Subclinical Canine Chronic Enteropathy: Early Detection and Prevention is the Key to Cure

Growing evidence in humans with inflammatory bowel disease reveals a critical subclinical phase during which pathologic changes silently accumulate-sometimes for up to a decade before diagnosis. Dogs with chronic enteropathy appear to follow a similar trajectory, developing subclinical intestinal pathology before manifesting overt clinical signs. This article synthesizes the current understanding of preclinical enteropathy across both species, examining the mechanistic changes that characterize this latent disease state. More importantly, it explores the translational implications of this knowledge: identifying the subclinical phase opens opportunities for early intervention, potentially preventing disease progression rather than merely managing established illness.