Feline Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: A Retrospective Study of 150 Cases.
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BACKGROUND: Little information is available about the clinical presentation and response to treatment of cats with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). OBJECTIVES: To describe the signalment, clinical signs, concurrent diseases, and response to treatment of cats with EPI. ANIMALS: One hundred and fifty cats with EPI. METHODS: Retrospective case series. RESULTS: Questionnaires were sent to 261 veterinarians, and 150 (57%) were returned with data suitable for statistical analysis. The median age of the cats with EPI was 7.7 years. The median body condition score was 3 of 9. Ninety-two of 119 cats (77%) had hypocobalaminemia, and 56 of 119 cats (47%) had increased and 6 of 119 cats (5%) had decreased serum folate concentrations. Clinical signs included weight loss (91%), unformed feces (62%), poor hair coat (50%), anorexia (45%), increased appetite (42%), lethargy (40%), watery diarrhea (28%), and vomiting (19%). Eighty-seven cats (58%) had concurrent diseases. Treatment response was reported to be good in 60%, partial in 27%, and poor in 13% of 121 cats. Trypsin-like immunoreactivity <4 g/L was associated with a positive response to treatment (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.5-7.0; P = .004). Also, cobalamin supplementation improved the response to treatment (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.4-6.6; P = .006). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cats often has a different clinical presentation than in dogs. The age range for EPI in cats is wide, and many cats can be 5 years of age. Most cats respond well to appropriate treatment for EPI, and cobalamin supplementation appears to be necessary for a good response.
