Feeding raw beef or lamb pancreas is another option, but the risks associated with handling and eating raw animal products generally limit their use to specific situations. Many cats with EPI also have a small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and require antibiotic therapy and vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation.
What can I give my Cat for pancreatic insufficiency?
Alternatively, eating raw pancreas has been shown to increase pancreatic enzyme levels. This may be used in cats with extreme aversions to supplemented enzymes. Cats with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency will also need to be supplemented with vitamin B12 since they are unable to absorb appropriate amounts of this important vitamin from their food.
What does epi stand for in cats?
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) in Cats. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) develops when the pancreas fails to produce enough digestive enzymes.
Do you endorse any brands of Epi food?
I do not endorse any brands of food. These foods were passed along from Enzyme Diane clients that are dealing with EPI in their cats. As with dogs each cat will respond differently to each food and you should discuss with your veterinarian what would be best for your pet.
What to do if your cat has epi?
EPI is seen most commonly in older cats secondary to chronic pancreatitis (pancreatic inflammation). Veterinary care includes diagnostic tests and subsequent treatment recommendations. Diagnostic tests are needed to identify EPI and exclude other diseases. Your veterinarian will take a complete history and perform a thorough physical examination.
What cat food is best for cats with pancreatitis?
The 11 Best Cat Foods for PancreatitisRoyal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein Cat Food. ... Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Can Cat Food. ... Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe Cat Food. ... Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Lamb Cat Food. ... Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Canned Cat Food.More items...•
What foods should you avoid with EPI?
Avoid fried, creamy, or cheesy foods. You'll also want to avoid trans fat, a hydrogenated oil and particularly unhealthy fat that's often found in packaged food, says Massey, and steer clear of alcohol. While it may take some planning, it's possible to eat a healthy, satisfying diet.
How long can a cat live with EPI?
The ages of cats with EPI ranged from 3 months to 18.8 years, with a median of 7.7 years. “This finding is important because EPI has been traditionally considered a disease of middle-aged to older cats,” write the authors.
Are eggs good for EPI?
Go for lean proteins, like chicken or turkey breasts, egg whites, or tuna packed in water. This will provide your body with the fuel it needs while keeping your meals low in fat. Avoid too much fiber. Though it's usually part of a healthy diet, fiber can keep your pancreatic enzymes from digesting fat as well.
Do probiotics help with EPI?
Probiotics may be an especially good idea if you've been taking antibiotics, as they may help replenish the beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract that the antibiotics may have killed off along with the harmful bacteria that caused the infection.
What is a natural treatment for EPI?
According to StatPearls, optimal management and treatment for EPI should include eating a healthy diet that's as close to normal as possible (which includes healthy fats rather than eliminating all fats, which used to be the recommendation) and being screened regularly to avoid nutritional deficiencies (such as by ...
How long does it take for pancreatic enzymes to work in cats?
Preincubation of the food with pancreatic enzymes or supplementation with bile salts are not necessary. Most cats respond quite rapidly to enzyme replacement therapy and show resolution of loose stools within 3–4 days.
Can you reverse pancreatitis in cats?
With the cause of the disease nearly impossible to determine, it can be difficult to choose the best treatment plan. However, with proper care and management, pancreatitis in cats can be treated and maybe even reversed. Many pet owners have seen their pets get back to full health after suffering from pancreatitis.
Should I euthanize my cat with pancreatitis?
It may be time to euthanize your cat with pancreatitis if they are experiencing any of the complications: Not responding to aggressive veterinary care. Severe liver damage. Significant weight loss.
Are mashed potatoes good for pancreatitis?
While the plain potato makes a healthy choice when you have pancreatitis, other types of potatoes may not. French fries, for example, contain up to 10 g of fat per serving. Regular potato chips are also high in fat and should be avoided. You may also want to be careful about mashed potatoes and scalloped potatoes.
What foods irritate the pancreas?
There are a few things you must completely avoid, such as alcohol and fried/greasy/high fat foods (such as creamy sauces, fast food, full fat meat and dairy, and anything fried). These foods can cause your pancreas to release more enzymes at once than it normally would, leading to an attack.
Can EPI be managed with diet?
People with these conditions often need to eat a special diet, but EPI may require further dietary changes. Alongside treatment with nutrition supplements and enzyme replacement therapy, dietary changes can help manage EPI.
