Possible Alternative to Antibiotics to Manage SID
Although in the past, all we knew how to control SID was via antibiotics and even today, sometimes that is still the best we can do, however, through recent multiple small intestinal dysbiosis research, new ideas are evolving on how to better manage SID and maybe not have to always resort to antibiotics.
What appears to work often (although not in every single situation) is to try using a prebiotic. One favorite, inexpensive and safe prebiotic used by many EPI owners is Slippery Elm powder. Slippery Elm is a natural herbal powder taken from the inner bark of the American Elm Tree. It is a mucilage, and has Butyrate, a SCFA (short chain fatty acid) that is known as one of the 3 main SCFAs that combats SID, and it is a prebiotic (in other words Slippery Elm is a fiber, the right kind of fiber that is food for probiotics)
Epi4Dogs did a mini-study with Texas A&M Gastrointestinal Lab with Slippery Elm and EPI dogs in an effort to hopefully understand why it appears to work with so many of our dogs, although not with every single EPI dog struggling with SID. What the researchers suspect is that Slippery Elm is an excellent mucilage that they “think” inhibits bad metabolites from seeping in through the gut.
What they have discovered it that when using a prebiotic to get SID under better control, even though it sometimes takes longer to accomplish,good results are more long-term via prebiotics vs. results via antibiotics.
Please read this study by Texas A&M (Dr. David A. WIlliams & Dr. Jorg Steiner) in regards to using prebiotics over antibiotics for SID:
Comparing prebiotics and antibiotics in treating SIBO in dogs (Sponsored by Iams)
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An abstract presented at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Congress The medical management of dogs with suspected small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, usually involves antibiotic therapy. Repeated cycles of antibiotic therapy are often necessary. Effective dietary therapy may also be useful in managing these cases. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and a fructooligosaccharide supplemented diet (FOS diet) on fecal consistency and volume in dogs with suspected small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. The trial Client-owned pet dogs (n=30) were recruited from accessions to the Gl Laboratory. Criteria for entry into the trial included clinical signs and a history consistent with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth; an abnormally high serum folate concentration (> 14 μg/L), typically with an abnormally low serum cobalamin concentration (< 290 ng/L); and a normal serum TLI concentration. Dogs were randomly selected to receive either antibiotic therapy (tylosin, 15 mg/kg orally b.i.d..; n=15) for 30 days or a diet containing 1% FOS (Eukanuba Low-Residue Adult Canine, Dry; n=15) for 60 days. Owners kept daily records of their dogs’ appetite, fecal volume and consistency, and the number of bowel movements passed. Appetite was scored from 0 (very poor) through 2 (normal) to 4 (excessive). Fecal volume was scored from 0 (normal) to 2 (copious), and fecal consistency was scored from 1 (liquid) through 4 (normal) to 7 (extremely hard). Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA. Results Mean appetite scores were significantly higher in the diet group throughout the study period (P < 0.01). Fecal volume scores normalized significantly in both treatment groups (P < 0.01); however, the effect of the two treatments differed significantly over time (P < 0.01). Rapid normalization of fecal volume in the antibiotic group was followed by deterioration on withdrawal of antibiotics. Fecal volume in the diet group reduced gradually, remaining significantly lower at the end of the trial. Fecal consistency improved significantly with both treatments (P < 0.01), but the effects of the two treatments differed significantly over time. Tylosin-treated dogs showed immediate normalization of fecal consistency with deterioration on withdrawal of therapy. The FOS-diet group exhibited a slow normalization of fecal consistency, which was maintained until the end of the trial. The number of daily bowel movements showed no significant change over time with either therapy. Conclusion We conclude that both broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and FOS-supplemented diets are associated with improved fecal character in dogs with suspected small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. The beneficial effects of antibiotic therapy have rapid onset but may be transient, while the benefits from the FOS diet are slower in onset but are sustained while the diet is administered. CG Ruaux, 1 MATetrick, 2 JM Steiner, 1 and DA Williams 1 1Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas |
However, sometimes it just doesn’t work or doesn’t work quick enough, so antibiotics are needed. Maybe an option in the very difficult cases would be to initially use an antibiotic and then towards the end of the antibiotic course, implement a prebiotic regimen.
In the meantime, if you are interested in trying Slippery Elm powder to stop the loose stools, please go to the Slippery Elm page for more detailed information and dosing instructions…
Here is a little scientific information about Butyrate which is the main SCFA in Slippery Elm: