How Do You Know?

Unlike many disorders with vague or common symptoms to other illnesses, EPI has very specific and obvious symptoms. EPI can appear gradually over a long period of time or very rapidly like a week or two.

Your pet will be ravenously hungry but show rapid weight loss.  A very skinny appearance will begin to show as they lose body fat and have muscle atrophy. Your pet’s hunger may cause them to suddenly eat things they never have eaten before or that they know better not to eat such as dirt, plants and containers that have housed food.

Their coat or hair will change from healthy to a poor lack luster coat. 

They will experience diarrhea that will be golden or a light yellow color with a consistency of mashed potatoes.  It is not uncommon for there to be undigested food particles in their feces.

What to expect at the Vet’s office:

Your Vet will more than likely suspect EPI by just by looking at your pet and asking  you a few questions but they will do the following to diagnosis EPI for sure.

 These include:

•  A blood test for levels of digestive enzymes
•  Measuring the level of chymotrypsin activity
•  A stool test to determine the level of digestive enzymes in the stool (
•  Examining the stool under the microscope (least reliable)