Association of Postprandial Serum Triglyceride Concentration and Serum Canine Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity in Overweight and Obese Dogs

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia has been proposed to contribute to the risk of developing pancreatitis in dogs. Objectives: To determine associations between postprandial serum triglyceride concentrations and canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) concentrations or pancreatic disease. Animals: Thirty-five client-owned overweight (n = 25) or obese (n = 10) dogs weighing >10 kg. Methods: Healthy dogs were prospectively recruited for a cross-sectional study. Serum triglyceride concentrations were measured before and hourly for 12 hours after a meal. Fasting cPLI and canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) concentrations were assayed. Cut-off values for hypertriglyceridemia were set a priori for fasting (>= 88, >= 177, >= 354, >= 885 mg/dL) and peak postprandial (>= 133, >= 442, >= 885 mg/dL) triglyceride concentrations. The association between hypertriglyceridemia and high cPLI concentrations was assessed by exact logistic regression. Follow-up was performed 4 years later to determine the incidence of pancreatic disease. Results: Eight dogs had peak postprandial triglycerides >442 mg/dL and 3 dogs had fasting serum cPLI concentrations >= 400 mu g/L. Odds of high cPLI concentrations were 16.7 times higher in dogs with peak postprandial triglyceride concentrations >= 442 mg/dL relative to other dogs (P < .001). Fasting triglyceride concentration was not significantly associated with cPLI concentrations. None of the dogs with high triglyceride concentrations and one of the dogs with low fasting and peak postprandial triglyceride concentrations developed clinically important pancreatic disease. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Overweight and obese dogs with peak serum postprandial triglyceride concentrations >= 442 mg/dL after a standard meal are more likely to have serum cPLI concentrations >= 400 mu g/L, but did not develop clinically important pancreatic disease.