Plop, plop, poop

[PitBull-Lady]

Many of you have heard through the 3.5 years about Capone and his poop. I am so sick of worrying about poop, I'm starting to think of only poop and it seems obsessive now. The smell, the consistency, is it firm? is it this? is it that? <auuugh!>

So this is the latest. Well, it's been going on for a while now, but we have no solutions and now I'm just sick of it all
I'm reaching out >>>> LET'S TALK POOP

Capone has always had odd bowel movements. He's been on Canidae Grain Free, for a couple of years. It was the only food that his system did not react to with liquid or explosive bowel movements. We had finally found something that 'worked'. For a while his poop was ok.

Switching food is something that his system does not like and sure, you can gradually incorporate things, but with him it just never works smoothly like other people have experiences with. I will switch occasionally between the different grain free Canidae formulas to spice things up a little.

In general, he does not have allergies that I know of. Dried Bananas will cause him to break into hives.
AND he has had an insatiable desire for grass lately.

Attempting to have Capone have a 'firm' poop for once I had been giving Capone a pre and pro biotic powder to add to his food. It was doing ok and then failed and he just turned back into cow patties. Then his poops become more loose. So we went to the vet. After discussing his poops and doing regular blood work, I said I wanted a full blood panel so we could also check his Thyroid levels. Just in case. He is a nervous nellie after all. The vet prescribed Flagil (sp) just in case.

So despite poop smears, blood work and an exam everything is NORMAL. I told my vet, it would have been easier to deal with an abnormal lab result versus a normal one AND while waiting for the results over the weekend, the poop was getting worse to the point of diarrhea! We decided to wait a week and see if things firm up. His system is generally slow compared to the other kids.

His poop is STILL not a 'firm' poop. I've always thought a soft brownie consistency would be ok. Soft Serve Ice Cream or Cow Pattie soft is NOT acceptable. Even more so, I'd have to say I feel bad now that when he poops even softer, he has a touch of blood now that he is so 'raw'.

Tomorrow the vet and I are talking to come up brain storm but I would LOVE your help!
Any thoughts? Could this be a colitis or something? I'm just not sure...

[AllisonPibbleLvr]

What about a fecal culture? Or a trial course of Tylocin?

Often times with dogs like Capone, we would try a diet high in fibre. Of course it would perhaps be a difficult transition but since he's having diarrhea anyways, it might be worth a shot?

[PitBull-Lady]

What about a fecal culture? Or a trial course of Tylocin?

Often times with dogs like Capone, we would try a diet high in fibre. Of course it would perhaps be a difficult transition but since he's having diarrhea anyways, it might be worth a shot?

OK, I'll check that out. I'll talk to the doc tomorrow. I thought we did the culture, but I'll ask. I'm just scared that the high fibre is going to make things really bad. That will be another sentence to ask.

What would the high fibre achieve? I always have thought of it as the opposite 'solution'

Thanks.

[starrlamia]

Fibre works both ways and may help firm things up

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

[AllisonPibbleLvr]

If it is a bacterial overgrowth (which is what a fecal culture will look for), a huge fibre diet changes the pH of the digestive tract to make it less hospitable to bad bacteria.

[star_frances]

Sorry if this seems obvious, but have you tried canned pumpkin yet? Clearly you want to rule out any medical cause for the issue, but canned pumpkin is a pretty cheap, yummy, and healthy way to increase fiber and firm things up.

[PitBull-Lady]

I actually have a few cans in the cupboard but have stayed away from it thinking Fibre would just cause problems. I can start it and see. I love the easiest route but want to do what's 'best'. What kind of amounts per day would be best?

[buckaroo]

Look into doing a fecal transplant.

[Misskiwi67]

I actually have a few cans in the cupboard but have stayed away from it thinking Fibre would just cause problems. I can start it and see. I love the easiest route but want to do what's 'best'. What kind of amounts per day would be best?

fibre will increase the amount of poop, but it is nutrition for your probiotics and gives something for good bacteria to grow on. It makes firm stools softer by holding in more water and makes soft stills firmer with it's bulk and by making the GI bacteria happy.

[star_frances]

What kind of amounts per day would be best?

I give 2-3 tablespoons for my 50lb girlie.

[Timas Mom]

What about fat intolerance?
I have had dogs that owners are sure its allergies and its a fat intolerance. The turn around is amazing when they try something like Acana Light and Fit or Holistic Blend Lamb and rice.

My dog Tima was never right till we home cooked and eventually ended up doing raw.
The specialists were at a loss even suspecting the vitamin premixes at one point.

Tima could never eat kibble and did great when I could control exactly what was in her food.

.

[mtlu]

Do you give any supplements? Molly did fine on grizzly salmon oil for nine months and then had anal gland issues - as soon as I stopped the salmon oil, her gland issues went away. It was not an obvious culprit since she didn't have a problem with it for so many months but it did turn out to be the problem.

[PitBull-Lady]

Thanks All!

I actually have a few cans in the cupboard but have stayed away from it thinking Fibre would just cause problems. I can start it and see. I love the easiest route but want to do what's 'best'. What kind of amounts per day would be best?

fibre will increase the amount of poop, but it is nutrition for your probiotics and gives something for good bacteria to grow on. It makes firm stools softer by holding in more water and makes soft stills firmer with it's bulk and by making the GI bacteria happy.

Ahhh, ok sounds good!
Should I continue the Pre-Probiotics?

What kind of amounts per day would be best?

I give 2-3 tablespoons for my 50lb girlie.

ok, I'll give him 3-4 since he's 69 lbs
Well, given his issues, shouldn't I give him a whole can?

What about fat intolerance?
I have had dogs that owners are sure its allergies and its a fat intolerance. The turn around is amazing when they try something like Acana Light and Fit or Holistic Blend Lamb and rice.

I think I'll work first to see how just the pumpkin goes but then I'll try the thought of switching food... *sigh* it will lead to more explosions for sure, but we'll see. Do you know if Orijen senior/light is similar to the Acana? I've got that already for Jasmine. It's less protein, more veggies right?

Do you give any supplements?

Just the Pre/Probiotics

[IloveBlu]

The fruitables brand canned pumpkin digestive supplement is awesome. Always helps Blu.

[Mooresmajestic]

The fruitables brand canned pumpkin digestive supplement is awesome. Always helps Blu.

Love this one! I keep a couple cans on hand for whenever needed. It's ok for cats too if for some reason a cat would need it.