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Advances in Small Animal Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Diseases

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A Special Issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615) belonging to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2026) | Viewed by 11313

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Editors

Dr. Giorgia Galiazzo

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Guest Editor

Private Practice, 45100 Rovigo, Italy
Interests: internal medicine; gastrointestinal disease; endoscopy; chronic enteropathies; nutrition

Dr. Maria Chiara Sabetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy
Interests: gastrointestinall disease; gut-liver axis; inflammatory biomarkers; clinical pathological markers; chronic enteropathies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gastrointestinal diseases are receiving increased attention in veterinary research due to their rising prevalence. In recent years, novel tools—such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)—have emerged as promising options for managing chronic enteropathies in dogs and cats. The intestinal microbiota plays a key role in disease pathogenesis, and its modulation has opened new perspectives. However, many patients remain unresponsive to standard treatments. The gastrointestinal tract is now increasingly recognized as a central organ that interacts with the liver and other systems through mechanisms such as the gut-liver axis. These interactions influence disease progression and expression. There is a pressing need to explore innovative, individualized approaches that consider pathogenic mechanisms, inflammatory markers, and new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

We invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, which seeks high-quality original research and review articles that advance our understanding of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disorders in companion animals. This topic aligns with the journal’s scope, encompassing diagnostic, pathophysiological, and therapeutic advances in veterinary medicine.

Original articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to): chronic enteropathies, hepatic diseases, gut-liver axis, microbiome-based therapies, inflammatory markers, pancreatitis, feline inflammatory disease vs lymphoma, and novel diagnostic or treatment strategies.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Giorgia Galiazzo
Dr. Maria Chiara Sabetti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

enteropathy
dysbiosis
microbiota
gastrointestinal
vomiting
diarrhea
liver
diet
bowel
canine protein-losing enteropathy

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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18 pages, 2573 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Temporal Dynamics of Clinical Response Following Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Dogs with Chronic Enteropathy

by Maria Chiara Sabetti, Rachel Pilla, Francesca Fidanzio, Carla Giuditta Vecchiato, Giorgia Galiazzo, Alessandro Tirolo, Michela Ablondi, Silvia Scorza, Mariangela Colosini, Jan S. Suchodolski and Andrea Corsini

Animals 2026, 16(17), 2786; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16172786 - 4 Sep 2026

Viewed by 344

Abstract

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a promising adjunctive treatment for dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE), but response is usually assessed at scheduled follow-up visits, potentially overlooking day-to-day fluctuations. This prospective observational study evaluated temporal response after a single FMT administered by retention enema using daily owner-completed Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) monitoring. Fourteen dogs with CE refractory or incompletely responsive to dietary management were enrolled. CIBDAI scores were assigned by a veterinarian at baseline and on days 7 and 30, while owners completed a daily clinical diary for 30 days. Changes over time were assessed using the Friedman test, longitudinal trends using a generalized additive mixed model, and agreement between owner and veterinarian-assigned scores using quadratic-weighted Cohen’s kappa and Bland–Altman analysis. Clinician-assigned CIBDAI scores showed a significant overall effect of time (p < 0.01), but no pairwise comparison remained significant after correction. Daily monitoring showed a significant nonlinear pattern in the primary diary-only model, although no interval of significant change was identified. In the secondary baseline-inclusive model, the derivative was significantly negative between Days 2 and 5. In within-dog descriptive comparisons, dogs experienced a median of 3.5 days (range: 0–14) with daily CIBDAI scores at or above their individual T0 value. Weighted kappa was 0.680 (95% CI: 0.266–1.000) at T7 and 0.821 (95% CI: 0.690–0.952) at T30. Bland–Altman analysis identified no proportional bias at T7, whereas significant proportional bias was observed at T30, indicating greater divergence between owner and veterinarian-assigned scores at higher CIBDAI values. Daily owner-reported monitoring captured day-to-day fluctuations that would likely have been missed by conventional outpatient assessments performed only at predefined follow-up time points and may therefore support more individualized post-FMT follow-up in dogs with CE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Small Animal Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Diseases)

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20 pages, 2080 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Clinical and Faecal Outcomes in Adult Dogs with Chronic Enteropathy Fed an Hydrolysed Protein Diet with and Without Bacillus velezensis DSM 15544: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Trial

by Carla Giuditta Vecchiato, Federica Sportelli, Eleonora Masiero, Carlo Pinna, Martina Crisonà, Alessandra Costa, Francesca Del Baldo, Marco Giancarlo Cavazzoni, Giada Morelli, Jan S. Suchodolski, Bruna Correa Lopes and Giacomo Biagi

Animals 2026, 16(16), 2581; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16162581 - 18 Aug 2026

