Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency causes dogs to waste away despite eating large amounts, as they cannot digest food without pancreatic enzymes that can be supplemented to restore normal weight and wellbeing.
EPI dogs suffer the distress of apparent starvation - ravenous hunger, muscle wasting, weakness - while eating more than normal. The rapid deterioration before diagnosis causes significant suffering that is completely reversible with proper treatment. Once enzyme supplementation begins, most dogs regain weight and normal stool quality within weeks. The welfare outcome of EPI is among the most dramatically positive in veterinary medicine: a dog wasting away transforms into a thriving individual with daily medication. Cost of enzyme supplementation can be a barrier that warrants exploring financial assistance options.