Randomized placebo controlled clinical trial of an enteric coated micro-pelleted formulation of a pancreatic enzyme supplement in dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic enzyme supplements for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in dogs can be uncoated or enteric coated. Enteric coated supplements might be advantageous.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Enteric coated enzyme supplements are superior to uncoated supplements in dogs with clinical EPI.

ANIMALS: Eleven dogs with naturally occurring EPI that were apparently free from other diseases.

METHODS: Randomized, blinded, controlled cross-over clinical trial comparing a novel micro-encapsulated enteric coated enzyme supplement to a commercially available uncoated product in dogs with clinical EPI. Search of serum canine serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity concentration ≤ 2.5 µg/L in the Gastrointestinal Laboratory database was used to identify dogs with EPI.

RESULTS: There was no difference -4.46% (95% CI: -7.97%--0.96%; P = .15) in the % acid hydrolysis fecal fat (primary outcome) between the enteric coated formulation (median: 11.8%; range 6.4%-17.0%) and the uncoated pancreatic enzyme replacement product (median: 17.5%; range: 5.2%-24.9%) in the 11 dogs that completed the study. Other variables did not differ between treatments.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This study, which had low statistical power, did not detect a difference between formulations.