Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency causes dogs to be unable to digest food properly despite normal or increased appetite, leading to malnutrition, chronic diarrhea, and significant suffering when undiagnosed.
Dogs with undiagnosed EPI experience a cruel paradox: they eat normally or ravenously but absorb almost nothing, slowly starving while their gut fills with undigested food. The resulting diarrhea is frequent, voluminous, and distressing. The hunger drive that leads affected dogs to eat feces or garbage represents desperation from genuine nutritional deprivation. The emaciation, weakness, and poor coat condition that develop reflect months of hidden suffering before the condition is recognized. Many cases are initially misdiagnosed as inflammatory bowel disease, extending the period of suffering. Once correctly diagnosed and treated, recovery is dramatic - enzyme supplementation can transform a wasting dog into a thriving one within weeks.