Canine chronic inflammatory enteropathies: diagnostic markers, endoscopic tecniques and novel therapeutic approaches.

Canine chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CIE) are a group of diseases characterized by chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Once other causes for GI symptoms have been ruled out, subdivision of CIEs occurs through therapeutic response which involves a unique trial. The therapeutic steps include a dietary change, subsequently the introduction of antibiotic therapy (this step has recently been discouraged), the execution of an endoscopy of the digestive tract and the introduction of an immunosuppressive therapy. Understanding the pathogenesis and the type of CIE in is fundamental for a correct diagnostic and therapeutic management. There are also several laboratory prognostic markers and clinical scores to help the clinician understand the type of CIE and the severity of the patient's clinical condition. Research in the field of dog CIE is in continuous development with the production of new therapeutic and management indications. The aim of this research was to rewire current literature about CIE, with particular focus on diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Experimental studies, conducted during author’s PhD, were reported. Studies were focused on diagnostic markers (page 13), GI endoscopy (page 57, page 67) and therapeutic management (page 88) of canine CIE.