It was the latter who made Willie's diagnosis. The biopsies taken showed only mild intestinal inflammation, not enough to account for Willie's weight loss and diarrhea. Fortunately, the specialist ran a blood test called a TLI, and found the answer we had been seeking. Dogs with EPI have a deficiency in the levels of digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas. Food eaten by the dog is digested incompletely, essentially creating a malnutrition type situation.
Weight loss occurs, along with chronic diarrhea.
The good news for Willie is that EPI can be treated quite successfully in most cases with pancreatic enzyme replacement. The medication is a powder that is mixed in with the food on a daily basis. EPI is usually seen in young adult German Shepherds. Willie's case is the first time I have seen exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in another breed. This illustrates how a veterinarian should continue to learn and grow as a clinician.