Emerging Concepts in the Understanding and Treatment of Canine Protein-Losing Enteropathy

Protein-losing enteropathy in dogs is a complex syndrome characterized by excessive intestinal protein loss, most commonly resulting from intestinal lymphangiectasia and chronic intestinal inflammation. While glucocorticoid therapy is beneficial in many dogs, evidence increasingly shows that diet optimization, rather than aggressive immunosuppression, offers the best outcomes. The condition requires individualized management based on breed predisposition, diagnostic information, and patient response, with many steroid and immunosuppressive refractory cases responding to tailored dietary interventions.