Ava is sick and in hospital again; GI problems

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

To the OP: when an rx food for this kind of thing is given (or when a regular commercial food is tried) that is the only thing that should be given. Any treat could totally mess it up and then the results are inconclusive.

Exactly...I learned that with my IBD pup. The treats I give are healthy, BUT they were not good for him. Once I stopped them, the food worked for him really well.

[dwerten]

Good News she used the EN on Izzy I just read her posts so click on her statistics and read her posts She also feeds fish with it. Please pm her as her case was almost identical to yours except yours never had the pancreatitis just ibd i believe but both vomitted blood.

BTW i agree with the no treat policy for dogs with ibd they only get their food that is it as a treat

[TLC]

Just wanted to add that TJ has IBD too, and we have been battling the past year with it. He gets homecooked meals, but we think that he was getting too much of the wrong kind of fiber. After researching about soluble and insoluble, and fermentation rates, and about each different types of fiber and what they do in the GI track, I finally understand what my Vet and Nutritionist were thinking was the problem. I had to start all over again slowly adding his stuff back in, but also adding the right kind of fiber for his needs. I also had to put him back on Tylan Powder, but I am hoping after 6 weeks of him not having episodes, then I can wean him off.

...I think the sweet potatoes did him in too ...but that's just TJ ~ IBD is really tricky, bc it is so general, just an umbrella for all the different things underneath it

[ally173]

Originally Posted by dwerten

Good News she used the EN on Izzy I just read her posts so click on her statistics and read her posts She also feeds fish with it. Please pm her as her case was almost identical to yours except yours never had the pancreatitis just ibd i believe but both vomitted blood.

BTW i agree with the no treat policy for dogs with ibd they only get their food that is it as a treat

ok thanks; i will read and ask her questions; i am glad to see that purina EN worked; i have to see how long she has been using it and if her dog is on steroids.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by ally173

ok thanks; i will read and ask her questions; i am glad to see that purina EN worked; i have to see how long she has been using it and if her dog is on steroids.

no she is not on steroids only tylan powder as she is the one that bought the capsule making machine and makes the capsules.

But i do know izzy is really picky too and would not eat the purina ha as i sent it to her to try it out

steroids can trigger pancreatitis and since her dog had pancreatitis as well like dex they usually will not do steroids with these dogs unless all options are exhausted for fear of setting off the pancreas

[ally173]

Originally Posted by dwerten

no she is not on steroids only tylan powder as she is the one that bought the capsule making machine and makes the capsules.

But i do know izzy is really picky too and would not eat the purina ha as i sent it to her to try it out

steroids can trigger pancreatitis and since her dog had pancreatitis as well like dex they usually will not do steroids with these dogs unless all options are exhausted for fear of setting off the pancreas

ok thanks; so tylan powder is the key here; so if i make a capsule, how to administer this becomes the challenge?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by ally173

ok thanks; so tylan powder is the key here; so if i make a capsule, how to administer this becomes the challenge?

You can just put it in her throat with your finger or a pill gun.
Tylan capsules shouldn't be big.
A compounding pharmacy can make them for you, but they are very expensive (at least they were when we tried it). Some owners also just get the powder and sprinkle some on food (which is way less accurate, but some vets don't mind).

And as always, this doesn't work for every dog. Didn't work for us at all.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by ally173

ok thanks; so tylan powder is the key here; so if i make a capsule, how to administer this becomes the challenge?

yeah i am pilling dd with cod but it is crumbly but i get 1/2 temaril p in there and it is a pretty good size pill.

You can make a meat ball with the EN to pill her as the capsules are really tiny - cindy can tell you how to do it - I will find the website she sent me but you need to talk to vet about it and get his take on it

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

You can just put it in her throat with your finger or a pill gun.
Tylan capsules shouldn't be big.
A compounding pharmacy can make them for you, but they are very expensive (at least they were when we tried it). Some owners also just get the powder and sprinkle some on food (which is way less accurate, but some vets don't mind).

And as always, this doesn't work for every dog. Didn't work for us at all.

the only problem is it is bitter and she is picky and if she will not eat food bc of it then she will be in a bad way again as some dogs will refuse to eat food due to taste of it

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by dwerten

the only problem is it is bitter and she is picky and if she will not eat food bc of it then she will be in a bad way again as some dogs will refuse to eat food due to taste of it

I'm a bit more forceful about things. When Ellie was on the powder, I mixed it in a small amount of food and force fed. We really just aren't so nice about things like that here. We're bigger, so we win the battle. lol

[TLC]

TJ gets a 'drop' of Tylan Powder in his AM meal. I mix it in a pea-size amount of natural organic apple sauce, and careful place it in 3 spots in his food. He def. smells it and "tries" to avoid it, but he winds up eating all his food, so i guess I am disguising it well enough

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I'm a bit more forceful about things. When Ellie was on the powder, I mixed it in a small amount of food and force fed. We really just aren't so nice about things like that here. We're bigger, so we win the battle. lol

lol you go girl - i told you mine are heathens lolll

[TLC]

I know this one says EPI - but it has some really, really good info on IBD
EPI in Dogs

Other Good Readings:
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/16/1050.pdf

Chronic Enteropathies - WSAVA2006

Probiotics : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD

Fiber in Dog Foods

http://www.walthamusa.com/articles/cgismintes.pdf

Diet and Large Intestinal Disease in Dogs and Cats -- Simpson 128 (12): 2717S -- Journal of Nutrition

Fermentable Fiber Foods

[ally173]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

You can just put it in her throat with your finger or a pill gun.
Tylan capsules shouldn't be big.
A compounding pharmacy can make them for you, but they are very expensive (at least they were when we tried it). Some owners also just get the powder and sprinkle some on food (which is way less accurate, but some vets don't mind).

And as always, this doesn't work for every dog. Didn't work for us at all.

how long did u try tylan powder before u decided it's not working.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by ally173

how long did u try tylan powder before u decided it's not working.

I guess it was a couple-few months.
Metro actually worked better for her, but only for about 10 days.
The only thing that actually worked was diet change along with a very patient vet who left full thickness biopsy open as an option, but never rushed into it (thankfully).

But at least you have prednisone if you can't find an okay diet.