Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
What is Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)?
EPI is a syndrome characterized by the loss of the cells in the pancreas that produce specific digestive enzymes (called acinar cells) leading to the inability of the body to absorb necessary nutrients. Proteins, fats and starches in the diet cannot be broken down into small enough pieces to be efficiently absorbed through the intestinal wall and passes out in the feces undigested. As a consequence, diarrhea and weight loss can occur. Untreated, a cat can literally starve to death even though he eats regularly. EPI, also referred to as maldigestion syndrome, is a very rare condition in cats.
How does my cat get EPI?
It is commonly seen in middle-aged to senior cats who have had chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic cancer and congenital abnormalities may also trigger EPI.
How do I know if my cat has EPI?
Look for the conflicting actions of a cat who exhibits a ravenous appetite, yet is losing weight.The cat experiences watery or pale stools or continuous or intermittent bouts of diarrhea. The diarrhea is malodorous. In addition, a cat may experience muscle loss and sport a greasy coat. This disease is sneaky – it progresses slowly and becomes severe before clear symptoms surface. Diagnosis by a veterinarian can be tricky because the symptoms mirror those seen in hyperthyroidism and inflammatory bowel disease. For starters, a veterinarian usually will perform a comprehensive physical examination, basic blood and urine tests, fecal exam and abdominal radiographs. More advanced tests may be necessary to confirm EPI. One test, called serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity, measures digestive enzymes in the blood.
What can I do about EPI?
Treatment for EPI is a combination of vetererinary prescribed diet, antibiotics and powdered pancreatic enzyme supplements to replace the missing enzymes. Once the enzymes are supplemented, recovery is relatively rapid, however, this is a lifetime disease and the pet owner must be committed to provide lifelong treatment to the affected cat. The use of antibiotics may be needed in those cases where there is overgrowth of bacteria in the intestinal tract.
Is there anything I can do to prevent my cat from getting EPI?
The cause of EPI is unknown, but you can reduce your cat’s risk by not feeding diets high in fat, especially fatty table scraps as these contribute to the potential for pancreatits and in some cases then EPI.
Are there certain breeds that get EPI more often?
No cat breed has been associated with this very rare feline disorder.