Proviable - DC

[Katie]

I got my Proviable DC in the mail today.

Is this 1x daily and should it be given with food?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No it's not a laxative, it's soluble fiber. That's what you're giving the pumpkin for, fiber. It helps with stool formation. 

I've done the research, lol, and JD's internal medicine specialist has also done her research, as treating dogs who have digestive disease is what she does for a living. But by all means, feel free to do your own. :) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's a good place to start your research: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/canine-nutrition/dog-food-fiber-part-1/

[Katie]

Hey Karen - 

Things seem to going the wrong direction.  Today Luna has very loose watery poo and it's pretty frequent.  Right now its about every 15 minutes.  This is by far the loosest her stool has ever been - water.  She seems fine and still makes it to the door to alert me she needs to go.

My gut tells me I need to make a change now.  Thoughts??

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, assuming that nothing at all has changed or been added to her diet other than the addition of the probiotic, which couldn't be the cause of this, I'd say another fecal is definitely in order. Something is going on here and I'm at a loss as to what it could be other than giardia or some other intestinal parasite. 

For now, I'd go to a homemade bland diet of 50 percent plain cooked white meat chicken finely cut, and 50% either plain white rice or plain cooked sweet potatoes. You'll need to feed about twice as much of this as her kibble as it has less than half the calories per cup. Continue the probiotics, but nothing else: no treats other than a piece of plain white meat chicken, no tracheas, nothing. If the vet prescribes meds, be sure to give the probiotics at least 2 hours apart from the meds, and longer is better.

Once things are better with the poop, I think a limited ingredient diet with lower fat may be in order.

[Katie]

Gotta run to the store,

How long do you recommend the bland diet?  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Until you've gotten the results of the fecal and the stool has firmed up. 

Also, very important: If the fecal is positive for giardia, insist on Panacur, NOT metronidazole. Insist on it. In fact, I'd insist on Panacur over metronidazole even if the fecal is negative. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here are some recommendations for a limited ingredient food. I've provided links. Whatever you choose MUST be be one of the LID formulas, and not just the same brand. In other words, if you go with Wellness, it MUST be from the Simple Solutions line, and not just any Wellness brand formula.Your best bet is to choose a protein source that she has not eaten on a regular basis before. 

Acana Singles: choice of Pork, Lamb, or Duck

 http://www.acana.com/products/singles/

Wellness Simple Solutions: choice of Salmon, Lamb, Duck, or Turkey 

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/categories.aspx?pet=dog&cat=3

Zignature: Choice of Kangaroo, Duck, Lamb, Whitefish, Turkey, or Salmon/Trout

http://www.zignature.com/product_range_dog_dry.html

(Note: all of the Zignature formulas are LID except for the Zssential formula, do not get that one.) 

[Katie]

I took in a fecal today and they called me back and said everything looked good. They did suggest that I look in to changing foods because her poo was very soft - go figure??!!. They suggested a bland diet or hills ID until I see normal poo for 2 days.  After two days, I can slowly transition to another food. They only thing they recommended was something for a sensitive stomach.

I started a bland diet.  Tonight I noticed that Luna had a small amount of bloody discharge at the end of her poo (which is till pretty much water).  Should I call the vet again tomorrow?  

We did aerate our yesterday morning and the little plugs are all over the yard.  She thinks it's a play yard and loves to chase and eat them.  I obviously, try not to let this happen and take it out of her mouth, but I'm certain she is eating some of the dirt/grass.  Today was a nice sunny day so they are all drying up and it's getting better.

She is acting normal, playing, going for walks, drinking water etc......... 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Blood in the stool is never normal, and eating dirt or grass wouldn't cause that. Watery diarrhea is never normal, either, and it wouldn't happen all of a sudden from a food that a dog was eating for a couple of months. 

Hill's i/d is pure garbage, filled with corn and what basically amounts to roadkill. If you absolutely must go with an Rx diet, ever in her life, there are much much better choices. Royal Canin makes much better Rx foods. I still wouldn't recommend that except in cases of serious illness where you have no choice, but just don't ever feed Hill's i/d. 

The LID diets I recommended are all meant for sensitive stomachs. 

I just wish we could find out what is causing her digestive issues.

[Katie]

This morning seems to be better.  Luna slept GREAT last night (previous two nights she was up and restless).

Her morning poo was not water and not pudding.  I would call it soft tootsie roll bites. She did go out a second time shortly after and it was still firm but followed up by soft pudding.  Her morning poo is always the firmest so we will see how the day goes.  No blood that I could see.  She is acting fine but she does seem hungry.  When she plays I think she's going to eat my arm.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

How much of the homemade diet are you giving her? It's very low in calories, so she may need more food. 

[Katie]

I'm giving her 1 cup in the morning and 1 cup in the evening.  

It's a mix of rice and chicken with 1 spoonful of pumpkin.