New to EPI. Weight gain question

[Olesia711]

yes, the excessive drinking will slow down... usually in a few to 3 weeks.

Giving Enzymes will not interfere with the TLI (or B12) test results ... so no need to ever stop the enzymes
HOWEVER.... if running the B12 blood test..... stop the B12 pills 1 week prior to the blood being drawn for the B12 test or... if giving B12 shots, stop the shots 1 month prior to the blood being drawn for the B12 test

BTW... just saw your profile picture.... OMG... what a cutie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Kayla_h]

Thank you for the info
She's a pretty special girl!

[Olesia711]

and she looks like a real cutie too... i love the profile pic

[Kayla_h]

Hi all,

This morning Mya wasn't as eager to eat as she has been. She did eat but it was slowly.

A few days ago we upped Mya's Pantenex enzymes to 1.5 tsps per 2 cups (2x/day) of Raw per recommendation for dosage.

Could her lack of eagerness to eat be because of the increase in enzymes? Her stools are still solid but maybe a tad more butterscotch color since increasing. Also, no weight gain yet. She's stayed the same weight since starting enzymes, but not losing like she was.

Funny side note: this has been trying for me ... because the word po*p is not something I like to say or write... it's been like this my whole adult life . I highly dislike the word and it's used a whole lot with EPI. (f)art is even worse for me to say.

♡ Kayla + Mya

[Olesia711]

it could be that she doesn't like having this much enzymes in her food... you could back down to 1+1/2 tsp enzymes per 2 cups of raw/home-made (moist) food.....(are you about ready to bang your head against the wall yet???!!! this is how we deal with EPI.... trying things one at a time until we find the right balance of the recommended protocol... but it can drive you nuts)...... BUT...... a lot of times when they start going off their food... and the poo is not exactly right.... it most likely is SID/SIBO brewing (getting out of control).. This may be what was happening all along.

If she regurgitates, vomits, burps, has gas or if her tummy starts making noises, or if she starts licking her lips..... then anyone of these is a sure sign of SID/SIBO/Dysbiosis.

What is recommended it
1. try a prebiotic (we suggest slippery elm) https://epi4dogs.com/slippery-elm/ which often helps, but not always.
2. If slippery elm does work, then ask the vet for Proviable or Visbiome... (pre+probiotic) if you do not see any improvement within 5 days... it is not going to work.
3. if all of the above fails, then ask the vet for Tylan you give it twice a day around a meal for 45 days. you can order it from Chewy with your vet's approval
https://www.chewy.com/tylan-tylosin-tar ... /dp/173768
Here is some research/vet info on using Tylan for SID (for you and your vet) https://epi4dogs.com/antibiotics/

HOpe this helps!

[Kayla_h]

Thank you, Olesia!

We will keep an eye for these symptoms.

We do have Slippery Elm powder here aswell as Tylan (from Jedd's) should we need either of those. I'll probably reach for the slippery elm first.

Also, we have an appointment on the 24th with our Holistic vet. We plan to get a full GI Panel sent to Texas A&M and will stop the B12 a week in advance. We debated even doing the blood test, but I think we will.

[Olesia711]

yes, try the slippery elm first before reaching for the antibiotic.

Let us know what the vet says

[Kayla_h]

LOTS of tummy noises last night , despite giving slippery elm before bed.
Still not eager to eat this morning (concerning)
lip smacking this morning
Thinking SID/SIBO ?
Stools still solid though.

Question: IF we were to start Tylan and plan to have the TLI blood test done next week. Will giving Tylan affect test results?

Our conventional vet has been zero help, but I also don't think he knows much about EPI. We are seeing our Holistic vet next week and hoping for more guidance with her and she can prescribe what we need/request. So we're kind of in-between vets. Also the conventional vet refused to prescribe Tylan since he doesn't know much about it. Which is why I purchased it OTC from Jedd's.

[jilbert57]

Good morning Kayla.
I would go ahead and start Tylan this evening (it is very bitter so you might use empty gel caps)and dose it with food morning and evening.
To my knowledge it does not interfere with the fasting Tli test but someone else will speak up if I am incorrect.
Did you lower the dose for the meal last night?

Tylan (Tylosin Tartrate) Dosage Guide

13kg/30 lb – 1/8 tsp
27kg/60 lb – 1/4 tsp
41kg/90 lb – 3/8 tsp
54kg/120 lb – 1/2 tsp
twice per day

Jill

[Olesia711]

oh gosh YES!!!! what you are describing is SID/SIBO/Dysbiosis... since the slippery elm did nothing.... don't bother with trying other probiotics... they most likely won;t work either.
Best to get this under control sooner rather than later and YES! start a course of Tylan . 45 days/twice a day/near a meal so that it doesn't upset the tummy. Sine Tylan is real nasty tasty and some dogs refuse to eat anything with it mixed in (while others don't have a problem.. go figure!) when giving Tylan, best to pour the right amount into empty gel caps and cover the caps with soft cream cheese, or a little mushy canned dog food or cat food or something... and give it this way until you can figure out if your dog will still eat their bowl of food if mixed in