Dietary Approach to Chronic Enteropathy in Dogs and Cats

Dietary management of chronic enteropathy is important to provide energy and nutrients, to support intestinal function, and to control clinical signs in food-responsive patients. Dietary strategies include high digestibility, novel ingredients, hydrolyzed protein, fat moderation, and fiber enrichment, among others. The best diet choice should be identified after a nutritional assessment and, depending on the clinical presentation, will often require several diet trials before success. Commercial therapeutic diets include gastrointestinal (including low fat), elimination, and fiber-enriched diets. Homemade diets can be a good option when commercial diets do not meet the needs for the patient.