Introduction

• Cause: inappropriate diet, may reflect underlying hypersensitivity.
• Affects dogs of any age.
• Signs: diarrhea +/- pruritus.
• Diagnosis:exclude other causes, dietary exclusion trial.
• Treatment: low fat, highly digestible diet; exclusion diet if hypersensitivity.
• Prognosis: good if appropriate therapy.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Inability to digest/absorb diet.

Predisposing factors

• High fat, high protein, varied diet.
• Cow's milk.
• Proteins in beef and cereals.

Pathophysiology

• True hypersensitivity reaction.
• Food intolerance - deficiency of enzymes needed to digest intraluminal contents, eg lactase deficiency; pharmacological, metabolic or toxic reactions.
• Presence of non-absorbable solutes, eg sorbitol.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Outcomes