Association of Diet With Treatment Response in Dogs With Chronic Enteropathy: A Retrospective Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND: Hydrolyzed protein diets are commonly used in the first-line approach to the treatment of dogs with naïve-chronic enteropathy (naïve-CE). OBJECTIVES: To characterize the responses of naïve-CE dogs transitioned to a hydrolyzed diet and to assess the efficacy of an additional dietary trial in dogs with NRE. ANIMALS: Eighty-one dogs with naïve-CE and 23 dogs with NRE. METHODS: Retrospective multicenter cohort study including dogs with CE presented to three referral centers from April 2018 to December 2021. Naïve-CE and NRE cases transitioned to hydrolyzed and alternative diets, respectively, were selected, and medical records were reviewed. Clinical response before and 4 weeks after dietary transitions (with or without concurrent therapeutic adjustments) was assessed based on stool-consistency score or Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) total score in naïve and NRE cases, respectively. RESULTS: The transition into a hydrolyzed diet was the only therapeutic change in 20% (16/81). Of these, 88% (14/16) had a decreased stool-consistency score (p < 0.001). From the 23 NRE cases, the transition to an alternative diet was the sole therapeutic adjustment in 70% (16/23). Of these, the total CIBDAI score declined in 69% (11/23; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This study supports the need to feed a hydrolyzed diet in naïve CE cases. In cases classified as NRE, an additional transition into an alternative dietary trial seems beneficial.