Treatment for Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is a treatable disease.

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is a disease affecting the pancreas of dogs. If not treated, the disease causes your dog to slowly starve to death. The disease is usually treatable with the assistance of your veterinarian. Most treatments will involve feeding your dog pancreas enzyme supplements or raw pancreas derived from other animals. Though there are not many treatments, they are effective.

What is Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency?

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency prevents your dog from getting vital nutrients from his food.

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) is a disease that develops when your dog's pancreas stops producing important enzymes. Enzymes are chemicals that extract important nutrients, proteins and fats from your dog's food. Without these enzymes, the nutrients your dog needs to survive are not released into the blood stream. Instead, they stay in his stomach and intestines and are passed out of his body in his feces. Over time, this pancreatic disease will starve your dog to death.

Causes and Symptoms of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency

Your dog will develop strange eating habits and diarrhea with PEI.

Veterinarians believe PEI is genetic or is caused by an inflamed pancreas. The disease is more common in large breeds, especially German shepherds.

PEI may take a long time to develop or may happen quickly over the course of a couple weeks. Some of the signs to look for are rapid weight loss, watery or lumpy diarrhea that is yellow or clay-colored, and poor coat quality. Often your dog will eat as much it can, as if he is starving. He will also eat strange things he may not have eaten before such as plants, dirt or feces. However, eating feces is rather common in dogs and not always an indication of health problems. You should be concerned if he eats feces while these other symptoms are present.

Treatment for Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency

Enzymes from raw or processed hog or cattle pancreases can restore your dog's pancreas to health.

At this time, treatment for PEI is ground, freeze-dried pancreases from cattle and hogs. This supplement will come in either powder or pills and is given to the dog prior to his meal or mixed with his food. Your dog will usually recover quickly once treatment has begun.

You may also feed raw pancreas to your dog, but the pancreas should first be inspected and certified as healthy. Your dog's size determines the amount of pancreas he should eat. A dog that weighs 45 lbs. needs about 3 or 4 oz. of the pancreas every day. The pancreas can be frozen up to three months and still maintain its enzyme quality.

PEI can be expensive to treat, ranging from $60 to $100 for medication each month. Research is underway to create cheaper, synthetic versions of the drugs.

Pancreas Supplements

If your dog does not respond well to the pancreas supplements, he may need some additional help. You may need to change his diet or give him additional supplements. He may need a multivitamin, especially vitamins B12, K, A, D and E. Your veterinarian can advise you on the additional supplements your dog may need.

A Final Word on Pancreas Exocrine Insufficiency

Some products claim to contain natural enzymes that aid in digestion. While these products are good supplements for healthy dogs, they are not related to the enzymes needed for PEI. If you suspect your dog has PEI, you should consult your veterinarian before attempting treatment.

References

• Drs. Foster and Smith Pet Education: Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (Maldigestion Disorder) in Dogs