Grayson 10/14 checking in

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Grayson & Lu

Grayson & Lu

Member Since 2012
Hello friends. Just stopping by to see everyone, say hi, and update you on Grayson.

Since our massive dose drop (50, then 75%), we are gradually re-building our insulin base, so we've been back at IHOP, or "swimming in the pink sea" as we call it. This morning, he's made it to yellow by +4, so that's something to cheer about! We keep having bumps in the road, little flare-ups of p'titus, or IBD, with reduced appetite and explosive LB visits, but then he'll be normal and acting well. Looks like he's going to start getting Pepcid a little more frequently, and we'll continue to increase until we see those coveted blues and greens again!

The heat of the NC summer has just about disipated, and the kitties (and Jack-dog) are seeking out the heat registers where they expect to absorb all the warmth intended for the room! We won't have the gas turned back on til tomorrow morning, so they're a little disappointed when they found no heat! But it makes for VERY cute piles of kitties on the couch, beds, and other favorite places, and Jack burrowed under his favorite comforter! :razz:

Wishing everyone a good week and good numbers!

Lu-Ann
 
Lu Ann, do you vary his food at all? Jeddie had severe diarrhea in a seemingly unpredictable pattern, until I started reading my food labels more carefully and discovered two brands had dried egg product in them. Once I eliminated that, his digestive issues totally went away.
 
I'm not very creative about the food. When we tried all the venison/rabbit/etc that they suggested, he stuck his nose up at them ("Mr. I never miss a meal"). So most of the time, we're back with FF Chicken or Turkey/giblet classics. I usually add 1 can water per can, and when he's a little off, he'll typically eat the food, but doesn't want it if there's water mixed in.

His stomach doesn't do well with the beef flavors, so they're completely eliminated; and every once in awhile, I'll give him a seafood... which he likes. So we've been pretty consistent. No rhyme or reason for the liqui-poo. Unless the R (which we've used pretty sparingly) upsets his stomach.
 
Well, the other reason could be insufficient enzymes to digest the food. I add enzymes and have slowly (too slowly) increased the amount. These processed food lack all natural enzymes that raw food contributed to their system/digestion. Beau used to have watery stool every so often and that has virtually stopped now that the "dose" of enzymes is higher. Both boys seemed to have IBD symptoms and Beau certainly had pancreatitis before. I use Animal Essentials Plant Enzymes & Probiotics. Plus, I add wild salmon oil from gel caps (Natural Factors Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil). I think they both help.
 
Sheila & Beau & Jeddie (GA) said:
Well, the other reason could be insufficient enzymes to digest the food.
Click to expand...

When my dog Murphy had Maldigestion/Malabsorption, she got Pancreazyme mixed with her food 15 min before she ate. It made the difference between eating like a horse, liqui-poo, and extreme (anorexic-looking) weight loss, to a happy, healthy, vizsla mix. The pancreas does so much more than most of us realize.

The products you buy are over the counter? Or at health food stores? On -line @ ___???

THANK YOU!!! That could very likely be contributing to his appetite, the reason he took so long before starting to put on weight (previously 22#; dx in Jan at 19\8#; 12# in July; and currently up to 16#). I was concerned when he didn't respond favorably to the "novel proteins" for the IBD. Then he seemed to be okay again on the FF, so I've just stayed with it.
 
I use that with Missy, too. When she had her ultrasound and blood work done a few months back, her pancreatic exocrine function was slightly low. (from memory she was 11.5 where normal is 12-?.... I have it written down in her file) I started her on that and when retested, she was in the normal range. I know it is not like the animal derived enzymes (they are plant based) but it helped Missy with her liquipoo issues. ;-) Some pet stores carry it, my local one does, but I usually buy it off Amazon, also.
 
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