Gastrointestinal disease is among the most common causes of dog veterinary visits. Chronic GI problems significantly reduce quality of life and require appropriate diagnosis and management.
Chronic gastrointestinal disease causes ongoing suffering through nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and weight loss. Dogs with untreated chronic enteropathy have significantly reduced quality of life. Early and accurate diagnosis, including distinguishing between dietary, inflammatory, and neoplastic causes, allows appropriate targeted treatment. Dietary management is the first-line treatment for most cases and is highly effective for food-responsive disease. Stress reduction and microbiome support complement dietary management. Severe cases require immunosuppressive therapy with careful monitoring. Quality of life assessment during treatment guides decisions about treatment intensity.