Your pet was completely fine 2 weeks ago when you notice something strange. Your little furry friend has suddenly lost weight. They’ve rapidly
lost their body fat and appear weakened and fatigued despite your pet eating everything you put in front of them. Their waste is loose, watery, and smells foul. Even worse your pet’s hair appears to be falling out. The sudden onset of all these symptoms can be very alarming and traumatic. You might ask yourself what happened? How could my pet look so sickly so suddenly? Why does my pet look like they’re starving to death? The answer is because they are, due to a condition known as pancreatic insufficiency.
What is the pancreas?
Firstly let’s get a grasp on what exactly the pancreas does for the body. A particular cell in the pancreas known as the ‘acinar’ produces digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down food in the intestine into smaller pieces for the body. For instance, trypsin and chymotrypsin break down protein, amylase breaks down starches, and lipase breaks down fats. The breaking down of these molecules allows them to be absorbed by the pet’s body and be utilized for nutrients. When your pet’s pancreas decreases or completely stops production of these digestive enzymes you can begin to see the signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
What is pancreatic insufficiency?
Pancreatic insufficiency also known as maldigestion syndrome affects dogs and rarely cats. Pancreatic insufficiency generally happens when the pancreas becomes inflamed. It may also be present in younger animals although the exact reason is unknown it may be inherited. This problem essentially causes your animal to starve to death as they are unable to digest the food they eat due to the pancreas being unable to produce the enzymes needed to break down food. This is why you will notice the appearance of their stool will change as the food passes undigested through their body. Although this problem can be scary and life threatening it can be treated with the proper medicine.
Treating pancreatic insufficiency
If you notice any of these symptoms your pet should be taken to a vet as soon as quickly as possible. Luckily treating pancreatic insufficiency is very easy to do, but it is a lifelong ordeal. By replacing your cat or dog’s missing enzymes with new ones you will see the immediate improvement this will have on your pet. PancrePlus Powder and PancrePlus Tabs both fortified with vitamins A, D3 and E are excellent options to treat EPI. PancrePlus Powder and PancrePlus Tabs are easy to administer. The pills are recommended for dogs and are taken before each meal with the severity of the condition and weight of the pet in mind. The powder is recommended for cats and is applied and mixed to moistened food while you let it stand at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes. As always you should follow the directions of your veterinarian. Contact your vet and ask about PancrePlus Powder or PancrePlus Tabs. Buy at Allivet and save up to 40% off!
It can be frightening to see your pet’s health deteriorate so quickly but EPI can be managed with PancrePlus Powder and PancrePlus Tabs!
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