Most dogs will have a normal or increased appetite but continue to lose weight.Ĭan it be differentiated from pancreatic insufficiency based on the symptoms? The principal sign is weight loss with chronic diarrhea. What are the common clinical signs of malabsorption? See handout “Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs” for more information about this condition. These problems are frequently associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) but SIBO can occur either with or without EPI. German Shepherds appear to have a higher incidence of malabsorption problems. However, with bacterial overgrowth the diarrhea is chronic in nature, often lasting weeks or months.Īre some dogs more susceptible than others? Malabsorption and SIBO both result in diarrhea, similar to that associated with enteritis. Is this the same as an infection causing enteritis? The bacteria cause damage to the absorptive surface of the bowel so digested food cannot be absorbed through the bowel and into the body, resulting in malabsorption of nutrients. The major concern with bacterial overgrowth is the development of a condition called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). What is malabsorption and bacterial overgrowth?īacterial overgrowth is a condition of the small intestine resulting in increased numbers of bowel bacteria.