Hyrolized Foods

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

RX RX RX Foods ... If all the food trials require a hydrolized food, why don't some of the better companies make these choices?

[Ann Kendig]

The vet gave us Proviable-DC. I have noticed since I've started them on the Prilosec and Proviable they've both improved. Duke is once again wanting to eat instead of hiding when it's time to eat. He's back to his vocal, annoying, demanding self when it comes to eating. I've missed that. Neither the vet nor the specialist have suggested Zantac.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't know why Jack's IMS recommended Zantac (ranitidine) over Pepcid (famotidine), but she did. I'm not sure it makes much difference, they're both in the same drug class. Prilosec (omeprazole)  is a different class of drug, and a stronger drug, from what I understand. 

[Nancy & Echo]

Yes, Karen you are right.

I work at a human hospital pharmacy, and yes, ranitidine and famotidine are in the same class. We have permission to auto-interchange between them.  They are histamine-2 receptor antagonists.

Omeprazole is in the class of proton pump inhibitors.  Other proton pump inhibitors are pantoprazole and lansoprazole (there are others, too.)  In my hospital, we can interchange the proton pump inhibitors to pantoprazole.  At least part of this choice was because pantoprazole has fewer drug interactions than do the other proton pump inhibitors.

They both end up making you produce less stomach acid, but the proton pump inhibitors are stronger.  If they have a person with, say, a gastrointestinal bleed, they put them on pantoprazole.

There are some potential downsides to using these drugs, at least in humans.  Since they make the stomach less acid, then bacteria that enter the stomach are less likely to be killed by the stomach acid.  They can affect the gastrointestinal microflora.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you for the information, Nancy. Very good to know. And your point about the downside of these drugs is well taken. 

Jane's Murphy and my Jack have both been diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease via endoscopy, and both are on VSL#3 probiotics and tylosin to help maintain the right balance of gut bacteria. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Karen ... it wouldn't let me post under your last comment but the reason I switched before was because the RC PV was supposed to just be for the trial. I didn't want to use it to start with so I was trying to get her onto something else as soon as I could. I don't remember if there was gland issues back then or not. I'll go through my vet receipts tomorrow and see if I can tell. I'd still really rather not put her on it but I'm not sure what would be better for her glands

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Typically, high fiber is what helps with anal gland issues, but if her stool is consistently firm and her glands still become impacted, then it may be a physiological issue. Jane tried every kind of food and nothing helped with that except the RC hydrolyzed protein food. It seems that would be your best bet, both for the anal glands and the allergies, but if she won;t eat it, I really don't know what to suggest. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

She might eat it with a novel protein topper (no carb) option like the ones from Wild Calling.  That made all the difference for Murph.....it must taste pretty good judging by the way Murph eats it.  All it takes is a tbsp or two mixed in.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Thanks Jane.  Think I'll look into these toppers.  I think I can always return the RC if she won't eat it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The RC food also comes in a canned version; the ingredients are slightly different than the dry, but there is no animal protein. Perhaps you could use a spoonful of that as a topper, so you wouldn't have to introduce other animal proteins to complicate the food allergy issues. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

She has great stool, never a problem with that.  Thanks for all your help.  Appreciate it.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Karen/Jane --- Thanks so much to both of you for your input on this.  It has been a long week from Dermatologist apt to research to another long conversation with the Vet today.  The Apoquel seems to have really calmed Lucy down.  She is like a new dog.  You can almost see how relaxed she is when she is sleeping.  She just seems happier in general.  Just had a conversation with the Vet about her immunosuppressents and she is going to add a mold component into her mix and she is also going to switch her from the shots to a new version that is out now which is a liquid that you squirt in her mouth twice a day. I'm also going to try the Wellness Simple LI Turkey & Potato food as sort of a last ditch effort before I go to the RC foods.  I did an analysis of her gland issues and what foods she had eating since the allergy tests and every time they were expressed she was eating the NB Food.  There was a point where she was on the Wellness and there were no vet apts during that time for Glands ... so I'll cross my fingers and hope that works. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm crossing my fingers too....keep us posted!