DIETARY-MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DIARRHEA IN DOGS

Dietary therapies can play a significant role in the management of chr onic diarrhoea in dogs. Restriction of dietary fat intake is indicated for the majority of cases where the diarrhoea is of small intestinal origin, particularly exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, small intestin al bacterial overgrowth, inflammatory bowel disease, and lymphangiecta sia. Selection of specific protein sources is indicated for cases of d ietary sensitivity and gluten should be avoided in Irish setters with gluten sensitive enteropathy. High dietary fibre intakes should be avo ided in dogs with small intestinal diarrhoea. Dietary supplementation with vitamins B-12, folate, vitamins A und E, zinc and copper is indic ated to overcome the effects of malabsorption and bacterial overgrowth . In contrast to small intestinal diarrhoea, dietary fibre plays an im portant role in the management of chronic diarrhoea of large intestina l origin, especially diarrhoea associated with Clostridium perfringens and chronic idiopathic (fibre-responsive) large bowel diarrhoea. Rece ntly, selected protein source diets have been shown to be of benefit i n the lymphocytic plasmacytic colitis, eliminating clinical signs and significantly reducing the requirement for anti-inflammatory therapies . This suggests that sensitisation to certain proteins may play a role in the aetiology of inflammatory bowel diseases.