A combination of nutritional, supplemental, and medical interventions is used to manage chronic enteropathy. Here are some tips that owners can utilize at home.
If severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea has occurred for at least a few hours:
- Withhold food. A temporary period of fasting is perfectly safe and not harmful or life threatening except for fragile pets (i.e., young or very old pets, those with diabetes mellitus, or those prone to hypoglycemia).
- Limit water to small amounts offered frequently or leave out ice cubes and monitor water intake.
If willing to eat:
- Consider reducing the amount fed by half to limit the amount of food that must be processed, digested, and absorbed. Doing so for several meals is safe and appropriate. Minor weight fluctuations for most pets are not a concern (unless the animal is fragile or severely underweight).
- Feed a bland, highly digestible, lower-fat diet. The diet can be homemade or a low-fat commercial gastroenteric diet (canned or dry).
- Homemade recipe for temporary feeding:
1 part lean meat/protein + 2 parts digestible carbohydrate. Choose foods that you know your pet tolerates well or has eaten in the past with no adverse responses. If feeding a balanced homemade recipe and a flare occurs, remove oils and supplements; then, as things improve, add these items back in one at a time. - Commercial foods (dry kibble, canned, fresh diets) should be kept on hand in case of flares. They should be highly digestible, lower-fat gastroenteric diets (canned or dry). Ask your veterinarian what foods are appropriate for your dog and what they stock that can be purchased, if needed.
- Homemade recipe for temporary feeding:
Supplements
If giving nutritional supplements, discontinue them and plan to add back one at a time after things improve. Use only preapproved supportive supplements you have discussed with your veterinarian that have been chosen to address pertinent clinical signs that are active.
Medications
If your pet is receiving chronic medications, talk with your primary care veterinarian about which medications might need to be temporarily discontinued when flares occur and which medications are essential to continue despite symptoms.
Preventives
Do not apply flea/heartworm/tick preventives when your pet is not well. Wait until symptoms improve. If unsure when to restart, ask your veterinary team.
Monitoring
- Track and record symptoms throughout the day (e.g., lip licking, hypersalivation, frequent swallowing, vomiting [what is in it?]), food refusal/appetite, restlessness, increased gut sounds, gas/flatulence)
- Record fecal score (see the QR code below) and the number of your pet’s bowel movements per day.
If symptoms are progressive, or if your pet is not willing to drink or eat, call your veterinarian or after-hours emergency facility for guidance.
Check out the Purina Fecal Scoring Chart.