If your dog or cat has frequent digestive issues, a picky appetite or inexplicable weight loss, they might be suffering from one of many types of  chronic enteropathy.

We don’t know a lot about these intestinal disorders — just that they appear to involve some combination of an overactive immune system, environmental factors and genetics.

Biopsy — or sampling of digestive tract tissue — is the best way to diagnose an enteropathy. But practically speaking, many veterinarians get useful information from treatment trials, which often involve a combination of diet changes, antibiotics and immunosuppressant drugs. Recently developed diagnostic tests have shown some promising results as well.

You can do your part by contacting your veterinarian as soon as possible if your dog or cat is having digestive problems that last more than a few days.