Viewed by 530

Abstract

Chronic enteropathy (CE) is a common cause of persistent gastrointestinal signs in dogs, and dietary management represents the cornerstone of treatment. Probiotics have been proposed as adjunctive strategies to support intestinal health, although evidence of their efficacy remains limited. This randomised, double-blind crossover trial evaluated the effects of a hydrolysed protein diet supplemented or not with Bacillus velezensis DSM 15544 applied during post-extrusion coating. Thirteen CE dogs were randomly assigned to receive the Diet with Probiotic (DIET+PRO) or the Diet without Probiotic (DIET) during two consecutive 60-day feeding periods, with parameters assessed at baseline (T0) and after 30 (T1) and 60 (T2) days of each dietary treatment. Clinical response was assessed using the Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) andfecal core (FS). Gut microbiota was evaluated by the qPCR Dysbiosis Index (DI) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, including taxonomic composition, alpha and beta diversity analyses. Compared with baseline (CIBDAI: 4.2 ± 1.7; FS: 3.9 ± 1.5), both dietary treatments significantly improved clinical scores (CIBDAI: 1.3–1.5; FS: 2.2–2.3; p < 0.02), irrespective of probiotic supplementation. Neither microbiota composition, alpha diversity, beta diversity, nor the DI (−2.7 ± 2.3 to −2.1 ± 2.3) differed between dietary treatments. Clinical responses to B. velezensis DSM 15544 supplementation varied among dogs. Overall, the hydrolysed diet effectively improved gastrointestinal clinical signs in dogs with CE, whereas the effects of B. velezensis DSM 15544 remain unclear and warrant further investigation, as any additional benefit may have been masked by the marked clinical response to the hydrolysed diet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Small Animal Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Diseases)

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13 pages, 1229 KB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical Utility of Adapted Modified Canine Activity Index (aMCAI) in Canine Acute Pancreatitis: A Prospective Observational Study

by Veerada Wachirodom, Sathidpak N. Assawarachan, Suwicha Kasemsuwan, Melanee Suksamranthaweerat, Kasamapohn Hutachinda, Monchanok Vijarnsorn and Narudee Kashemsant

Animals 2026, 16(9), 1292; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16091292 - 22 Apr 2026

Viewed by 671

Abstract

Assessing disease severity and prognosis in canine acute pancreatitis (AP) remains a major clinical challenge. This study evaluated the clinical utility of the Adapted Modified Canine Activity Index (aMCAI), a clinical scoring system refined from the original MCAI. A prospective observational study was conducted on 42 dogs diagnosed with AP, with aMCAI scores assessed on Days 1, 3, and 5. A linear mixed model (LMM) was used to analyze score progression over time and differences between survivors and non-survivors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves evaluated the prognostic accuracy for 30 day survival. The LMM analysis revealed that non-survivors had significantly higher aMCAI scores than survivors (p = 0.035), and overall scores decreased significantly over time (p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed poor discrimination on Days 1 and 3. However, on Day 5 the aMCAI demonstrated good prognostic performance (AUC = 0.813, p < 0.001). A cutoff value of ≥2.5 on Day 5 yielded 100% sensitivity, a negative likelihood ratio of 0.00 and a 100% negative predictive value, providing clinically relevant prognostic information. These findings suggest that the aMCAI is a practical tool for monitoring disease progression and may support the identification of dogs with a high likelihood of survival. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Small Animal Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Diseases)

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11 pages, 5552 KB

Open AccessArticle

Association of Skull Type, Diet, and Chronic Gingivostomatitis with Tooth Resorption in Cats Receiving Dental Treatment

by Pitak Anusorn, Chakkarin Satthathum, Pollawat Jariyarangsrirattana, Emmita Mongkholdej, Doungnapa Onnom and Naris Thengchaisri

Animals 2026, 16(1), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16010135 - 3 Jan 2026

Viewed by 2995

Abstract

Tooth resorption (TR) is a common and painful dental disease in cats. The contributions of skull type, diet, and chronic gingivostomatitis (CGS) to its development remain unclear. We retrospectively reviewed 166 cats with TR confirmed radiographically to evaluate these associations. Brachycephalic cats (N = 33) were significantly younger than non-brachycephalic cats (7.1 ± 2.6 vs. 8.7 ± 3.8 years, p = 0.026) and had a higher prevalence of advanced Stage 4 TR lesions (p = 0.018). There was no significant difference between two groups of cats in sex distribution, diet type or wet food consumption. CGS occurred more often in non-brachycephalic cats (57.9% vs. 21.2%, p < 0.001) but was not associated with TR severity. In both skull groups, mandibular premolars and molars were most commonly affected (p < 0.01). Cats with owner-reported premium diets had more Stage 4 lesions (p = 0.013), particularly in non-brachycephalic cats but not in brachycephalic cats. These findings suggest that TR severity is associated with younger age and advanced lesions in brachycephalic breeds, as well as diet-related differences in non-brachycephalic cats. Further studies are warranted to evaluate early dental screening and targeted nutritional strategies to mitigate the progression of tooth resorption in cats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Small Animal Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Diseases)

