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[Cheb1313!]

OK thanks for that .

he is just on the antibiotics for a week as he had blood in his stool, i think the vet was waiting for the result's to Come back which they should be in today before going to the pro-biotis- I also didn't realize there is a difference of Pre-biotics and pro-biotics

[Tuckaboo Pam]

Hi Cheryl, and welcome to you and Alfie.

I just wanted to say that I have fed Taste of the Wild to two EPI dogs successfully. I have used both High Prairie and Pacific Stream.

Sounds like you and Alfie have been through the wringer. I am so sorry, but hopefully you will get things straightened out soon. It is encouraging that your vet recognized the symptoms of EPI and got the tests going right away. Did you say Alfie was fasted for at least 8 hours before the blood draw?

When you get the results, please post them. The people on this forum are very helpful and knowledgeable, and I am glad you have found this group. Hang in there.

----Pam & Nina

[Cheb1313!]

Hi Pam and Nina.

Yes it has been a bit of a bumpy ride and a number of sleepless nights .

Yes vet did mention 8 hours before test, My appointment was at 11.00 and he was fed at 9.00 in the morning - I didn't pick him up until gone 6 that evening - you see it was better to leave him in there as he is a stress head German at the best of times- The vet said it was pushing it but it should be good .

I am just looking into the Slippery Elm and the one that is recommended here is Wonder labs which I can get delivered over here but its very expensive - Is there one that would be recommended to purchase in Australia or is it pretty much the same ?

[Chance]

You should know within 24 hours if things are better since Creon. It begins to work in that first meal it's given with. But it could take a day or so for all undigested food to make it's way through.

I started it one day, and the next day there was no bowel movement. The following day, the poops were very solid, but still some food visible. I had to tweak the dose.

[Chance]

Slippery elm is Slippery elm really. I'm sworn off Wonderlabs completely, myself. I just buy the Slippery elm capsules. I pill the dog when I do give it.

Capsules I have only has Slippery elm as an ingredient...so there's nothing else. Most have 400mg per capsule. I buy them locally.

[Cheb1313!]

Hi,
We started on the Creon 25000 the night before last so Tuesday evening for us yesterday he only had a little small poo but is was soft but firm enough to hold together .

This morning though when I too him out it was lumpy and runny orange and brown- since this morning though nothing - I just hope and pray the next one we are getting there !

[Cheb1313!]

You should know within 24 hours if things are better since Creon. It begins to work in that first meal it's given with. But it could take a day or so for all undigested food to make it's way through.

I started it one day, and the next day there was no bowel movement. The following day, the poops were very solid, but still some food visible. I had to tweak the dose.

- how are you able to tweak the dose of Creon ?- he has been having it wrapped in a small amount of cheese and it just goes back of throat not even chewed which is what I thought it should be as the vet said if chewed would make the gums bleed - he has always loved his food and now even more than ever are you suggesting I should sprinkle on his food and perhaps give one and a half ?

The vet has now confirmed with bloods run that it is epi - but they didn't bring back a definitive result of sid though!

[Chance]

Both times I started Creon, I was using the Creon 10,000. I'd started at 2 capsules per meal, which really did not much at all. Still sooo much food visible. I quickly upped it to 3. That was an immediate improvement, with very solid poops, but still some bits of meat sticking out. A few days later, I upped to 3.5 capsules. Then to 4. Later to 4.5 ... which was perfect! I saw no food then. Poops were very good! (Rylee did ultimately go to to 5 capsules as it turned out to be perfect to cure the acid reflux)!

Since going to 5 capsules per meal, we switched to Creon 25,000 instead, giving 2 per meal. (I am giving a fairly high fat meal, so you should not need as much as Rylee).

The risk of mouth sores (or bleeding gums) on Creon, regardless of how you give it; but it's not impossible. With Creon, the enzymes themselves are enteric coated. The capsule isn't. It's just a normal capsule. To get sores, you'd have to have pellets stuck inside the mouth and stay in one spot without moving for a good 20 to 30 minutes...long enough for saliva to break down the coating. Can it happen...yes. but it's not very common. A drink of water would dislodge any pellets that did get stuck. You can also lift the lips and look. You'd see if one is stuck.

I have tried both techniques; pellets sprinkled on the food and just pilling the dog. For us, results are completely the same either way. So personally, I just give the pills, then feed. A couple of times, I have dropped a pill, and she picks it up and chews I just checked that there's no pellets on the floor, then fed straight away. So any pellets in her mouth would go down with the food, so I wasn't worried. Normally, I just open her mouth, and stick the pills as far back as I can in her throat. (She's quickly learned that a pill in the face means food! So she's very happy, tail going 100 miles an hour when she sees me with pills in hand).

Rylee hasn't yet had a mouth sore. Chance did ONCE while on Creon. It was when I dumped pills on the food. I guess one pellet stayed behind, and did get lodged at the very top corner of his gums/lip after he ate. After that, I started just pilling him most often, just to let that sore heal, and prevent it from happening again.

Good you have results back now, and you have a diagnosis

Do you know what the TLI, folate and B12 levels were?

[Cheb1313!]

Hi .

He did tell me the results, but I the phone call went quite fast and I forgot to write them down so they are going to email them through to me .

He did say that he would need to stay on the B12 .

Olesia has been an absolute god send! , as I have been emailing her direct . so for the last two days we have had so much improvement in the Poos- I said its amazing how we can become so obsessed with them
They are still quite large. but I am wondering if because he is on the four meals per day ?


I have attached some photos but I did have one question , he did have a second poo this moring I didnt get a photo of it and it was a little more soft at the end of it but I have been told thats normal for a second poo ?

Alfie poo Thursday 7.45 PM.jpeg (4.69 MiB) Viewed 1657 times

Alfie Poo Friday 5.23PM.jpeg (3.18 MiB) Viewed 1657 times

Alfie Poo Sat 6.52 AM.jpeg (741.95 KiB) Viewed 1657 times

[Chance]

Those poops do look pretty good!! That's great!