Signs of Instability

[Madelon]

With regard to the B12, I am perplexed as well - you said it was over 738 when she had the "crash" but she had not had a B12 shot in 3 months? You said you give 10,000 mcg - that is WAY higher than the recommended shot dose if I looked up the conversion right. 1mcg is equal to 1ug - the recommended starting protocol is 1,000ug for a dog over 40lbs. This may explain why the level was still high 3 months after the shot. I'm not sure I would give 10,000 in one dose.

If I were you, I would either do the pills or the shot but not both, especially with the shot at such a high dose. If you're going to use the pills I would start with 1 pill every day or 1 pill every other day - assuming Anja weighs over 40lbs - but not do the shots. If you're going to do the shots I would reduce the amount given and not use the pills. Honestly I don't think it's a B12 issue if her level was so high after such a high dose and then 3 months without anything.

I agree with Patsy - you might need an antibiotic. If it's SID, you can try the Slippery Elm powder first and see if that restores the gut. If not, then a course of Tylan might be needed.

I don't know how long Anja had been stable with EPI, but I'm wondering if when all this started, she needed a tweaking of enzymes - as they age a lot of EPI dogs need a tad bit more enzymes. But the total collapse may have been something completely unrelated to EPI.

[Miss Maddie Moo]

Hello i to wonder whether this is something not related to EPI or SID...also i have seen dogs and i mean non Epi dogs loose weight on raw for what ever reason it doesn't suit all dogs.

[Brin625]

Hi Madelon,
So sorry about the misinformation on the B12 injections. The figures that I gave I think may have been misleading. The 10,000 mcg represents the strength per 10 mL. Anja gets a 1 mL injection monthly. When her Cobalamin results had come back so high back in July, the vet had told me to stop the injections, which I did. Then, 3 months later is when Anja had crashed so badly. I had her Cobalamin level tested then and the result was greater than 700. Since all that happened, she has been back on monthly injections. Anja had been stable for a good year after she was diagnosed.

I should be getting my order of the B12 with intrinsic factor and the Slippery Elm from WonderLabs this week, I'm hoping. Since Anja just had her injection last week, I'm planning on starting her on the tablets, and I guess I'll have to see how she responds to those. She seems to be improving now. I am supplementing her raw diet with the dry kibble she was originally on, with 1 tsp. enzymes per cup of food, bringing her amount up to 150% daily, and I think she has stopped eating her stool which is definitely a good sign!

I will continue to keep you posted!

[Jean]

never apologise

EPI screws your head up

let us know how it goes

j

[Madelon]

As Jean said - never apologize - EPI does mess with your head . Glad to hear Anja is doing a bit better. Please do keep us posted on how things go.