Study the prevalence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs in and around tarai region of Uttarakhand

Abstract

The present research work was undertaken to assess the prevalence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in dogs. Out of total 1503 dogs registered during the study period from Pantnagar and adjoining areas, 961dogs were presented with gastro intestinal disorders. For the epidemiological study, 386 dogs irrespective of age, sex and breed with the history of anorexia, vomition, weakness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and dehydration were examined. Out the 386 dogs examined preliminary for EPI, 15 dogs were reported to be positive for EPI on the basis of faecal trypsin test and presence of starch and neutral fat in faeces. Serum lipase and canine pancreatic lipase (cPL) were also estimated the study. Biochemical parameters estimation revealed a three to five times increase in serum lipase values of seven out of fifteen dogs. Serum canine pancreatic lipase was above the cutoff range (400 ng / ml) in six dogs. The overall prevalence of EPI was found to be 0.99% on faecal analysis basis. However on serum lipase and canine pancreatic lipase activity it was found to be 0.46 and 0.40 %, respectively. The clinical prevalence on faecal analysis was recorded to be 3.88 % and on serum lipase and cPL basis was 1.82 and 1.56 %, respectively. The maximum prevalence was observed in dogs aged 5 years and above and maximum prevalence was recorded in German shepherd dogs.