ACVIM panel recommends replacing ‘IBD’ with ‘chronic inflammatory enteropathy’ in dogs 

Veterinary internists are recommending that the profession stop using the term “inflammatory bowel disease,” or IBD, and instead adopt the term chronic inflammatory enteropathy, or CIE.

The recommendation comes from a 2026 consensus statement and systematic review endorsed by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. The panel concluded that the term inflammatory bowel disease, long used in veterinary medicine, can create confusion because the term is also used in human medicine for a similar condition.

The lead author on the consensus statement, Romy Heilmann, Prof. Dr. Med Vet, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM (SAIM), Dipl. ECVIM-CA, MANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine), AGAF, explained that while the canine and human conditions are similar, they are not identical.

“While both CIE and IBD [in humans] share some features (e.g., pathogenesis involving a dysregulated immune response, genetic and epigenetic factors, role of intestinal microbiome), dissimilarities pertain to some phenotypic criteria (e.g., disease location, predominant cellular infiltrate, and stricture formation),” she said.

Under the updated guidance, CIE serves as the umbrella term for dogs with chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disease, which includes protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). “The terminology in the statement reflects current CIE (and PLE) phenotypes, based on treatment response and outcomes, and is supported by the latest evidence in canine gastroenterology,” Heilmann said.

Diagnostic and treatment recommendations

The panel recommended that, in clinically stable dogs that are not hypo- or anorexic, dietary treatment trials should be the first diagnostic step before invasive procedures such as endoscopy and biopsy are pursued. Because CIE is categorized by treatment response, improvement with diet alone can confirm a food-responsive form of the disease.

Data shows that approximately 38% to 89% of dogs with CIE respond to dietary therapy, with many maintaining remission for at least three months on nutritional management alone.

In addition to dietary recommendations, the document outlined a stepwise diagnostic approach that includes laboratory testing, imaging, histopathology, and the selective use of biomarkers. The panel also addresses antimicrobial stewardship and offers guidance on immunosuppressive therapy for cases that do not respond to diet or other initial interventions. “Empirical antibiotic use is discouraged,” Heilmann added. “Most patients do not have a lasting response.”

The authors said the updated terminology and recommendations are intended to provide clearer communication, promote evidence-based care and support more consistent long-term management of chronic gastrointestinal disease in dogs.

Photo credit: VYCHEGZHANINA via iStock/Getty Images Plus

Disclaimer: Trends content is meant to inform, educate, and inspire by providing an array of diverse viewpoints. Any content published should not be viewed as an official stance, position, or endorsement by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors. This article had editing assistance from an AI software.