Determination of Fecal Fat and Trypsin Output in the Evaluation of Chronic Canine Diarrhea

Quantitative fat and trypsin analysis was done on the feces of dogs with chronic diarrhea. The results of clinical examination, quantitative fecal analysis, and other laboratory tests permitted assignment of the dogs into one of 4 groups: (1)pancreatic exocrine insufficiency,(2)small intestinal malabsorption,(3)colitis, and(4)other nonspecific or incompletely diagnosed diarrhea. The mean 24-hour fat output was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in dogs with malabsorption or pancreatic insufficiency than in clinically normal dogs, dogs with colitis, or dogs with nonsteatorrheic diarrheas. The mean 24-hour trypsin output with pancreatic insufficiency was significantly (P less than 0.01) lower, and in dogs with malabsorption, significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than in clinically normal dogs. Normalization of the output data for body weight enhanced the value of fat and trypsin analyses in the differentiation of pancreatic insufficiency and intestinal malabsorption from other causes of chronic canine diarrhea.