Epi4Dogs

Hi Everyone! Update on Hoppy- things have been... very *poopy around here (*substitute vulgar word here.)

Overall, Hoppy is improving- her weight was up to 58 lbs (her lowest was 40 and she was 46 when I got her). We followed the advice here and stopped the metro- but because she was actually at the end of her dose, we decided to try adding a probiotic (Proviable) to her regimen of slippery elm and B12 to see if that would help before trying Tylan. Not much changed with her poop, but her tummy sounds stopped and she seemed more comfortable overall.

Then everything changed! A new foster puppy come to stay with us, which seemed to coincide with Hoppy's poop getting worse. I thought it was because she was able to scrounge a little bit of the puppies kibble, so I've been making sure they are totally separate when they eat- not easy! Well, her poop went from bad to bloody (bloody stool lasted for 1 day and is now mostly gone but slimy, liquid diarrhea remains). The rescue thought it could have been the Giardia returning, but I wonder if it might have been that her out of control SID only needed one small push to go over the edge... Not sure, but we are starting Tylan!

My question is do I stop the Proviable while starting the Tylan? And then reintroduce in 2-3 weeks? Do I do the same with the slippery elm? I'm just realizing that we might not have started slowly enough with the Proviable... not sure if that would have anything to do with it- but we started that a couple of weeks ago.

Just for reference, Hoppy's diet is mostly the same as when I posted previously.
2 cups Nulo dog food (30% protein, 3.5% fiber, 17% fat, Ingredients- Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chickpeas, Sweet potato)
3/4 tsp Diane's 8x enzyme per cup
scant 1/2 teaspoon slippery elm
1 capsule B 12 (wonderlab)
1 capsule Proviable

We feed her 2x a day.

Thank you!!

Hi Lulu sorry to hear about Hoppy's gut issue.
Maybe stress from the new puppy contributed to the diarrhea.
I usually keep up a probiotic when I have my pups on an antibiotic but someone with more knowledge on that may chime in. Tylan is known for being gentle on the system while getting the job done. If after 3 or 4 days on the Tylan things don't improve I might add another B12 at one of the feedings as who knows if the B12 is upper high range.
The SE should be ok since you are already using it.
Just do one thing different right now and that is adding twice daily Tylan dose for her weight now.
Let us know how it goes!

Jill

Hi Lulu,

It is so frustrating when things are going well and then POOF! they go south again.

Couple of possibilities...
1. yes it could be that HOppy got into puppy food without enzymes and that sent her into a tailspin... or...
2. it could be that the foster had some sort of little bug and that triggered this mess... or
3. if the blood was bright red, it could be possible that she has a touch of colitis... although metro is typically used for this,, it can be treated with Tylan which is what you are doing and what i recommend.

Yes, starting a probiotic full strength CAN give them loose stools, not sure about the little bit of bleeding... but i am guessing it could be possible,
SO..... YES, you can give Probiotics and TYlan together since Tylan does not kill all the bacteria.... however... just don't give probiotics with other antibiotics cause most tend to kill everything.

Regarding the slippery elm.... it is a mucilage so with drugs that need to be given in exact amounts, i always say THEN don't give the slippery elm at the same time. HOwever.... with minor supplements and meds, where you don't have to be exact.... i always say it is usually okay to give slippery elm with TYlan, probiotics, etc. That being said though, if you want to give the slippery elm a few hours away from the Tylan, that's fine too. I always gave everything together... but it was fine with my dog, Izzy.

Thank you so much, Olesia and Jill!

This forum and site have been a godsend.

I have her on a little less 1/4 tsp of Tylan (she's 57lbs)- it seems to be helping already. Making the capsules is messy and time consuming- but I've read that tylan is forgiving so I'm trying not to worry if I don't get everything into the capsule!

I think I'm going to keep giving her a small amount of slippery elm, just so that I'm not changing too much- this is nerve racking!

Thank you again, everyone!

Actually, I just weighed her and she's 55lbs. Should I be giving her 1/8 tsp of Tylan?? Eek. She's already had 2 doses of a little less than 1/4 tsp. Help!

https://epi4dogs.com/antibiotics/

The dosing chart is at the above link. Says 55lb is 1/8 teaspoon twice per day and 60lb is 1/4 teaspoon twice per day. You're fine. If she is 55 I would go with the 1/8 teaspoon.

Jill

Thank you, Jill! I'm making the capsules now, so I appreciate the fast response! If she gains back the weight, do I bump back up to 1/4? Or only if she goes over 60?

I'm going out of town- so added pressure because I can't keep a close eye on her poop!

Again, I can't thank you enough.

I would say anywhere between 55-59lbs 1/8 teaspoon but if she hits 60lbs I would up to 1/4 teaspoon.

Jill