Abstract: Background – Canine Chronic Enteropathy (CE) guidelines recommend dietary trials as first-line therapy, with ideally ≥ 3 diets if needed. First-trial response is 50-66%, while success may reach 85% with additional trials. Some owners resist multiple trials. Hypothesis/Objectives – A multifunction, hydrolyzed-protein low-fat gastrointestinal diet † will support high CE response rates. Animals – 14 client-owned dogs with a Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index (CCECAI) ≥ 5. Methods – Closed-label, uncontrolled clinical trial. Assessments included: 7-day phone call (D7: CCECAI-abbreviated, Wang et al 2019); 30- and 60-day examination (D30/D60: CCECAI). Response defined as ≥ 50% CCECAI score reduction; remission ≥75% reduction (D30/D60). Or remission as CCECAI-abbreviated ≤ 2, no parameters >1 (D7). Results – After 7 days on the multifunction diet, 5 of 14 dogs achieved remission (36%, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 13%-64%). At 30 days, 11 of 14 dogs responded (79%, CI 56%-97%) with 6 in remission (43%, CI 19%-73%); CCECAI score decreased from median 6 [5-12] to 2 [0-5] (p < 0.005, effect size r=0.88, Bonferroni-corrected WSR). At 60 days, 12 of 14 dogs (86%, CI 63%-98%) responded and had clinically insignificant disease (CCECAI ≤ 3). Eight achieved remission; median score declined further to 1.5 [0-4] (p < 0.005, r=0.88). Conclusions and Clinical Importance – When owners resist diet trials, a multifunction diet, guided by diet history, may offer a stronger first‑line option. The higher‑than‑average 86% response rate may reflect the benefits of combining nutritional strategies. † as Royal Canin Multifunction Gastrointestinal Low-Fat Hydrolyzed Protein