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8 pages, 3403 KB

Open AccessCase Report

An Incidental Necropsy Finding: Intrathoracic Ectopic Liver in a Cat

by Joanna Fiedorowicz, Katarzyna Paździor-Czapula, Mateusz Mikiewicz and Iwona Otrocka-Domagała

Animals 2026, 16(5), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16050742 - 27 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1177

Abstract

Ectopic liver is a rare anomaly characterized by the presence of hepatic tissue outside its normal anatomical location without continuity with the main liver. Reports of this condition are sporadic in human medicine, and cases in veterinary species remain limited. This condition may arise as a congenital developmental defect or as a consequence of prior traumatic injury leading to fragmentation and displacement of hepatic tissue. This case study describes an incidental intrathoracic ectopic liver identified in a 6-year-old male cat that died of acute suppurative bacterial pneumonia. Necropsy revealed a well-demarcated, encapsulated, large mass within the middle of the caudal mediastinum, unattached to the diaphragm, lungs, or pericardium. Cytologic and histopathologic examinations confirmed the presence of hepatic tissue with preserved lobular architecture. No evidence of previous trauma or diaphragmatic defects was present, supporting the congenital origin. The accompanying severe bacterial pneumonia was unrelated to the mediastinal mass. This study highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with intrathoracic ectopic liver, which can mimic neoplastic or inflammatory masses. Awareness of this entity is essential for accurate diagnosis. Given the documented risk of malignant transformation in ectopic hepatic tissue, surgical excision and histopathological assessment should be considered whenever such lesions are detected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Small Animal Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Diseases)

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8 pages, 1083 KB

Open AccessCase Report

A Case of Feline Eosinophilic Sclerosing Fibroplasia Associated with a Duodenal Mass Responsive to Exclusive Glucocorticoid Therapy

by Mario Pultrone, Dyana Erba and Michela Pugliese

Animals 2025, 15(19), 2888; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192888 - 2 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2833

Abstract

This report describes a case of feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF) in a 6-year-old spayed female European Shorthair cat presenting with chronic vomiting and weight loss. Endoscopic examination revealed a submucosal duodenal mass, and histopathological evaluation of endoscopic biopsies confirmed a diagnosis of FGESF. The cat was treated exclusively with oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg SID), leading to complete clinical remission within 15 days. Follow-up ultrasonography and endoscopy performed 30 days later confirmed full resolution of the mass, which was replaced by a focal mucosal depression. Histopathology at that site revealed chronic-active lymphoplasmacytic and neutrophilic enteritis with mild fibroplasia. A mild recurrence of duodenal thickening was observed after steroid tapering, which resolved upon dosage adjustment. The patient has remained clinically stable for 15 months with normal imaging and blood parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Small Animal Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Diseases)

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13 pages, 10110 KB

Open AccessCase Report

First Case Report of Choledochoenterostomy in a Cat with Biliary Obstruction Due to Cholangiohepatitis and Papillary Stenosis

by Nicole Diana Wolf, Juliette Bénédicte Burg-Personnaz, Jennifer Stéphanie Eiermann and Simona Vincenti

Animals 2025, 15(17), 2634; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15172634 - 8 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1810

Abstract

A 2-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 12-month history of anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, polyuria, and polydipsia. Physical examination revealed a responsive but debilitated cat with icteric mucous membranes and a low body-condition score. Laboratory tests showed mild macrocytic anemia, elevated liver enzymes, hyperproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinaemia, and a decreased vitamin B12 level. Abdominal ultrasound revealed marked dilation of the common bile duct (CBD) and gallbladder, consistent with suspected extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction, as well as secondary pancreatic and intrahepatic duct distension. Cytological and bacteriological analyses confirmed bacterial cholangiohepatitis due to a mixed infection with Escherichia coli and Peptostreptococcus canis. Despite initial conservative management, the cat’s clinical condition remained unchanged, prompting exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperative findings confirmed the ultrasonographic suspicions and revealed severe pancreatitis. Based these findings, a cholecystectomy, choledochoenterostomy, and placement of a cholecystostomy tube as well as an abdominal drain and jejunal feeding tube were performed. Postoperatively, the cat initially showed improvement but subsequently developed signs of sepsis requiring intensive care. Although temporary stabilization was achieved, the cat died suddenly ten days after surgery due to unknown causes. This case report highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with bacterial cholangiohepatitis secondary to biliary obstruction in cats and documents the first clinical application of choledochoenterostomy—a surgical procedure previously only described hypothetically in this species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Small Animal Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Diseases)

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