What foods increase pancreatic enzymes?
Digestive enzymes can be obtained from supplements or naturally through foods. Foods that contain natural digestive enzymes include pineapples, papayas, mangoes, honey, bananas, avocados, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, kiwifruit and ginger.
Can pancreatic insufficiency be reversed?
There's no cure for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), a chronic condition characterized by an inability to digest certain nutrients, especially fat. But EPI can be managed with a type of medication called pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), which consists of enzymes that aid digestion.
Do EPI dogs need grain free food?
Absolutely not. Some do very well on grain, but when there is difficulty getting an EPI dog's condition under good control…. usually switching to a low fiber food, found in the grain free food section, greatly improves the situation.
Does EPI affect blood sugar?
Epinephrine causes a prompt increase in blood glucose concentration in the postabsorptive state. This effect is mediated by a transient increase in hepatic glucose production and an inhibition of glucose disposal by insulin-dependent tissues.
How much pancreatin 6x powder should I give my dog?
Pancreatin 6x powder: 1/8 tsp. incubated in 1 Tbsp. canned food then store in frig for use throughout day. I Feed 1/2 can per feeding. Halfway through meal, give 1 tsp. of incubated enzyme. This must be finger fed as she will never eat the enzyme treated food on her own. Also on B-12 injection regimen.
How much enzymes does Lila's mom give her?
Lila’s mom gives her 1/4 tsp enzymes (try to feed her 3 wet meals a day if I can, plus I leave a dish of dry out all the time (with powder mixed in of course.) I have to let it set at least 20 minutes, or it seems to irritate her mouth. Lila also gets 1/2 tablet folic acid in one of her wet meals every day, and once a month she gets a B12 injection.
What is an EPI in cats?
Feline Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a disorder in which the pancreas does not produce an adequate amount of digestive enzymes. This deficiency results in maldigestion (poor digestion) and malabsorption (poor absorption). EPI is rare in cats.
Why do cats get EPI?
EPI is seen most commonly in older cats secondary to chronic pancreatitis (pancreatic inflammation).
How to treat exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cats?
Treatment often is administered on an outpatient basis and may include one or more of the following: Dietary modification. Pancreatic enzyme replacement. Concurrent antibiotic therapy.
What tests are needed to diagnose EPI?
Diagnostic tests are needed to identify EPI and exclude other diseases. Your veterinarian will take a complete history and perform a thorough physical examination. A thorough knowledge of the history and clinical signs is very important in the diagnosis of EPI. Tests may include:
How to help a cat with diarrhea?
Administer any medications that your veterinarian has prescribed. Feed your cat as directed by your veterinarian. Watch your cat carefully for resolution of symptoms, especially resolution of diarrhea and gain in body weight. Contact your veterinarian if improvement is not observed over the first few weeks.
How to diagnose pancreatic insufficiency in cats?
Diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in your cat will begin with a thorough physical exam by your veterinarian. Given the way the symptoms have commonalities with other diseases, your veterinarian will perform a differential diagnosis. A differential diagnosis is a type of procedure in which a veterinarian rules out conditions with similar symptoms, rather than using symptoms to identify one particular condition. It will be important to provide your vet with a complete list of symptoms as well as their approximate date of onset and whether they have remained stable or have changed over time.
Why is it important to reduce fat intake in cats?
It will be particularly important to reduce fat intake, since fat is typically highly dependent on pancreatic enzymes for appropriate absorption. Long-term, cats who suffer from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency suffer no loss of lifespan or quality of life as a result of their condition.
What happens if a cat has an exocrine pancreas?
In cats suffering from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, the pancreas fails to produce sufficient amounts of digestive enzymes. This starts off a chain reaction of poor nutrient absorption and poor digestion of food that can have a significant impact on the health of your cat if left untreated for a long period of time.
Can pancreatic enzymes be supplemented?
Thank you for your email. The dose of pancreatic enzyme supplementation can vary depending on the animal, and they may need more supplementation. It seems they are headed in a positive direction, and it would be a good idea to give your veterinarian a call, describe what is happening with them, and see where they are as far as dosages for the enzymes. I hope that they continue to do well.
Can cats eat enzymes?
