Capromorelin (Entyce) for Appetite Stimulation in Dogs: Evidence and Clinical Use

Bottom line

• In a 4-day randomized, masked, placebo-controlled Beagle study, capromorelin increased food consumption by 36 to 58% and body weight by a mean of 3.8 to 4.5% compared to baseline.
• A prospective, randomized, masked, placebo-controlled field study in 177 evaluable client-owned dogs with reduced appetite demonstrated treatment success at day 3 in capromorelin vs placebo recipients.
• Capromorelin is FDA-approved for stimulation of appetite in dogs and represents the first ghrelin receptor agonist approved for this indication.
• The mechanism is ghrelin receptor agonism: activation of GHS-R1a receptors in the hypothalamus and pituitary increases hunger signaling and food intake.
• Capromorelin (Elura formulation) is also FDA-approved for weight management in cats with chronic kidney disease.

Drug facts

• Class: Ghrelin receptor agonist (growth hormone secretagogue)
• Mechanism: Binds GHS-R1a (ghrelin receptor) in the hypothalamus and pituitary, stimulating growth hormone release, activating arcuate nucleus hunger neurons, and enhancing appetite via both central and vagal pathways
• Route: Oral solution
• Indication: FDA-approved for stimulation of appetite in dogs (Entyce); FDA-approved for weight management in cats with CKD (Elura)
• Approval: Entyce (dogs) — FDA-approved (NADA 141-454) — Elanco/Aratana; Elura (cats) — approved 2021
• Label contraindications: Per label — not for use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs; use with caution in animals with cardiac disease
• Label common AEs: Per label — polydipsia (increased water consumption); lethargy; vomiting in some animals

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What the evidence shows

Randomized Beagle study: food intake and body weight

In a 7-day randomized, masked, placebo-controlled Beagle study described in Rhodes et al. 2018, capromorelin treatment produced mean increases in food consumption ranging from 36 to 58% and mean body weight increases of 3.8 to 4.5% over the treatment period. This laboratory evidence established the dose-response relationship and pharmacodynamic basis for the clinical indication.

Pivotal field study: Zollers et al., 2016

Zollers et al. conducted a prospective, randomized, masked, placebo-controlled clinical study in 244 client-owned dogs reported by owners to be inappetent for at least 2 days, with 177 cases evaluable for the effectiveness analysis. Dogs were treated daily with capromorelin oral solution or placebo. Owners completed appetite evaluations at day 0 and day 3. Capromorelin treatment resulted in increased food intake and owner-reported appetite improvement that was significant compared with the placebo-treated group. The authors concluded that capromorelin oral solution is an effective treatment for stimulation of appetite in dogs.

Mechanism: ghrelin receptor pharmacology

Rhodes et al. (Veterinary Medicine and Science, 2018) reviewed the pharmacology of capromorelin as a ghrelin receptor agonist and novel therapy for appetite stimulation in dogs. Ghrelin administration directly activates neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and works indirectly through the vagus nerve to trigger the sensation of hunger and enhance feeding, with additional GH-releasing and anabolic effects. This mechanism is distinct from antiemetic and dopamine-based appetite approaches, providing complementary options in the inappetence management toolkit.

How this fits clinical practice

Capromorelin offers a targeted, mechanism-based approach to inappetence in dogs across a range of underlying conditions including post-operative recovery, cancer cachexia, chronic illness, and geriatric weight loss. The once-daily oral liquid formulation facilitates compliance in hospitalized and outpatient settings.

The Elura formulation extends the indication to cats with CKD-associated weight loss, providing veterinarians a single drug class for appetite management across both major companion animal species. Current formulary references and prescribing information should be consulted for species- and indication-specific dosing.

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References

1. Zollers B et al. A Prospective, Randomized, Masked, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study of Capromorelin in Dogs with Reduced Appetite. J Vet Intern Med. 2016. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5115193/
2. Wofford JA et al. Capromorelin oral solution (ENTYCE) increases food consumption and body weight when administered for 4 consecutive days to healthy adult Beagle dogs. Vet Med Sci. 2018. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5217407/
3. Rhodes L et al. Capromorelin: a ghrelin receptor agonist and novel therapy for stimulation of appetite in dogs. Vet Med Sci. 2018. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5813110/

Changelog

• 2026-06-06: First published.

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