• EPI :Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
• LBID :Lower bowel inflammatory disease
• Megaesophagus
  

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}

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.

• 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 {http://www.caninemegaesophagus.org/Genetic_Predisposition.html}