Dietary management of normoalbuminaemic canine chronic enteropathies.

Abstract

Dietary management represents the cornerstone of treatment for chronic enteropathy in dogs, with approximately 50% of cases in referral practice responding to dietary intervention alone. Success rates improve significantly when multiple systematic diet trials are implemented. Clinical experience suggests that dogs with suboptimal response to dietary therapy alone should be maintained on their most effective diet while additional therapies are introduced, potentially reducing medication requirements and associated adverse effects. Treatment decisions should prioritise individual patient assessment and thorough documentation of responses to each dietary intervention rather than adherence to arbitrary trial protocols. Currently, the literature lacks unified nutritional recommendations for canine chronic enteropathy management. This review aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for the nutritional management of chronic enteropathy in dogs. Recommendations were derived from review of available studies, supplemented by expert clinical experience where published evidence was insufficient. While individual diet selection remains largely guided by empirical evidence, the recommendations presented herein, based on collective clinical expertise, offer a structured approach to optimise therapeutic outcomes in canine chronic enteropathy.