberg,M.E.: :
Pancreatic acinar atrophy in German shepherd dogs and rough-coated collies. Etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. A review. Vet Q 26:61-75, 2004. Pubmed reference: 15230051 . |
| 2003 |
Westermarck,E.,Wiberg,M.: :
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 33:1165-79, viii-ix, 2003. Pubmed reference: 14552166 . |
| 2002 |
Moeller,E.M.,Steiner,J.M.,Clark,L.A.,Murphy,K.E.,Famula,T.R.,Williams,D.A.,Stankovics,M.E.,Vose,A.S.: :
Inheritance of pancreatic acinar atrophy in German Shepherd Dogs American Journal of Veterinary Research 63:1429-1434, 2002. Pubmed reference: 12371772 . |
| 2002 |
Rutz,G.M.,Steiner,J.M.,Williams,D.A.: :
Oral bleeding associated with pancreatic enzyme supplementation in three dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 221:1716-+, 2002. Pubmed reference: 12494968 . |
| 2002 |
Vondrakova,K.,Klimes,J.: :
Diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in the dog using radial enzyme diffusion Acta Veterinaria Brno 71:223-228, 2002. |
| 2002 |
Wiberg,M.E.,Westermarck,E.: :
Subclinical exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 220:1183-1187, 2002. Pubmed reference: 11990965 . |
| 2001 |
Rutz,G.M.,Steiner,J.M.,Williams,D.A.: :
Pancreatic acinar atrophy in german shepherds Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian 23:347-+, 2001. |
| 2000 |
Mansfield,C.S.: :
Glucocorticoid deficiency (atypical hypoadrenocorticism) and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in a German Shepherd Dog Australian Veterinary Practitioner 30:2-5, 2000. |
| 2000 |
Rutz,G.,Steiner,J.,Hirschberger,J.: :
Exocrin pancreas insufficiency of dogs. Review article Magyar Allatorvosok Lapja 122:672-676, 2000. |
| 1999 |
Rallis,T.,Adamama-Moraitou,K.K.,Soubasis,N.: :
Canine exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: Clinical and laboratory findings in 15 spontaneous cases Canine Practice 24:12-15, 1999. |
| 1999 |
Wiberg,M.E.,Saari,S.A.M.,Westermarck,E.: :
Exocrine pancreatic atrophy in German Shepherd Dogs and Rough-coated Collies: An end result of lymphocytic pancreatitis Veterinary Pathology 36:530-541, 1999. Pubmed reference: 10568434 . |
| 1998 |
Wiberg,M.E.,Lautala,H.M.,Westermarck,E.: :
Response to long-term enzyme replacement treatment in dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 213:86 ff., 1998. |
| 1997 |
Leidinger,E.: :
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs and cats [German] Wiener Tierarztliche Monatsschrift 84:355-358, 1997. |
| 1996 |
Spillmann,T.: :
Diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs - advantages and disadvantages of laboratory methods for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatic diseases [German] Kleintierpraxis 41:653 ff., 1996. |
| 1995 |
Westermarck,E.,Junttila,J.T.,Wiberg,M.E.: :
Role of low dietary fat in the treatment of dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency American Journal of Veterinary Research 56:600-605, 1995. Pubmed reference: 7661454 . |
| 1994 |
Boari,A.,Williams,D.A.,Famiglibergamini,P.: :
Observations on Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in a Family of English Setter Dogs Journal of Small Animal Practice 35:247-250, 1994. |
| 1993 |
Batt,R.M.: :
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 23:595-608, 1993. Pubmed reference: 8503162 . |
| 1993 |
Westermarck,E.,Batt,R.M.,Vaillant,C.,Wiberg,M.: :
Sequential Study of Pancreatic Structure and Function During Development of Pancreatic Acinar Atrophy in a German Shepherd Dog American Journal of Veterinary Research 54:1088-1094, 1993. Pubmed reference: 8368604 . |
| 1991 |
Meister,R.,Berger,I.,Schwille,P.O.,Gebhardt,C.: :
Maximal stimulation of pancreatic islet B-cells, and A-cell response to arginine, in dogs with longterm pancreatic acinar atrophy. Eur J Surg 157:333-40, 1991. Pubmed reference: 1678647 . |
| 1990 |
Meister,R.H.,Berger,I.H.,Schwille,P.O.: :
Cholecystokinin and glucose-induced insulinaemia in dogs with and without pancreatic acinar atrophy. J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 28:379-90, 1990. Pubmed reference: 2212955 . |
| 1989 |
Raiha,M.,Westermarck,E.: :
The Signs of Pancreatic Degenerative Atrophy in Dogs and the Role of External Factors in the Etiology of the Disease Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 30:447-452, 1989. Pubmed reference: 2640782 . |
| 1989 |
Westermarck,E.,Pamilo,P.,Wiberg,M.: :
Pancreatic Degenerative Atrophy in the Collie Breed - A Hereditary Disease Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A-Animal Physiology Pathology and Clinical Veterinary Medicine-Zentralblatt fur Veterinarmedizin Reihe A 36:549-554, 1989. |
| 1983 |
Rogers,W.A.,O'Dorisio,T.M.,Johnson,S.E.,Cataland,S.,Stradley,R.P.,Sherding,R.G.: :
Postprandial release of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and pancreatic polypeptide in dogs with pancreatic acinar atrophy. Correction of blunted GIP response by addition of pancreatic enzymes to a meal. Dig Dis Sci 28:345-9, 1983. Pubmed reference: 6831998 . |