Increased dietary fiber intake improves fecal and clinical activity scores in dogs with chronic enteropathy.

Objective: To determine whether modification of dietary fiber could improve fecal score and clinical activity score in a population of dogs diagnosed with chronic enteropathy (CE). Methods: This was a retrospective uncontrolled study of dogs with CE presenting to a nutrition service where increasing dietary fiber intake was the primary nutritional goal. Purina fecal score, canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index scores, and fiber concentrations (g/100 kcal) of diets fed at initial nutrition consult (baseline) and at follow-up were compared. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test was used. Results: 32 dogs were included. Median crude fiber and total dietary fiber increased from 0.6 g/100 kcal (range, 0.2 to 1.5 g/100 kcal) and 1.7 g/100 kcal (range, 0.4 to 2.8 g/100 kcal) at baseline to 1.8 g/100 kcal (range, 0.3 to 4.3 g/100 kcal) and 4.7 g/100 kcal (range, 2.1 to 7.1 g/100 kcal) at follow-up. Median time from baseline to follow-up was 21 weeks (range, 4 to 82 weeks). Purina fecal score decreased from baseline to follow-up with a median of 4.5 (range, 2 to 7) to 2 (range, 2 to 3), respectively (effect size, r = 0.82). Canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index scores decreased from baseline to follow-up with a median of 4.5 (range, 1 to 11) to 1 (range, 0 to 4), respectively (effect size, r = 0.86). At follow-up, 28 of 32 dogs (87.5%) had improved Purina fecal scores and 31 of 32 (97%) had improved canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index scores. Conclusions: Increased dietary fiber intake improved fecal and clinical activity scores in many dogs with CE. Clinical Relevance: In addition to other dietary food trial approaches commonly considered, veterinarians should utilize fiber to manage clinical signs of dogs with CE.