( E.P.I. ) EXOCRINE PANCREATIC INSUFICIENCY ( E.P.I. )

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Disclaimer: WE ARE NOT SPEAKING FOR THE CHOW CHOW BREED OR THE KENNEL CLUB - THIS INFORMATION IS HERE FOR OWNER AND BREEDER BENEFITS ALONE

Prevention: There is no known means of prevention of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency other than removing current sufferers from any and all breeding programs.

Diagnosis is via symptoms as well as a blood related cTLi test. 

This test will diagnose E.P.I. within that particular dog only and once identified as a sufferer that parent MUST be removed from any and all breeding programs.

The cTLi test is “scored” and range between 0 and 35.

ONLY when a test result is BELOW 2.5 can a diagnosis of E.P.I. be made.

When the score is between 2.5 and 5.0 then further investigations MUST be carried out as this could point towards other conditions of the pancreas.

A score between 5.01 and 35.0 is considered “normal”. 

Obviously a lower score must be re tested in three months at least or as advised by your veterinary surgeon.

The cTLi test, will identify current sufferers only and is STILL no guarantee that offspring will be affected. 

TO DATE: THERE IS NO WAY TO TEST FOR THIS CONDITION THROUGH DNA ANALYSIS BEFORE MATINGS OCCUR. 

AT THIS PRESENT TIME THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO AS BREEDERS TO AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION MANIFESTING ITSELF WITHIN A PUPPY IS THROUGH IDENTIFYING PARENTAL SUFFERERS WITH THE cTLi TEST AND REFRAINING FROM INCLUDING THAT DOG WITHIN ANY BREEDING PROGRAMS.

AS A “RECOMMENDATION ONLY” WHEN BUYING A PUPPY/DOG OF ANY BREED;

ALWAYS ENQUIRE WITH THE BREEDER FOR YOUR PUPPY’S PARENTS cTLi SCORES.

THE KNOWN FACTS........

1. E.P.I. can indeed affect Chow Chows as well as other pedigree breeds and crossbreeds.

2. E.P.I. in chows was brought to the attention of the dog breeding governing bodies as far back as 1982

3. E.P.I. was “discussed” and advertised by the Chow Chow Club in 1992/3 in their own published newsletter.

4. There is NO evidence to suggest that E.P.I. has EVER been FULLY addressed or updated by the Chow Chow breeders
IN THE U.K.

5. A BLOOD TEST HAS BEEN AVAILABLE HERE IN THE UK SINCE 1983 TO DETERMINE SUFFERS

6. If a sufferer is identified by this cTLi test they can continue to live a “relatively” normal life,
with the recommended therapies and guidelines from PROFESSIONAL bodies within the veterinary fields.

7. If a sufferer is identified by this cTLi test then the dog can be, and SHOULD BE removed from ANY breeding programs

8. E.P.I. HAS DEFINITE HEREDITARY IMPLICATIONS TO OFFSPRING.

9. With the cTLi test a history can be amassed by the breeder on their dogs within breeding programs as well as their pets.

10. E.P.I. can manifest itself in a dog at any age median.

12. E.P.I. causes unnecessary suffering to ANY dog as well as the owners.

13. Treatment for E.P.I. is expensive and a lot of owners have had no option but to euthanise their pets.

14. Health Insurance on Chows MUST be essentially recommended to ALL owners by ALL breeders.

The cTLi test cost varies but seem to start at £26.00 upwards. 

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NO MATTER WHO THE BREEDER IS, WHAT CLUB THEY BELONG TO, WHAT POSITION THEY HOLD WITHIN THE CHOW CHOW BREED COUNCIL OR HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN BREEDING, E.P.I. MUST BE ADDRESSED CONTINUALLY AND FINDINGS MADE PUBLIC FOR BREEDERS AND OWNERS ALIKE.

INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE SHARED AND MADE PUBLIC ONCE AND FOR ALL! THIS IS DEFINITELY “GOOD FOR THE BREED”

“PERHAPS” as some breeders will attest to: THIS IS A DISEASE A BREEDER HAS LIMITED CONTROL OVER. THERE IS NO DNA TESTING - YET - TO IDENTIFY CARRIERS yet the cTLi test will identify current sufferers and they can and should be removed from any and all breeding programs

Cases will still occur for many generations but will be MUCH less in number.

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1. There is no excuse for breeders these days in not finding this information out for themselves without the need for relying on the K.C. TO TELL THEM WHAT TESTING TO HAVE DONE. 

2. At present the K.C. ONLY recommend hip scoring and PRA Testing. 

3. Three monthly testing is the minimum a responsible breeder and owner can do for their chows. 

4. There’s nothing to be gained from more frequent testing, E.P.I. is not a condition that fluctuates.

Breeders can take the initiative and improve on the health issues within chows here in the U.K. They can then “inform” the K.C. of their findings with test results. They can send off blind DNA samples to universities around the globe to aid in E.P.I. research. That costs nothing more than a stamp and an envelope. 

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WHAT CAN BREEDERS AND OWNERS DO?

The Texas A & M Institute advise that breeders/owners can build a history of pancreatic activities and failures through cTLi test history on their chows/dogs whether in breeding programs or not. 

A dog (any breed) can develop E.P.I. at any stage of it’s life.

A history of testing can be an invaluable asset to ANY breeder, owner and research facility. It would ensure no dogs affected by E.P.I. will be mated to another in a similar situation. It will aid the breeder in “keeping an eye” on their dogs.

Owners can have regular cTLi testing on their chow/dog to ensure treatment is NOT necessary and thus PREVENT ANY unnecessary suffering.

FACT: E.P.I. AFFECTS CHOW CHOWS. IT IS WITHIN THE CHOW CHOW BREED AND HAS BEEN
HIGHLIGHTED AS FAR BACK AS 1982

FACT: BREEDERS DO NOT NEED THE PERMISSION OR GUIDANCE OF THE K.C., BREED COUNCIL OR BREED CLUBS TO UNDERTAKE PANCREATIC TESTING ON THEIR BREEDING CHOWS AND PETS.

 ACTING UNDER THEIR OWN INITIATIVES WILL PRODUCE RESULTS FAVOURABLE TO THAT BREEDER INSTEAD OF HIDING BEHIND THE EXCUSE “THE KENNEL CLUB DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS TESTING”. 

FACT: THE cTLi TEST HAS BEEN READILY AVAILABLE AND RECOGNISED HERE IN THE U.K. SINCE 1983!!!!!

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IF THIS DISEASE IS TO BE “MANAGED” FROM THE BREED THEN RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT DEFINITIVE DNA TESTING, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE IT ALONG WITH REMOVING PROVEN SUFFERERS AND PARENTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED A PUPPY PROVEN TO SUFFER WITH E.P.I.