Journal Article

Randomized controlled trial of hydrolyzed fish diets in dogs with chronic enteropathy

Loftus, John P., Simpson, Kenneth W., Miller, Meredith L., Frederick, Carol E., Wakshlag, Joseph J., Rishniw, Mark

2023

Overview

Background The role of diet in the pathogenesis and treatment of chronic enteropathies (CE) in dogs is unresolved. Objectives To compare the ability of diets composed of hydrolyzed fish, rice starch, and fish oil without (HF) or with prebiotics, turmeric, and high cobalamin (HF+) against a limited ingredient diet containing mixed nonhydrolyzed antigens and oils (control) to resolve clinical signs and maintain serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in dogs with nonprotein losing CE (non‐PLE). To determine the ability of hydrolyzed fish diets to support recovery and remission in dogs with PLE. Animals Thirty‐one client‐owned dogs with CE: 23 non‐PLE, 8 PLE. Methods Randomized, blinded, controlled trial. Diets were fed for 2 weeks; responders continued for 12 weeks. Nonresponders were crossed over to another diet for 12 weeks. Response was determined by standardized clinical evaluation with long‐term follow‐up at 26 weeks. Concurrent medications were allowed in PLE. Results Nineteen of 23 (83%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 60%‐94%) non‐PLE CE responded clinically to their initial diet, with no difference between diets (P > .05). Four nonresponders responded to another diet, with sustained remission of 18/18 (100%; 95%CI, 78%‐100%) at 26 weeks. Serum cobalamin concentration was increased (P < .05) and maintained by diet. Serum folate concentration decreased posttreatment (P < .05) but was restored by dietary supplementation. Hydrolyzed fish diets supported weight gain, serum albumin concentration, and recovery (P < .05) in dogs with PLE. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Changing diet, independent of antigen restriction or supplemental ingredients, induced long‐term remission in dogs with non‐PLE CE. Serum cobalamin and folate concentrations were maintained by diet. Hydrolyzed fish diets supported clinical recovery and remission in PLE.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Animals / Antigens / blood serum / Cellulose / Chloride / clinical examination / Clinical trials / cobalamin / confidence interval / Copper / curcumin / Diet / Diet - veterinary / Dietary restrictions / digestive system diseases / Dog Diseases - diagnosis / Dog Diseases - diet therapy / Dogs / Feces / fish / Fish oils / Fish Products / folate / Folic Acid / Gastrointestinal diseases / hydrolysis / inflammatory bowel disease / Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - diagnosis / Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - diet therapy / Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - veterinary / ingredients / lymphangiectasia / pathogenesis / Potassium / Prebiotics / Protein-Losing Enteropathies - pathology / Protein-Losing Enteropathies - veterinary / Proteins / protein‐losing enteropathy / randomized clinical trials / remission / Remission (Medicine) / Retrospective Studies / rice starch / Selenium / serum albumin / turmeric / veterinary medicine / Vitamin A / Vitamin B / Vitamin B 12 / vitamin B12 / Vitamin E / weight gain