Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Cats

Cats rarely suffer from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This condition is more common in dogs. When this disease does inflict cats, though, it has the potential of being deadly and is only treatable, not curable. Treating cats with EPI is successful, but also expensive and lifelong.

  1. Function

    • Pancreatic acinar cells produce the digestive enzymes amylase, chymotrypsin, lipase and trypsin. These enzymes break down fats, proteins, starches and triglycerides so these nutrients can be absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal cells.

    EPI Definition

    • EPI occurs when the pancreas fails to produce the digestive enzymes or does not produce enough. Consequently, food nutrients are not broken down into digestive matter and pass through in the cat's stool instead of being absorbed by the body.

    Causes

    • The primary cause of EPI is believed to be chronic inflammation of the pancreas, according to the Pet Education website. Other causes include cancer or an infestation of flukes, a form of intestinal parasite that favors the liver, lungs and intestines.

    Effects

    • EPI slowly starves the cat to death because the cat is not digesting the fats, proteins and starches from its food. Even felines who constantly eat do not digest and absorb necessary life-sustaining nutrition.

    Symptoms

    • EPI cats eat constantly, yet lose weight and have a large volume of loose bowel movements. Fat is present in the feces, which might also be watery and accompanied by a foul odor. The cat's fur on its bottom will be greasy because of the high fat content in the feces.

    Treatment

    • The Merck Veterinary Manual reports that treatment of EPI includes pancreatic enzyme supplementation and a low soluble fiber diet. Routine evaluations of serum cobalamin are also necessary, as 99 percent of cats with EPI are deficient in serum cobalamin.