This is a hard one because some new research is saying high fat is good but not long ago low fat was recommended and is still by some... At least until she is stabilized. I suppose whatever the specialist is saying is the way to go but there is some disagreement about it apparently.

Joanne - I hope Susan can help you get CoCo back on track really soon. Please keep us posted.....

Joanne - I also used Susan Davis a couple years back when Marcel had post-giardia digestive issues (for FOUR months) - which no vet could fix. I had a consult w/ Susan, she prescribed an easy diet (cooked), and BOOM - 1.5 days later Marcel had his first firm poo in 4 mths. I LOVE Susan, she is so wonderful, caring, smart, and open to many diets. She will be worth every penny you spend. :)

How is Cocoa today? Did you call Susan Davis? In my thoughts and prayers...hope you are able to find a quick answer.

I filled out an application for a phone consult and got a phone response a about an hour later. Susan Davis feels that there are many issues with Cocoa that a consult needs to include Dr. Gordon. That increases the fee from $80 to $200. I am out of any food for Cocoa so I made a quick run to Wichita right after work. According to the chart I was given by K-State listing the ingredients that have too much calcium (concerning the gallbladder stones), Merrick has many of those ingredients. The pet supply store helped look at all the ingredients and EVO had a moderate amount of fat, very low on carbs as suggested by what I read on the net about EPI and none of the offending ingredients that might cause stones. I am grasping at straws right now. I just was accepted as a member of an EPI Yahoo group called K9-EPIGLOBAL I have been reading some of the literature sent to my e-mail address that is just introducing me to EPI. It is much more complex than I could ever have imagined. I'm overwhelmed by the responsibility that I have in finding what works for my little Cocoa. I feel I don't have time but yet I'm told it will take time. My vet knows nothing and I got no info from K-State. Think I may request my vet to join this Yahoo group in hopes that she will understand EPI better and help me through this. I don't know if the info that the Yahoo group will provide is enough without consulting with Susan Davis or not. I'm too old for this. Cocoa is too old for this. No one knows enough about this. A vent. Sorry. I did get the new enzymes yesterday----$100 for the bottle. This morning her poo smells like poo for the first time in weeks but it is too soft for my liking. Maybe need to cut back on the enzyme. The directions say 3/4 t. for a cat and that is what the K-State vet told me to give. Cocoa weighs 2.4 lbs. Instinct tells me that is too much. And no one told me how important it is to allow the enzyme and the food to set at least 20 minutes and better...1 hr. before giving it to Cocoa. The more I think about it the more I'm thinking I better dish out the $200 and get some advice. Bad thing is that it is income tax time and my dh had to shell out thousands more than he thought. Feel like I need to pinch pennies a bit. Another vent. Ugh! And now it is 10:00 and I haven't accomplished anything.:(

I'm so sorry you are going through this, and generally I'm a huge penny pincher, but I really think the consult with the doctor and the nutritionist is the way to go. You have spent so much on her surgeries, but without the proper nutrition she won't be able to heal. Normally I don't think diets make much difference, and organisms are extremely adaptable, but when a dog has special needs, and can't utilize certain vitamins and minerals, than diets become extremely important. It's upsetting because I don't think a lot is known about all this, and it sounds too complex for you to sift it all out in the small amount of time you have. I say get the consult if at all possible, once she is on a diet she can handle, other things will heal better.

As always, Nancy, you have wise words for the confused. Thanks.

I agree with Nancy...the consult will pay for itself if the doctor is familiar with EPI. No more grasping at straws...a clear cut answer is what you and Cocoa need. I wish I could be of more help, but unfortunately I can not...I'll try to do some more reading on this, and see if there's anything I can offer. You know you have my thoughts and prayers...stay safe Cocoa, we'll figure something out.

I've been trying to find the credentials of Susan Davis, all I can find is this. Susan - Dog Food (Canine Diet and Nutrition) - Dogs - Animals/Pets - AllExperts.com. Not even sure she's the same Susan, but her credentials aren't in nutrition, but psychology.


Education/Credentials
Masters/Special Education Masters/Counseling Psychology PHd Core courses completed in psychology


Does anyone know if this is the same Susan Davis?

The info I gave you for Dr. W at Cornell - The diet is $140 - We consulted via email a few times *before* we got into the diet. The good thing about him is that he IS a Vet as well as a Pet Nutritionist ;)

Let me know if you need anything else....

-Nicole

I'm not sure that that's her.
This is her site:
Disclaimer

She is a certified pet nutritionist, not a veterinary nutritionist.
So presumably no or very little medical training...
That's why Dr. Gordon does the hard consults with her.
She leans more toward the holistic side of things which some like and some don't.

To the original poster, I know that the ingrdients in dog food are far from appetizing and maybe you could work up to homecooked or something but maybe while you are learning it would be a good idea to use an rx diet just until you figure all of this out.

I know of a nutritionist who can help you but she will have you use foods that most YTer's detest or she can create a homemade diet for you. She is not in agreement with raw. If you get a homemade diet from her, one of the ingredients in it would be menadione which is another issue. However, she is very respected in canine nutrition.

Joanne, Prayers going out for little Cocoa and you.

Whenever there are multiple issues going on, Susan will insist on having Dr. Gordon included. He is a well-respected vet not only in the CA area, but worldwide. The combination of the two of them is hard to beat. Susan tends to be holistic, where Dr. Gordon is a bit more traditional, but they work well together. And, since you'll be able to get this consultation quickly, CoCo should be able to get relief very soon. And since Susan is a certified pet nutritionist, I think I'd worry less about "little or no medical training" as vets have lots of that and still can't help with many of these issues.