Poop Problems

Epi4Dogs Foundation Inc.’s mission is the advancement of science and education relating to EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency), yielding useful insights and positive outcomes in better managing EPI in dogs and cats. Our goals are to support and/or collaborate with veterinary EPI research and researchers, and to promote EPI awareness by educating the general public, pet owners, pet organizations, rescue and shelter organizations, veterinary schools and veterinarians.
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PancakesMama
Member
Posts: 2
Country: United States
State: Wisconsin
Pet name: Pancake
My name: Sarah

Poop Problems

Post by PancakesMama » 03 Oct 2022, 17:23

Hi all!

Pancake had been stable on her current diet/treatments until a couple of weeks ago. Two weeks ago she had a terrible bout of diarrhea- the poor thing had liquid coming out of her. We went to the vet and the doctor said to put her on metronidazole for 5 days and increase her probiotics. She did 5 days of meds, 3 days without and then we had another bout of diarrhea. This time it was super mucusy and had some traces of blood. I dropped a sample off for a fecal panel and there were no parasites or anything (I didn't think that was the culprit but the vet wanted to rule that out.)

I started her on another round of metronidazole again and her poop firmed up right away BUT according to the poop charts (https://epi4dogs.com/poop-chart/) it looks like it could be constipation poos and it's pretty dark. I've been paying attention a bit more and she doesn't seem to go as often or as much (quantity) and it does seem to be a little more effortful for her. This morning she had a small quantity of the hard pellets, but then later had another poo that was more like score #4 (more brown but stinky too) and then at the end of the walk it was more like score #5 (but back to a more black color.) 

It seems like we're swinging between constipation and diarrhea and maybe something needs to be adjusted? She eats Purina Beyond wet food which has been approved by her doctor as a good fit (which I guess doesn't necessarily mean it is BUT Pancake is VERY picky and she eats this happily!) She also has FortiFlora and takes Creon for her enzymes. She is diabetic so we have to maintain a balance with that disease too.

Any ideas or help appreciated!
Pancake is a Chihuahua/Pug mix somewhere between 12-14 years old. She was diagnosed with diabetes and EPI in January 2022. TLI 1.7 She's a picky gal so she eats Purina Beyond wet food with Creon twice a day and gets 7.5 units of insulin twice a day. We put FortiFlora on her food as well and she takes a Cobalequin tablet with her fluoxetine capsul in the mornings.

She also had a double enucleation in June 2022.

Pancake is a very spunky, happy lady. She loves to sniff and go for walks and her favorite place on earth is her day care for small dogs.

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Montgomery
Member
Posts: 418
Country: Canada
Pet name: Montgomery (I'm a CAT!)
My name: V

Re: Poop Problems

Post by Montgomery » 03 Oct 2022, 23:13

How is her water consumption? Sometimes too little water in the diet can contribute to constipation, even if all the animal is eating is wet food. You could try adding water to her wet food, encouraging her to drink more by giving her a larger water dish, perhaps with some ice cubes in it, or a water fountain (they make them for dogs, too). Some dogs will take ice cubes as treats, which is safe for an EPI dog as they aren't actually food...
Montgomery was born 20 March 2012. He eats extra lean ground chicken, lean ground pork and lean ground beef completed with Alnutrin and freeze-dried chicken liver, with hard-cooked egg. He gets two size zero capsules of Enzyme Diane's enzymes at each of his six meals, and a size four capsule of Tylan three times a day. He's a fierce little Spitfire with a roaring Merlin engine.

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Olesia711
Founder & Research Director
Posts: 3857
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: Poop Problems

Post by Olesia711 » 03 Oct 2022, 23:54

From what you are describing,

Pellet like looking poo can be (like V mentioned) could be from possible dehydration. And the fact that she appears to be straining can also make this a possibility. See if giving her more water improves this.

Black looking stool can suggest possible internal bleed..... is she on any other meds (sometimes too much meds can cause a stomach bleed) or could she have gotten into something that may have triggered this? This is something you would want the vet to check her out for .

Also... the blood that you found with her stool.... if it was bright red... then she probably has some sort of infection/inflammation that is easily taken care of....... and might be why the vet gave her metro .. which is what they usually do for something like this.
But if the blood was black.... then this is more likely an internal bleed.... and you will want the vet to look at her.

Not sure if any of this is helpful.... but hope so.
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

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