2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Fecal cholesterol and cholestanol were not significantly altered between healthy dogs and dogs with chronic enteropathy. However, phytosterols were significantly decreased in dogs with chronic enteropathy (healthy group median [min-max] In conclusion, this study suggests that the fecal sterol profile in dogs with chronic enteropathy is characterized by decreased phytosterols. Additional studies are required to explore the effect of dietary supplementation of phytosterols and to investigate how these sterols are related to specific bacterial groups that digest dietary plant material in these patients. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in dogs is a syndrome of inadequate synthesis and secretion of pancreatic enzymes, which leads to clinical signs of maldigestion. Previous reports show that small intestinal bacterial dysbiosis occurs in dogs with EPI and is reversed with pancreatic enzyme therapy. However, there are no studies evaluating the fecal microbiome of dogs with EPI. The objective of this study was to compare the fecal microbiome of healthy dogs (n = 18), untreated (n = 7) dogs with EPI, and dogs with EPI treated with enzyme replacement therapy (n = 19).