Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs and cats: online support for veterinarians and owners.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Kennedy, Olesia C & Williams, David A
- Affiliation:
- epi4dogs · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Pet owners often look for information online about their pets, both before and after visiting the vet. While some of this information can be misleading, there are also many helpful resources available. For pets with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), a condition where the pancreas doesn't produce enough enzymes for digestion, there are supportive online communities that offer advice and encouragement, as well as help with research and fundraising. This can be especially beneficial for young dogs affected by EPI, as they may need treatment for many years. The article suggests that veterinarians can guide pet owners to reliable websites to help them manage this condition effectively.
Abstract
Pet owners increasingly refer to online sources before, during, and after seeking veterinary advice for their pets. Although some online information is inaccurate or unhelpful, there is much useful material, and we believe much is to be gained by directing owners to online material that supports and complements veterinary advice. With regard to managing veterinary patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), there is an excellent online community that not only offers moral support and practical advice, but also facilitates clinical research and fundraising. For genetic diseases like canine EPI that affect primarily young animals, but for which a decade or more of treatment can reasonably be expected, online support can greatly facilitate optimal lifelong management. In this article we provide some information that may be of value when veterinarians consider which web sites to recommend to their clients managing patients with EPI.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23148852/