Is EPI inherited?

Epi4Dogs Foundation Inc.’s mission is the advancement of science and education relating to EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency), yielding useful insights and positive outcomes in better managing EPI in dogs and cats. Our goals are to support and/or collaborate with veterinary EPI research and researchers, and to promote EPI awareness by educating the general public, pet owners, pet organizations, rescue and shelter organizations, veterinary schools and veterinarians.
mary401339
Member
Posts: 2
Country: United States
State: Maine
Pet name: Walker
My name: Mary

Is EPI inherited?

Post by mary401339 » 17 May 2022, 06:38

I have been dealing with EPI for about 10 years with my own dogs and with dogs that come into our rescue organization. In fact, I made my own vet aware of it being a condition that was not exclusive to German Shepherds and other vets as well so testing is done on our rescues if they show the symptoms, avoiding unnecessary tests that are inconclusive.
I was under the impression that it is not an inherited condition. We have seen it in young dogs, older dogs, unrelated dogs. Just recently, our rescue took in 4 retired breeding females. We have received dogs from this breeder in the past. Last year one of the females tested positive for EPI and just this week, 2 of the 4 newly rescued dogs have tested positive and we are testing a third who has symptoms. Any thoughts about this? I find it unusual. They are not directly related. The breed for these cases is Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

User avatar
Jean
Forum Director
Posts: 1707
Location: South Liverpool
Country: United Kingdom - England
Pet name: Kara, lost 10th May 2019
My name: Jean

Re: Is EPI inherited?

Post by Jean » 17 May 2022, 09:37

originally it was thought to be only German Shepherds and rough coated collies, and not considered massive

However over the years it has become apparent that ANY species of dog, cat, horse , or anything else with a pancreas can suffer with it

you might want to read this

https://diabetesindogs.fandom.com/wiki/ ... ufficiency

it is not recommended that you breed from an EPI dog male or female, and it is the $65million dollar question as to whether it is inherited, there is a lot of research going on and Olesia our founder has been involved for many years

Cavaliers are also known to have EPI as a problem
My name is Jean we live in Liverpool in Uk

I am the Forum Director which I am very proud of

My Kara born 21 July 2009 diagnosed with EPI by cTLI test August 2010 TLI = <1...folate 14 Cobalamin 408, shot down to 94, b12 injections every other day

Lowest weight 39 pounds

We used Panzym enzymes, Tylan and Chemeyes b12 capsules

Sadly, on 10th May 2019, we lost her to DM


Jeanx

User avatar
Olesia711
Founder & Research Director
Posts: 3843
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: Is EPI inherited?

Post by Olesia711 » 17 May 2022, 10:04

As Jean stated... that is the 65 million dollar question!

we honestly don't know .... to date they have found "some" indication that genetics are involved, but that may not be the whole story... so we are also looking at environmental causes or something external triggering it... but we are still looking at genetics too.

to best understand what we know to date... go to the EPI Research page: https://epi4dogs.com/epi-research/.... and scroll down towards the bottom, specifically read... even the cat research... it will give you a better understanding of how genetics are involved but something else appears to be going on............:

2010 – EPI Heritability Research
Brief Communication – J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:450–452
Heritability of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in
German Shepherd Dogs

2012 – EPI Genetic Research (German Shepherds)
Current Status of Genetic Studies of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs

2015 – EPI Genetics Research (Corgis) Association of DLA-DQB1 alleles with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in Pembroke Welsh Corgis

2021 (Sept)
Untargeted analysis of the serum metabolome in cats with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

we are getting closer to finding the answer, it's like peeling an onion, layer, by layer. My hope is that we will find an answer soon!!!!!!!!
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

mary401339
Member
Posts: 2
Country: United States
State: Maine
Pet name: Walker
My name: Mary

Re: Is EPI inherited?

Post by mary401339 » 17 May 2022, 12:11

Thank you for your responses. We have a good relationship with the breeder and she was concerned about the girl we took from her last year with the condition. I'll let her know that she may want to consider not breeding any related dogs. The females that we have are already spayed. It is just very unusual to have so many from one place at the same time. Thanks again. Mary

User avatar
Olesia711
Founder & Research Director
Posts: 3843
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: Is EPI inherited?

