Intestinal Lipid Malabsorption

Affected puppies are much smaller than their littermates, have a tremendous appetite, yellowish loose stool, and fail to thrive. When they are fed a solid diet with digestive enzyme supplementation, their stool begins to appear more normal. At six months, most clinical signs resolve, but they will always produce larger stools and do not tolerate high-fat foods.

When affected dogs are born, they appear to be the same as their littermates. After a few weeks, they may show different rates of growth. They appear to outgrow most clinical signs by six months of age.

This condition is diagnosed based on clinical signs and genetic testing. An intestinal biopsy can be used to assess changes associated with chronic inflammation.

Low-fat diets and digestive enzyme supplements can be used to manage this condition.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s intestinal lipid malabsorption result so you can discuss the best dietary plan for their needs.

Feed a balanced, low-fat diet and avoid giving fatty treats or table scraps, which can worsen digestive issues.

Watch for signs such as loose stools, poor weight gain, or a dull coat, and note any changes in appetite or energy.

Smaller, more frequent meals may help improve digestion and nutrient absorption.

This variant was first described in the Australian Kelpie.

Penetrance: This variant is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that a dog requires two copies of the variant to show signs of intestinal lipid malabsorption.

Gene

ACSL5

Inheritance type

recessive

Clinical category

Gastrointestinal

Citations

1. O’Brien et al 2020

• Australian Kelpie