Gastrointestinal problems are one of the top 10 reasons pet owners take their dogs to a veterinarian, according to a recent report.
With so many petfood options in the retail setting, it's often difficult for owners to discern which petfood to purchase, especially when advice may be coming from those without a veterinary background, said Davinne Glenn, DVM, co-owner of Veterinary Center of Liberty in Missouri, USA. It's important for owners to know about the role of petfood in Gastrointestinal health and for veterinarians to educate owners.

Some Gastrointestinal conditions include:

• Pancreatitis -- can be acute or chronic and is often the result of a high-fat intake
• Hyperlipidemia -- can be an issue in certain dog breeds and can also be secondary to diseases such as pancreatitis
• Malabsorption syndromes -- influenced by food intake
• Protein-losing enteropathy -- rare and can be triggered by other issues