Simultaneous evaluation of pancreatic exocrine function and intestinal absorptive function in dogs with chronic diarrhea.

The N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid (BT-PABA):xylose test was evaluated in 5 clinically normal dogs, 5 dogs with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), and 7 dogs with intestinal malabsorption. A solution of BT-PABA (1 g/100 ml) and d-xylose (10 g/100 ml) was given orally (5 ml/kg of body weight) to dogs in each group. Plasma p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) curves were decreased in dogs with PEI and intestinal malabsorption (P < 0.05) but were the lowest in dogs with PEI, compared with clinically normal dogs. Xylose values in dogs with malabsorption were decreased (P < 0.05), compared with clinically normal dogs. Dogs with PEI had plasma xylose values that were intermediate to values in clinically normal dogs and dogs with intestinal malabsorption. Results of BT-PABA:xylose testing were compared with results of sodium PABA:xylose testing, to determine whether decreased PABA values obtained by the BT-PABA:xylose test were caused by free PABA malabsorption or by maldigestion of BT-PABA. The sodium PABA:xylose test was performed in dogs from each group by oral administration of a solution (5 ml/kg) of sodium PABA (0.372 g/100 ml) and d-xylose (10.0 g/100 ml). Plasma PABA values obtained by the sodium PABA:xylose test were similar in each group. Thus, different PABA values obtained by the BT-PABA:xylose test were not caused by PABA malabsorption. Xylose values were similar to values obtained by the BT-PABA:xylose test. It was concluded that: (1) the BT-PABA:xylose test is a practical test for detecting maldigestion or malabsorption in the dog; (2) dogs with intestinal malabsorption may have functional PEI; and (3) decreased PABA plasma values obtained by BT-PABA:xylose testing are not caused by malabsorption of free PABA.