Just wondering has any one here ever lost a beloved pet to EPI ? If there are any new research information on this I would appreciate it.

When I lived in Florida my constant companion GSD Kato developed this dreaded disease. I was blessed to have Florida University's Vet School only thirty-nine miles from my house. A doctor Burrows (no relation) is the head of gastroenterology there. He was very helpful, but it did not ease the pain when my Kato died from complications from this disease. We gave him the ground up pig pancreas three times a day, but that did not work. At that time there were no test to even determine if your dog would come down with this. Has there been any test developed as yet for this?

Both of Kato's parents were from Germany and the disease did not show up until he was five years old. The breeders I got Kato from, were helpful, because I wanted to know if any of the littermates developed this as well, they were all fine. They offered to help me get another GSD but at the time I just could not do that. Now I have a nice GS bitch 3 years old, spayed and a great GS male 2 years old. I have to tell you I love them very much. And hope that I can spend my life <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> time with the both them.

I am so sorry for your loss of Kato.

There is a test now to determine EPI, it is called the TLI test, trypsin-like immunoreactivity.

Did Kato have a prior event to the EPI occuring? In dogs under 2 it is genetic, but with older dogs it is usually brought on by an attack of pancreatitis etc. Was Kato sick prior to this happening? Or was this a lifelong issue that only was diagnosed at 5?

The AKC is working on isolating the gene for this - and hopefully breeders will screen for it. It is autosomal recessive so both the sire and dam carry it - and may not show signs. And not all pups in a litter would have it. I have a dog of my own with EPI, and one of my foster GSDs has it as well, more and more GSDs are showing up in rescue for this reason - people do not want to pay for treatment, and the breeders will not take them back, and if they will, will euth.

Dear Laureen,

Thank you for your kind words concerning my Kato, No Laureen, he was a very healthy dog as a matter of fact, never ill.

There were no symptoms untill he was five years old.

I had him out for our walk, when he had to releive himself and I noticed the consistancy of his stool. I took him to my vet the next day along with a stool sample. He told me he did not like the looks of it and said we needed to go to the university. He made the appointment for us the next morning. Dr. Burrows did a lot of test and ask if I would leave Kato ther over night. I could not do that, I told him that Kato was always with me, and when I was in a wheel-chair for a year he just never left my side. I just could not traumatize him, he would not have understood a hospital environment. Any way I told him no matter what time he needed us there I would be there. So Kato and I got a motel room there in Gainsville and I had to take him back at 7:00 the next morning for some more test.

It actually took a couple of days for all the results to come in as they had to send some of them of to another lab.

But even with the treatment, he continued to loose weight at a very rapid rate. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Bless you for doing what you do with your foster dog. How long has your dog had EPI? And is the standard treatment still the pig pancreas? Or have they discovered new?

The greatest breakthrough will be when it is totally eradicated.