When choosing a digestive enzyme supplement for dogs, ingredient quality matters just as much as enzyme strength. Many enzyme products on the market rely on fillers to increase volume or standardize dosing, but those fillers can introduce new digestive challenges for dogs that already struggle with sensitive digestion. Understanding what is inside your dog’s enzyme supplement is a critical step toward achieving stable stool quality and long term digestive health.
Overview: What Are Pancreatin 6X and 8X?
Pancreatin 6X and 8X are powdered digestive enzyme blends derived from porcine (pig) pancreas. They contain three essential enzymes: lipase for fat digestion, protease for protein digestion, and amylase for carbohydrate digestion. The 6X and 8X labels refer to potency levels, meaning these formulations contain six or eight times the base standard enzyme activity.
These products are commonly used in dogs with chronic digestive difficulties to help improve food breakdown and nutrient absorption. Because their potency is moderate, they are often dosed by volume per cup of food and require relatively larger amounts to maintain digestive support.
Common Fillers Found in 6X and 8X Enzyme Formulas
Many commercially available pancreatin 6X and 8X products include fillers that act as carriers or extenders. These ingredients increase powder volume but do not contribute to digestion. The most common fillers include:
- Lactose (milk sugar). Frequently used as a filler to standardize enzyme concentration.
- Sucrose (table sugar). Used as an alternative filler to standardize enzyme concentration. .
Ingredient disclosures from enzyme suppliers often list lactose or sucrose as standard components in lower potency pancreatin powders. However, there are many 6x and 8x products on the market that do not list any of these fillers on their labels and the dog owner never knows they are present. This is especially troubling, since 20% to 40% of these products are fillers by volume.
Product comparison overview:
Why Fillers Like Lactose and Sucrose Can Be Bad for Dogs
Lactose Intolerance in Dogs
Most adult dogs naturally produce very little lactase, the enzyme required to break down lactose. When lactose is consumed and not properly digested, it ferments in the gut and may cause bloating, gas, cramping, and diarrhea.
Using a digestive enzyme supplement that contains lactose can worsen the very symptoms it is intended to improve, especially in dogs with fragile digestive systems.
Sucrose Sensitivity
Sucrose offers no nutritional benefit in digestive enzyme supplements. In sensitive dogs, it can ferment in the colon, disrupt gut bacteria balance, and contribute to digestive irritation or unstable stools.
Added Sugars Undermine Digestive Stability
Dogs requiring enzyme support already have compromised digestion. Adding sugar based fillers introduces unnecessary variables that can delay stabilization and cause inconsistent stool quality, vomiting, or food aversion.
Our Philosophy Behind Pan-tenex
Pan-tenex was developed with a single goal in mind: provide high potency digestive enzyme support without introducing ingredients that could compromise digestion. Our formula delivers a 10X strength concentration of porcine derived lipase, protease, and amylase to support dogs with chronic digestive needs.
Pan-tenex contains no lactose, no sucrose, and no fillers of any kind. All lower potency enzyme products rely on sugar based carriers to standardize potency & increase volume. We intentionally eliminated these additives to reduce digestive stress and improve tolerance in sensitive dogs.
Every batch of Pan-tenex is manufactured using food grade materials and solvent free extraction methods. Our powder is acetone free, dust free, and independently tested to ensure consistency and strength. What is listed on the label is exactly what your dog receives.
Why Purity Matters for Digestive Enzyme Support
Veterinary Insights
Veterinary professionals often recommend limiting ingredient complexity in dogs with chronic digestive distress. Removing unnecessary fillers helps reduce irritation risk, improve nutrient absorption, and support more predictable digestive outcomes.
Pet Owner Perspectives
Dog owners are increasingly seeking supplements labeled no fillers and no added sugars. This shift reflects real world experience that dogs with digestive issues are easily destabilized by hidden additives. Cleaner formulas consistently lead to better tolerance and improved stool quality.
Conclusion
Pancreatin 6X and 8X products play a role in digestive enzyme supplementation, but their frequent use of lactose or sucrose fillers can create unintended problems for sensitive dogs. These added sugars are unnecessary and often counterproductive for dogs already dealing with compromised digestion.
Pan-tenex was formulated to address this issue directly. As a high potency 10X porcine enzyme supplement with no fillers and no sugars, it delivers effective digestive support without introducing ingredients that destabilize the gut. For dog owners seeking a clean, efficient, and gentle digestive enzyme solution, Pan-tenex offers a trusted and carefully engineered option.
