Efficacy of an elemental diet in achieving clinical remission in dogs with chronic enteropathy

Background Diet may induce clinical remission in dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE). Elemental diets (EDs), providing protein as amino acids, modulate intestinal immunity and microbiome in rodents and humans. Hypothesis Evaluate the impact of an amino acid‐based kibble (EL) on CE clinical activity and gastrointestinal (GI)‐relevant variables. Animals Client‐owned dogs (n = 23) with inadequately controlled CE. Methods Prospective, uncontrolled clinical trial. Diagnostic evaluation including upper and lower GI endoscopy was performed before study entry. Canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI), serum biomarkers, and fecal microbiome were evaluated before and after 2 weeks of EL. Dogs with stable or improved CE remained in the study for another 6 weeks. Pre‐ and post‐EL clinical and microbiological variables were compared statistically using a mixed model. Results After 2 weeks of EL, 15 of 22 dogs (68%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 47%‐84%) consuming the diet were classified as responders with a median (range) decrease in CCECAI from 6 (3‐12) to 2 (0‐9; P