Ekko Canyon

Embrace Your Dog's Individuality

EPI

EPI is an acronym for Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency. The pancreas has a few functions and consists of 2 "parts". The Endocrine part and the exocrine part.

 

The Endocrine part secretes insulin and glucagon, needed for the metabolism of carbohydrates. The Exocrine part secretes all sorts of enzymes essential for the break down and ultimate absorption of food.

Dogs that have EPI are essentially unable to break down food small enough for the body to absorb. So food essentially passes through them. These dogs begin to lose weight at an alarming right, despite having unbelievable appetites. Not to get too graphic, but stool for dogs that have EPI tends to be yellow or orange in color, and a bit slimy.

 

Some research suggests that EPI dogs also tend to have allergies, although there is no solid data at the moment. The thought is that the body sees these large particles of food as an invader and starts to try and fight it off. Interesting theory, but again, there is no solid data at the moment.

EPI dogs also tend to be more susceptible to SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) and low B-12 levels.

Diagnosis

Enzymes

To find out if your dog has EPI, you must have a TLI test performed by your veterinarian. Please note, it's important to fast your dog from food for at least 12 hours before the test. You can test for SIBO at the same time by asking for a Folate test, and you can test for low B-12 by asking for a Cobalamin test.

Treatment

Treating for EPI is not difficult but "can" get expensive. It will require that you add digestive enzymes to the food, wet the food, mix thoroughly, and allow to sit for 20-30 minutes. I have found that waiting 4x0 minutes works best for Ekko, and I continue to mix the food every 10 minutes while we wait.

The traditional enzymes given are animal based, usually pork. Well, if your dog is allergic to many animal proteins (like Ekko) this can be a problem. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE! PLEASE DO NOT BELIEVE ANYONE THAT TELLS YOU PLANT-BASED ENZYMES DO NOT WORK ALONE! I have living proof that they can!

 

A word about enzymes....Enzymes are catalysts to reactions. In other words, they make a reaction start. It doesn't matter what the source of the enzyme is as all enzymes catalyze a reaction. For dogs with EPI, the reaction is to break down food. So digestive enzymes aid in the break down of food. That's why it's important to allow the enzymes to sit with the food for a period of time. You will notice the food turning to mush. That's because the enzymes are doing their job, breaking down the food. The "strength" of an enzyme is really the speed in which it starts the reaction. An enzyme that is not as "strong" merely means that it will take longer for the food to break down. So you may end up having to let the food sit for longer than 30 minutes.

 

The difference with plant and animal based enzymes is really the PH in which they can continue to work. Animal based enzymes work well in a PH of about 7 (which is neutral). Plant based enzymes, however, work well in a PH range of 2-9 (acidic through basic). Considering the fact that acids are in the stomach to aid in the break down of food, plant based enzymes are very important for dogs with EPI. These enzymes can survive the PH of the stomach and continue on into the small intestine. I'm not sure where people got the information that plant based enzymes don't work, but this is not a true statement to say the least. Contact any scientist in the Biology department of any University (like I did) and they will tell you how incorrect that information is. For Ekko, I use a plant based enzyme by a company named Enzymedica. I use the Digest Gold and have found it at a store called "The Vitamin Shoppe". Ekko gets 3 meals a day. I open up the capsule of the enzyme and sprinkle it on his food. I then mix with some water and let it sit for 40 minutes. In 8 months, Ekko has gained back ALL his weight with plant based enzymes alone. He's doing really well!

 

Antibiotics

For SIBO, you will need to treat with antibiotics for at least 30 days. We started with Metronidazole and saw no improvement. I was concerned with using this drug for too long as some dogs will have neurologiccal reactions to this drug with long term use. We switched to Tylosin (or Tylan powder) for 30 days and it worked like a charm. I keep some on-hand in the event Ekko runs into this again. There are many online stores that sell Tylan powder without a prescription. Another successful antibiotic is tetracycline.

B-12 Replacement

For low B-12, the treatment is B-12 shots which can be obtained through your veterinarian.

Probiotics

Probiotics can help strengthen the gut of dogs with digestive problems. Probiotics are good guy bacteria and can help in keeping things running smooth. Lactobacillus is a common one in the gut of dogs.