Digestive enzymes typically come in powdered form and some cats may be unwilling to eat the supplement. Owners should work with their vets to identify appropriate soft foods to mix with the enzymes. Alternatively, eating raw pancreas has been shown to increase pancreatic enzyme levels.
Can cats take vitamin B12?
This may be used in cats with extreme aversions to supplemented enzymes. Cats with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency will also need to be supplemented with vitamin B12 since they are unable to absorb appropriate amounts of this important vitamin from their food. Vitamin B12 can be administered on a routine basis with shots given beneath the skin.
How do you know if your cat has EPI?
Symptoms of EPI are not specific to any one thing. The kitty may or may not have a ravenous appetite, vomit, or it may get to a point where it doesn’t want to eat; kitty may have foul smelling yellow diarrhea or dry, chalky, crumbly stool and will lose weight, gradually or rather quickly. The fur may look unkept.
Why does my cat die from EPI?
If left untreated, a cat with EPI will literally starve to death despite how much food is consumed because the food passes though the system undigested. The most common cause for pancreatic insufficiency in cats is chronic inflammation of the pancreas.
Can a cat have EPI?
The good news is that once your cat is treated with the freeze-dried pancreatic enzymes properly administered they can have a normal life. Rarely, in my opinion, does EPI exist alone since it is felt the cause is from an inflamed pancreas; generally pain and inflammation (possible IBD and/or pancreatitis) are accompanying factors requiring a steroid, temporarily, or depending on the severity of the condition, may be required for life. Please be aware that when you schedule this test, a 12-hour fast is required. The blood is sent to Texas A&M lab and was the sole lab performing the TLI portion (for EPI) of the test for years. While I believe there are some other labs that might now be doing the test, I prefer to have it done by Texas A&M. If your cat doesn’t have EPI, you can now move forward in looking for the cause of the problem. There are numerous health issues that can cause some or all of these conditions. Included at the bottom of this page are links explaining these tests individually or as a group, and information on pancreatitis because of the involvement of the pancreas with EPI.
Can EPI cause diarrhea in cats?
While that may be true, as stated above and may be better stated in newer articles, a cat with EPI may have gradual or sudden loss of weight, ravenous or decreased appetite, diarrhea which may be yellow in color (very foul odor) and using the box numerous times during the day.
Do cats lose weight when they eat enzymes?
Once your cat is getting the proper amount of enzymes in the food, they should gain some, if not all of the weight lost. Do not be discouraged as it may take time for everything to “fall” into place.
Do you repeat TLI if your cat has EPI?
If your kitty has EPI and receiving the pancreatic enzymes, it is not necessary to repeat the TLI as the original result will be accurate even with kitty receiving the powder and will not change.) Only repeat if your kitty did not have EPI according to a prior test result and you are rechecking.
What causes EPI in German Shepherds?
1. The most common cause of EPI in German Shepherds, Rough Collies, and Eurasian breeds is atrophy of the acinar cells of the pancreas
What is the effect of EPI on the pancreas?
This decreases the body’s ability to digest food, and in turn, reduces the amount of nutrition able to be absorbed.
When should you contact a veterinarian?
If you feel that your dog or cat is eating voraciously but not gaining weight or losing weight, if your pet has any vomiting, diarrhea, change in stool color, or change in appetite, please see your vet as soon as possible. Pets with untreated EPI will become extremely sick and can starve and die, even while being fed.
How to treat a dog with a swollen pancreas?
Treatment is chronic/lifelong. Your vet will prescribe your pet a pancreatic digestive enzyme powder (or tablet/capsule) to mix into your pet’s meals daily. Your vet should prescribe the amount of enzyme and monitor progress until the lowest amount needed to maintain a healthy pet has been ascertained. This may take weeks to months, depending on each animal and their condition when first presented to the vet. You may also discuss feeding raw pancreas as an alternative to enzyme powders with your vet. Sadly, many animals may have this condition and it goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for some time before treating it properly.
What is the pancreatic insufficiency in dogs?
The pancreas is an organ that has many functions, including producing enzymes to help digest food from what is called the ‘exocrine’ portion of the pancreas (there is also an ‘endocrine’ portion). EPI is a syndrome where the pancreas does not produce or secrete enough of these enzymes.
Can pancreatitis cause EPI in cats?
