Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs causes severe malabsorption and weight loss, but responds dramatically to enzyme supplementation allowing dogs to regain full quality of life.
EPI causes significant chronic suffering before diagnosis: hunger despite apparently adequate food intake, nutritional deficiencies causing weakness and immune suppression, and the distress of constant diarrhoea and gastrointestinal discomfort. Dogs with undiagnosed EPI often consume their own faeces (coprophagia) in a nutritional desperation response. The diagnostic delay — because EPI can superficially resemble other gastrointestinal conditions — means many dogs suffer for months before appropriate testing (serum TLI test) is performed. The welfare turnaround after correct diagnosis and enzyme supplementation is remarkable: dogs that were skeletal and lethargic regain weight, energy, and normal behaviour rapidly. Cobalamin supplementation alongside enzyme therapy is important for full recovery.