Poop color is gray

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ibala7

Poop color is gray

Post by ibala7 » 12 Apr 2019, 08:25

Hi all,

Junior's poop has traveled every spectrum since his illness began. Once he started stabilizing, he had several perfectly normal poops (amount, consistency, color, smell.) However, they've gradually become smaller, harder and gray in color. What could this mean? He is continuing to gain weight and muscle tone. His regimen is one half can of 4Health grain free beef & chicken with 1/4 tsp. enzyme that sits for 30 min. four times daily. He gets Wonder Labs Pet Factor B12, one capsule daily. The gray color started the day after I began giving him the pet Factor B12. Coincidence? I know B12 is eliminated in the urine, but it struck me how the poop color changed the very next day.

Mary Ellen

Edit:
So, he just pooped after his breakfast and I've attached the images. It looks like pure fat. I realize that the canned food has a lot of fat, but it has been the only food that has agreed with him. I tried gradually adding ground kibble, first 4Health grain free small bites, then Taste of the Wild small Breed, and last Natural Balance LID chicken. Each type gave him explosive diarrhea, even when the transition was very gradual.
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Riley's Mom
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Country: United States
State: Virginia

Re: Poop color is gray

Post by Riley's Mom » 12 Apr 2019, 09:11

Yep, those don't look just right. But I would hesitate to blame it on the B12. I looked it up in our "poop chart" and here is what it says about great or greasy looking poop:

"A greasy-looking gray stool can be a sign of too much fat in your dog’s diet, which can trigger pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas that can range from very mild to life threatening."

Typically we don't try to restrict fat, but your guy is 19, and I would suspect all things are delicate with him <3. Not sure what to suggest since even changing his diet a tiny bit throws him off. Wonder if he would be a candidate for hydrolyzed food? That is food that has been processed in such a way the dog's body can't recognize the ingredients and react to them. It's a prescription food you can get from your vet. Typically we don't need to put EPI dogs on foods like that, but with him reacting to just a small amount of kibble and now the grey greasy poops.....might be worth a conversation with your vet.
Elisabeth

Riley is a 10 year old Labradoodle. She was diagnosed with EPI in 2014.
She currently eats Taste of the Wild, I cup in the morning, 2 cups in the evening, each meal with 1 Wonderlabs B12 sprinkled over her dinner. Enzymes are EnzymeDiane, 1 tsp per cup of food, mixed in home made bone broth. No other supplements or meds at this time.
Riley currently weighs about 44 pounds, which is pretty heavy for her.

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jilbert57
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State: Washington

Re: Poop color is gray

Post by jilbert57 » 12 Apr 2019, 09:19

I have always read grey stools could indicate liver or pancreas issues. I have only seen the greasy looking stool usually indicating too much fat.
Has your dog been diagnosed EPI with the Tli test? Will you post Tli, folate and B12 scores?
Is your dog currently on antibiotics for SID?
Have you sent that photo to the vet?
Thanks.
My name is Jill and we live on the Hood Canal in Washington State. We currently have 2 Jack russells, TJ is 8 and Sadie is 2.

Mickey and his pancreatitis brought me to Epi4dogs.com site in 2012 to help manage it.
He lived from 6/99 - 8/2014

Mickey, Jack Russell. Chronic Pancreatitis. Dianes enzymes, 1/8t 3x/day with meals.

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Miss Maddie Moo
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Country: United Kingdom - England

Re: Poop color is gray

Post by Miss Maddie Moo » 13 Apr 2019, 12:53

Hello Mary
I have just gone back and read your first post and as Jill said i cant see whether any TLi test has been done therfore we have seen were enzymes help even if the dog dosent have EPI but i do wonder wether what you are seeing is something to do with the high fat content of the food. Wonder if you would try and reduce the fat content may be some home cooked turkey and potato or some have used this foodhttp://www.annamaet.com/products/Lean_Formula.

Let us know how things are.
Maddie DX April 2011 along with low B12 she was feed with a low fibre food below 3% , fat was not restricted ( she wasnt good on pea based foods ) She initially had a course of B12 shots weekly over a period of 6 months and then we used the B12 pills from Chemeyes in the UK . We used Panzym and slowly had to increase the dose as she aged when she was first DX she was 23kg but she gained weight quickly and got back to 33 kg .
Maddie gained her angel wings in Jan 2018 at the age of 10 to a condition unrelated to EPI.
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Madelon
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Location: Nashville, TN
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Pet name: Doc

Re: Poop color is gray

Post by Madelon » 13 Apr 2019, 13:01

Yes there is definitely something wrong with the poop. The big blob in the first picture - was that throw up or did that come out the other end? I'm no expert but I don't think that has anything to do with the fat content of the food. I would call your vet and have your pup examined and show them the picture - better yet if you can scoop it up and store it I would do that so you can take it into the vet to see first hand. Please know if you have not had the TLI test done to diagnose EPI, the enzymes won't hurt short term but EPI mimics many other conditions and if it is not EPI and goes undiagnosed that can have bad consequences unfortunately.
Madelon, owned by DOC. DOC dx EPI 5/2015 = TLI < .4, B12 406; Folate >24. DOC taught me so much and together we battled and overcame EPI, food sensitivies, environmental allergies but we lost the cancer battle. DOC was dx with hemangiosarcoma 5/2022 and crossed the rainbow bridge July 24, 2022. He is and always will be the love of my life, my soulmate, my heart dog.

ibala7

Re: Poop color is gray

Post by ibala7 » 14 Apr 2019, 08:04

Thanks for everyone's input. Waiting to hear test results. Meanwhile, I am mixing in a much lower fat canned food. All poop in past 2 days have been dark and firm.

Mary Ellen

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jilbert57
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Re: Poop color is gray

Post by jilbert57 » 14 Apr 2019, 09:35

That is good to hear. Let us know when the test results come in.
My name is Jill and we live on the Hood Canal in Washington State. We currently have 2 Jack russells, TJ is 8 and Sadie is 2.

Mickey and his pancreatitis brought me to Epi4dogs.com site in 2012 to help manage it.
He lived from 6/99 - 8/2014

Mickey, Jack Russell. Chronic Pancreatitis. Dianes enzymes, 1/8t 3x/day with meals.

Barb
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Posts: 918
Country: United States
State: New Jersey

Re: Poop color is gray

Post by Barb » 14 Apr 2019, 13:05

Yes, please let us know how the tests come back.

Barb

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Madelon
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Posts: 1317
Location: Nashville, TN
Country: United States
State: Tennessee
Pet name: Doc

Re: Poop color is gray

Post by Madelon » 14 Apr 2019, 21:01

Glad to hear the poop has gotten better. Keep us updated
Madelon, owned by DOC. DOC dx EPI 5/2015 = TLI < .4, B12 406; Folate >24. DOC taught me so much and together we battled and overcame EPI, food sensitivies, environmental allergies but we lost the cancer battle. DOC was dx with hemangiosarcoma 5/2022 and crossed the rainbow bridge July 24, 2022. He is and always will be the love of my life, my soulmate, my heart dog.

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