Faecal hydrolase activity as determined by radial enzyme diffusion: a new method for detecting pancreatic dysfunction in the dog.

A simple method was developed of measuring pancreatic hydrolase activities by allowing canine faecal, intestinal or pancreatic samples to diffuse in agar gels containing a substrate (Ca-paracaseinate, starch, corn oil). In faecal samples the protease determination proved most valuable. However, a single measurement of faecal proteolytic activity can give misleading results as a function of the hydrolase activity in the pancreas or upper small intestine because some healthy dogs did not excrete active proteases in their faeces. The faecal protease excretion could be increased in all healthy dogs to a high level of adding crude soybean to the diet but the protease activity in dogs with pancreatic degenerative atrophy (PDA) remained completely negative. The present investigation introduces a simple, reliable method of diagnosing PDA. The feed is supplemented by crude soybean for a few days and the faecal protease activity measured by radial enzyme diffusion in agar gel containing Ca-paracaseinate.