About Shiloh Shepherds the library project

EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency also called “Maldigestion”) is the most common cause of digestive enzyme deficiency in dogs is “pancreatic acinar atrophy,” where the pancreas simply is shriveled and useless. This condition seems to have a genetic basis but is not congenital and may develop at any age (though usually shows up before age 4 years).

• EPI {www.marvistavet.com/html/body_exocrine_pancreatic_insufficie.html}
• EPI, What is it? {www.epi-research-fund.com/whatisepi.htm}
• EPI in Dogs, a complete resource on the symptoms, causes, diagnoses, management, breeds at risk and resource links {www.globalspan.net/epi.htm}
• EPI, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency {www.epi4dogs.com}, a great resource for EPI awareness and more

Intussusception (pronounced in-tuh-sus-sep-shun) is used to describe a condition in which one segment of the intestine (the intussusceptum) telescopes or invaginates into the lumen of and adjacent segment of intestine (the intussuscipiens). Intussusceptions may occur at any location in the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach to the large intestine, however, most commonly the bowel segments involved are the jejunum (in the middle of the small intestine) or the ileocecocolic junction (where the small intestine joins the large intestine or colon.  Generally the intussusceptum is a more proximal portion of bowel (i.e. closer to the mouth) which telescopes into a more distal (closer to the anus) segment. This pattern follows the normal direction of peristalsis. The reverse, however, is occasionally found.

• learn more ... ACVS Intussusception {http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/SmallAnimalTopics/Intussusception/} 
• Ezine Articles {http://ezinearticles.com/?Canine-Health---Dog-Intussusception&id=998433}
• Intussusception of the Intestines in Dogs {http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2090&aid=307}

Lower bowel inflammatory disease (LBID), sometimes referred to as colitis, describes a group of conditions in which the large bowel (colon) becomes chronically-inflamed and thickened preventing it from functioning normally.

• Gastrointestinal Disorders in the GSD and Several Other Breeds by Fred Lanting {www.videxgsd.com/gastrointestinal.htm}

Megaesophagus (MegaE). Mega ("enlarged") esophagus is actually a collective term used to describe several esophageal disorders & malformations, but yes, it does mean enlarged. As well as the "mega" enlargement (dilation), the esophagus typically is lacking normal peristaltic ("waves of muscular contraction") function, thus becoming an inert tube, unable to propel ("motility disorder") food to the stomach. In essence, the esophagus is paralyzed ("vagal afferent innervation") to a varying degree. Food and/or liquid can thus remain in the esophagus-- sometimes minutes, sometimes hours, or yes -- even days. Megaesophagus is classified as a gastrointestinal (alimentary sys./digestive tract) disorder, and often has neuromuscular and respiratory 'linkage'. Mega-E may also be a degenerative neural condition, but this is not always the case. It is a clinical disorder (disease) that can be, *but is not always*, progressive in nature.

• Megaosophagus  Explained {http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_megaesophagus.html}
• Megaesophagus {www.upei.ca/~cidd/Diseases/GI%20disorders/megaesophagus.htm}
• Canine Digestive Tract Disorders, by Fred Lanting {http://siriusdog.com/articles/torsion-dog-megaesophagus.htm}
• Canine Megaesophagus, Genetic Predisposition {www.caninemegaesophagus.org/Genetic_Predisposition.html}

Additional Reference Articles:

• Canine Digestive Tract Disorders In Several Breeds, by Fred Lanting {www.fredlanting.org} :: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4