Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dog: Case report

Abstract

The pancreas is a mixed gland with endocrine and exocrine functions, responsible for the digestion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins through enzymes and glycemic control, via insulin and glucagon hormones. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a disease that occurs due to a deficiency in production of digestive enzymes. In dogs, it manifests when there is a 90% reduction in lipase production due to the progressive and irreversible loss of acinar tissue, causing poor digestion and absorption. The present work aims to report a case of EPI in a canine, emphasizing the clinical signs, diagnostic methods and instituted therapy. A male dog, SRD aged one and a half years, with a history of progressive weight loss for 1 month, coprophagia, steatorrhea, increased fecal volume and frequency of defecation, was treated at the University Vila Velha Veterinary Hospital. As the main differential diagnosis, EPI was suspected and, for that, the dosage of canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) and serum cobalamin dosage were performed. The results were consistent with the initial suspicion of EPI, as they showed a low dose of cTLI and cobalamin. The treatment instituted was with pancreatin powder five grams at each meal and application of Vitamin B12 subcutaneously. The patient responded well to the treatment with weight gain, normorexia and normochesia. It is concluded that the marked signs together with a cTLI assessment were founded to make the definitive diagnosis and the instituted therapy was effective for the remission of the clinical signs.