Post by Olesia711 » 17 May 2022, 13:53

the rule of thumb at this point in time is to NOT breed the same parents to each other if they produced EPI pups... but (for now) they can be bred (with caution) to a different partner.....

Over the years, my take on it is that EPI "appears" to be like high blood pressure.... some members from in the immediate family (same mom & dad) get it really bad, while others may be affected only slightly and yet others don't get it at all...... kind of crazy.

So something is going on... but we just have not found any definitive-across-the-board answers just yet.................
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

User avatar
Montgomery
Member
Posts: 417
Country: Canada
Pet name: Montgomery (I'm a CAT!)
My name: V

Re: Is EPI inherited?

Post by Montgomery » 17 May 2022, 17:24

I was told that in Montgomery's case it was likely hereditary and likely due to inbreeding. I was told that his sister, Marigold, who made it only to nineteen days, likely had it too. His older two half siblings both have digestive problems, though nowhere near as bad.
Montgomery was born 20 March 2012. He eats extra lean ground chicken, lean ground pork and lean ground beef completed with Alnutrin and freeze-dried chicken liver, with hard-cooked egg. He gets two size zero capsules of Enzyme Diane's enzymes at each of his six meals, and a size four capsule of Tylan three times a day. He's a fierce little Spitfire with a roaring Merlin engine.

User avatar
Vanessade
Member
Posts: 9
Country: Canada
Pet name: Finn
My name: Vanessa

Re: Is EPI inherited?

Post by Vanessade » 17 May 2022, 18:48

I have a question, then. My dog has been diagnosed with EPI, just over a month ago. I notified the breeder as she is using his full sister for breeding, different litter but same parents. I’ve heard nothing more from the breeder but she was selling puppies from his sister, a couple of weeks back.
Is there something she/I could or should be doing to alert potential buyers to this?
Finn is a 2yr old GSD. Tested positive for EPI April 2022. Results TLI<1, Cobalamin 321, Folate 28

User avatar
Olesia711
Founder & Research Director
Posts: 3843
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: Is EPI inherited?

Post by Olesia711 » 17 May 2022, 20:44

the best thing to do is just share with the breeder the "signs" of EPI and watch if any of the puppies start to develop them.
Unfortunately with EPI .. as of now... we have no idea who will develop it until AFTER the puppies are born and AFTER if / they show any signs...

There is no way to tell who will develop it.

so just share the following: (the main comments on the EPI Brochure : https://epi4dogs.com/brochures-dogs-and-cats/
Image
Attachments
EPI Brochure.jpg
EPI Brochure.jpg (228.81 KiB) Viewed 947 times
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

User avatar
Montgomery
Member
Posts: 417
Country: Canada
Pet name: Montgomery (I'm a CAT!)
My name: V

Re: Is EPI inherited?

Post by Montgomery » 17 May 2022, 22:29

If the breeder is registered, you should be able to report them to the Canadian Kennel Club, or whoever the authority is where you are.
Montgomery was born 20 March 2012. He eats extra lean ground chicken, lean ground pork and lean ground beef completed with Alnutrin and freeze-dried chicken liver, with hard-cooked egg. He gets two size zero capsules of Enzyme Diane's enzymes at each of his six meals, and a size four capsule of Tylan three times a day. He's a fierce little Spitfire with a roaring Merlin engine.

User avatar
Vanessade
Member
Posts: 9
Country: Canada
Pet name: Finn
My name: Vanessa

Re: Is EPI inherited?

Post by Vanessade » 17 May 2022, 23:38

We got him from a breeder in the USA. I wouldn’t want to blame anyone if there’s no real evidence that EPI is hereditary. He is such a great dog in all other respects. If it is hereditary, that’s another matter. I just wondered what others thought about it.
Finn is a 2yr old GSD. Tested positive for EPI April 2022. Results TLI<1, Cobalamin 321, Folate 28

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 35 guests