Probiotics

[Jack & Cooper]

vet Nutritionist from UNIv TN at Knoxville just suggested putting Cooper on VSL#3 . Karen uses capsules ...preference over powder? and Have you or anyone else been able to eliminate metronidazole?

still on allergy drops, Temerril-P and metron...e...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'd definitely go with the capsules over the VSL#3 powder. You have to mix that with water and I'd be concerned about getting the dog to drink it all at once.  VSL#3 is a human probiotic and I don't think the powder is intended for dogs. Much easier to give the capsules.   

We eliminated metronidazole years ago, as soon after Jack's diagnosis as we could. The side-effects of using it long term can be serious. In fact, there is a school of thought that overuse of metronidazole in puppies contributes to certain types of digestive disease in dogs, because it creates an ongoing bacterial imbalance in the gut. As soon as we were able to taper his prednisone down and keep him stable, they eliminated the metro completely. He's never needed it again, even for flares.
Jack, a lot of Atopic dogs also seem to have IBD, is that what your vets suspect? Have they discussed using a biologic med like cyclosporine? That would help both issues. 

[Jack & Cooper]

Karen, VSL is only mixed with/ water to make it easier to take for people who would not want it sprinkled on their food; you would sprinkle it directly on Jack's food and you do! the company rep told me that 1 "sachet" or packet = 4 capsules, so it might be more cost effective to use powdered form .... IMHO. and no they do not try to give dosage for canines . In both forms it should be equally effective....just saying.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

For Jack, the 225 billion CFUs in two capsules seems to be more than enough, lol. If he needed more than that, the packets might be more cost effective. 

[Jack & Cooper]

For Karen, 1/2 a packet = 2 capsules! still more cost effective! 30 packet pack costs $87 =120 capsules I believe...They ship in 30 packet pkg. Capsules 60 costs $53

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I pay less than that for the capsules at CVS locally; I also buy them when I have a 25% off coupon, lol, which gives me a considerable savings. The capsules really work out better for me than sprinkling powder on meals, because he gets other types of powders added to his food, and takes various meds and supplements with meals, so I'd rather be able to give the probiotics apart from meals. But I do appreciate the info, Jack.

[Jack & Cooper]

Vet nutritionist who has never seen Cooper has been super helpful w/ home made diet and though I don't has never been diagnosed the soft stool is an issue w/o metron. She just e-mailed me the published article about it and her preferred MO is the stronger packet though we are just discussing it. Cooper's height AKL phosphatase was the reason I contacted her.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The elevated alkaline phosphatase is from the steroids in the Temaril, it's a side effect of prolonged steroid use. It's one reason many people whose dogs have immune-mediated diseases like atopy or IBD opt for cyclosporine or one of the other immunosuppressant drugs over prednisone. 

But continuous use of metronidazole can also contribute to elevate liver enzymes.

I think Cooper would benefit from a consultation with an internal medicine specialist. 

Regarding the VSL#3, I'd go with the nutritionist's recommendations. I just don;t know how you would get a dog to drink all that water at once. You might ask her that. 

[Jack & Cooper]

Karen I responded 2 messages above as much as I can in a way I thought might be helpful to you....You are way ahead of me here and I certainly do not presume anything.....Just happy to hear that you have Jack happy and healthy and as always welcome your imput!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Jack. I don;t know that we can say JD is "healthy", lol, but he's stable, and I hope & pray he's happy. :)

I wish the same for Cooper.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

This is the probiotic that my dogs use.  It's in powder form, and I sprinkle it on their food when needed.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Laurie, this product only contains 100 million CFUs per dose. Clinical studies have shown that the minimum number of live cultures required for therapeutic benefit is 2 billion, which is what's in a serving of yogurt. Proviable, a very good probiotic I often recommend here, contains 5 billion CFUs per dose. The probiotic we're talking about here, VSL#3, is a human product (it's actually called a "medical food") used to treat patients with serious digestive diseases and it contains a minimum of 225 billion CFUs per dose. :)

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

It's always good to learn something new.  Thanks.