What Does The Pancreas Normally Do?
The pancreas has 2 functional parts:
- The Endocrine
Secretes hormones like insulin and glucagon, which are essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates and regulate blood sugar. - The Exocrine
Consists of units called acini that produce and secrete enzymes to help digest food.
With EPI, there is gradual wasting away of the acini. Clinical signs do not develop until most of the acini are gone. As dogs lose the ability to digest protein, symptoms such as weight loss despite an increased appetite and diarrhea will appear.