Effect of diet on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs.

Clinically normal dogs and dogs with surgically induced exocrine pancreatic insufficiency were fed a dry dietary food (diet A) formulated for use in dogs with gastrointestinal disorders or a popular dry dog food (diet B). Feces from the dogs and the diets were analyzed for moisture and fat content. Dogs with surgically induced exocrine pancreatic insufficiency were studied with and without oral pancreatic enzyme treatment, which was supplemented with gastric acid modifiers. In the amounts fed, diet A provided 26% less dry matter and 18% less fat than did diet B; however, the fat content and dry matter in feces were approximately 60% less when dogs were fed diet A, compared with diet B. The digestibility of fat in normal dogs was similar for both diets. All other results indicated that feeding diet A versus diet B would result in improved assimilation of fat and dry matter in dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.