I think it was the enzymes!

[Tuckaboo Pam]

Well, I just finished Tucker's 45 days of therapeutic Tylan dosage, and his poo has remained a little soft. On a whim, I immediately increased his enzymes by 1/2 teaspoon, and guess what! Better poop overnight. You all have said some dogs need more as they get older, and while he may act like a big baby most of the time, Tucker is 6 1/2, so I guess he is starting to qualify as 'older'. Thanks you guys!!! I'll keep you posted.
---Pam

[jilbert57]

Thanks for the update Pam!

Jill

[Olesia711]

Hi Pam... good to know that a pinch more enzymes helped.

However, just to clarify... it is not simply that older dogs may need a pinch more enzymes

...... but rather dogs with EPI that have had EPI for a while and THEN as they age some simply need a pinch more enzymes cause their body may not effectively be processing things due to aging.

I know this clarification probably sounds as clear as mud.... BUT.... i wanted to make the distinction, cause sometimes older dogs (lets use an 8 yr old dog as an example) all of a sudden develops EPI. Well.. just because they are an "older" dog does not mean that they might need a pinch more enzymes..

On the flip side (as there always is a flip side with these EPI dogs!) ..... a dog that was diagnosed with EPI at 1 yr old may need the enzymes slightly increased by the time the dog is 4 years old because it has been dealing with EPI for a while and now as it has aged some, it's body is not as efficient as it used to be....

SO..... clear as mud, eh ???!!!!

[Olesia711]

oh... there is another reason for slightly increasing enzymes ... determined by the poo..... sometimes it's almost good poo but just not quite there yet.... and sometimes, no matter how hard you have tried..... it is because the diet is just not 100% optimal .... this is another case where just a pinch more enzymes may be beneficial

[Tuckaboo Pam]

Olesia---Ohhhhhh, yes, I see the distinction. He has been treated for a year and a half. If this keeps working, do you think the increase is OK?
---P

[Olesia711]

Hi Pam,

Yes, if a slight increase in the enzymes continues to do the trick then that is the dose you need to give him.

However.. if this (increased enzymes) works, but only for a little bit... and then the poos start going south again.... that means something is triggering SID to act up. THis is where the pre+probiotics may help (aid the imbalance in the gut flora) , but if not, you may need to change the food (often the diet is not optimal), but if that is a bust too and you've tried many different diets with different compositions, then you may need to do another course of Tylan and instead of stopping cold turkey at the end of day 45.... what often helps is to slowly withdraw at day 45. Since you just stopped the 45 days..... you might want to try this now..........

give 1/2 dose of Tylan morning & night for another week.
the following week give 1/2 dose of Tylan once a day for another week
After the above give 1/2 dose Tylan every other day for one more week and THEN stop... observe the poos, and see if this does the trick............ maybe this will be enough so that you don't need to give a little more enzymes....

OR.... skip the above and stick with the little bit of extra enzymes since that is working at the moment and see if this corrects everything for quite a while.

Don't you just LOVE dealing with all the possible variables with EPI ????!!!!

[Jean]

I suppose that the enzymes just are gotten used to

My Kara started off with 1/4 teaspoon per 100 grams food, at aged 9 we were up to 1 teaspoon , but we always played around with amounts, she became very tollerant of food between meals which was unenzymed, milk being the main one, she had a bowl every morning, and whenever she begged for it

But that was HER I would NEVER suggest it to anyone

Keep a diary and keep going Pam

[Olesia711]

Thanks Jean... and YES!!!! keeping a dairy / EPI Log / Journal.... whatever you want to call it is the best tool in the EPI tool box to help you figure out how much to take care of the EPI dog. We start with a general EPI protocol regimen, but from there, one often has to "tweak" things .... and this is where taking notes are most helpful!

[Madelon]

Pam - glad to hear the increase in enzymes seems to have firmed things up LOL

[Tuckaboo Pam]

Well, that was short-lived. Back to soft serve, even after eliminating the treats, so I've just ordered TOTW, Pacific Stream, and will see if that helps. OMGoodness, a few sprinkles out of one Proviable capsule resulted in a cow patty, so I had to stop. School is out for a couple of weeks, so I can see if he can tolerate some while I'm around all the time. And the gas!!! Good grief. Life with Tucker.