Chronic pancreatitis can lead to EPI in other dog breeds and cats. Animals with EPI due to chronic pancreatitis may also have diabetes mellitus, as insulin is also made by the pancreas. 3. Much less commonly, in both dogs and cats, masses/tumors of the pancreas or outside of the pancreas that obstruct the pancreatic duct can lead to EPI.
Can elastase be found in dogs stool?
There is also a test for the presence of a pancreatic enzyme called elastase in the stool. However, this can be unreliable to diagnose EPI in dogs with chronic or co-existing gastrointestinal disease.
What is the best diet for cats?
The best diet and percentage of fats and carbs used will depend on the individual cat. Commercial kibble, canned, raw, home-prepared or hydrolyzed/prescription diets may be used.
What are the conditions that cats with EPI have?
Cats with EPI often have concurrent conditions such as IBD, Diabetes, Pancreatitis, or Hepatic Lipidosis.
How long does it take for B12 to work in cats?
B12: Almost all cats with EPI have decreased vitamin B12 levels. High dose oral B12 may be administered. Previously, only subcutaneous injection of 250µg cyanocobalamin (B12) serum per injection depending on weight, given weekly for 6 weeks. Retest 30 days after last injectable dose was given. Current research now suggests oral B12 daily works as well. Re-test after 6 weeks and 7 days after last oral dose. When B12 arises to normal range, oral or injected B12 should still be continued for life at a maintenance dose.
What is the F TLI test for cats?
A trypsin-like immunoreactivity ( f TLI) blood test shows the cat’s ability to produce the needed digestive enzymes. Values equal to or below 8.0 are diagnostic for EPI. Values between 8.1 and 11.9 may or may not be pre-EPI (referred to as “sEPI” subclinical EPI). Retest in a month/+. A cat must be food-fasted at least 12 hours prior to the blood test. It is cost efficient to run the B12 blood test at the same time as the f TLI test. Veterinarians may call the TAMU GI lab: 1-979-862-2861 for an EPI consultation.
How long do you have to fast before a blood test for cats?
A cat must be food-fasted at least 12 hours prior to the blood test. It is cost efficient to run the B12 blood test at the same time as the f TLI test. Veterinarians may call the TAMU GI lab: 1-979-862-2861 for an EPI consultation.
Why is my cat having EPI?
The most common cause of EPI in cats is chronic pancreatitis. Lesser causes are pancreatic acinar atrophy, aplasia or hypoplasia. However there are other conditions, not true EPI, that have the same clinical signs and require the same treatment as EPI such as a pancreatic duct obstruction, a pancreatic fluke infestation, abdominal surgery, and lack of intestinal enteropeptidase (needed to activate enzymes).
What enzymes should be used for EPI?
Enzymes: Powdered porcine enzymes (mos t reliable), or raw pancreas should be used with every meal.
What to do if my cat refuses to eat?
If the cat refuses to eat anything at all, it’s time for a feeding tube. I use nasogastric tubes (threaded through the nose and into the esophagus or stomach) when I think supplementary feeding will be needed for only or a few days, but esophagostomy tubes (surgically inserted into the esophagus) are a better long term solution. One of the benefits of an esophagostomy tube is that we can feed canned food blended with a little water through it. So even if a cat doesn’t want to eat a diet with the characteristics I mentioned above, we now have a low stress way of getting it into her.
What is the treatment for pancreatitis in cats?
Treatment for pancreatitis involves fluid therapy, pain relief, medications to control nausea and vomiting, antibiotics, sometimes plasma transfusions, and perhaps most importantly, getting the cat to eat again. Cats that stop eating for any reason are at high risk for a potentially life-threatening disease called hepatic lipidosis.
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Is it better to eat the wrong diet or the right diet for cats?
The adage, “It’s better to eat some of the wrong diet than none of the right diet” certainly applies to feline pancreatitis. If a cat will only eat a food that I would normally avoid, she can have it until she’s feeling better and then we have the option of making a gradual shift.
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Note: PetMD isn’t able to respond to pet health questions or to offer veterinary advice.
Can cats have pancreatitis?
When dogs develop pancreatitis, it is standard protocol to hold them off food until their vomiting subsides and then to begin refeeding with a low fat diet. This doesn’t hold true for cats, however. Vomiting isn’t such a big problem in cats with pancreatitis, and research has not shown a benefit to low fat foods.
