What are the symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency in cats?
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is caused by decreased production of digestive enzymes by the pancreas. The most common clinical signs are polyphagia, weight loss, and a large volume of loose stools.
How Long Can cats live with EPI?
The ages of cats with EPI ranged from 3 months to 18.8 years, with a median of 7.7 years. “This finding is important because EPI has been traditionally considered a disease of middle-aged to older cats,” write the authors.
How do I know if my cat has an EPI?
Symptoms of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Cats
- Weight loss despite adequate appetite.
- Chronic diarrhea.
- Poor coat condition.
- Increased appetite.
- General lethargy.
- Vomiting.
What is the most common cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in the cat?
One common cause of EPI is idiopathic pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA). The enzymes responsible for aiding in the digestion of starches, fats, and proteins are produced by cells in the pancreas known as pancreatic acinar cells. PAA develops when these cells fail to function properly, thereby leading to EPI.
What should I feed my cat with EPI?
Most cats with EPI can be successfully managed by dietary supplementation with pancreatic enzymes. Dried extracts of porcine pancreas are available (e.g., Viokase® or Pancrezyme®), but raw beef, pork, or game pancreas can also be given instead.
What causes pancreatic insufficiency in cats?
No breed predilection has been identified. Chronic pancreatitis is the most common cause of EPI in cats. Other causes may include idiopathic acinar cell atrophy and infestation with the parasite Eurytrema procyonis, pancreatic flukes that attach themselves to the wall of the pancreatic ducts.
How common is EPI in cats?
While EPI is not common in cats, it is recommended that all cats with chronic diarrhea or unexplained weight loss be tested for this condition so that EPI can be definitively ruled-in or out early in the course of diagnostic evaluation (see further discussion on fTLI below).
What foods should you avoid with EPI?
Off the EPI Menu: Foods to Avoid In general, try to limit the amount of fat you eat — especially the saturated fats in animal-based foods, such as butter, cream, fatty cuts of red meat, organ meat, and poultry skin.
Can a cat have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency ( EPI )?
A recent report discusses the clinical signs and treatment response pertaining to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cats. Cats with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) often have clinical signs different from those of dogs, according to a report published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
What are the symptoms of Epi in dogs?
Dogs and cats with EPI due to other causes are usually middle-aged to older and can be of any breed. Clinical signs most commonly reported are polyphagia, weight loss, and loose stools. Vomiting and anorexia are observed in some patients and may be a sign of concurrent conditions rather than EPI itself.
What are the signs of pancreatic insufficiency in dogs?
Clinical signs most commonly reported are polyphagia, weight loss, and loose stools. Vomiting and anorexia are observed in some patients and may be a sign of concurrent conditions rather than EPI itself. The feces are most commonly pale, loose, and voluminous and may be malodorous.
What are the symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is caused by decreased production of digestive enzymes by the pancreas. The most common clinical signs are polyphagia, weight loss, and a large volume of loose stools. Diagnosis is made by measurement of serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity.