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The update: I can finally sleep.
Elka is recovering. She ate “normal” food tonight and kept it down. She’s been initiating play with both myself and with Milton. She still sleeps a bit more than normal, and her morning greeting was energetic but not as over-the-top as normal. But she’ll be 100% soon.
I’ve been working closely with my vet, as well as with my mentor. Both think that Elka may have triggered Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It’s hard to say what might have triggered this; but if that’s what she has, then it’s something that could flair up repeatedly over her lifetime.
So, Elka is right now on Forti Flora but will be going on Nature’s Farmacy Digestive Enhancer. There’s another called Primal Defense I may try, but my mentor uses this and it’s made specifically for dogs, so I’m happy with that.
My mentor also recommended a pre-biotic. I don’t want to add too much to the dogs’ diets at once, and both of them are going on the probiotic, so I’ll see how they fare on that.
I had been considering the probiotic angle for a few months before this happened. Probiotics are great for dogs (also for people!), and Milton especially has ongoing GI issues that a probiotic could alleviate.
Meanwhile Elka’s pancreas is doing great, but her phosphorous level was low. The lab said it was only a little low and to re-test in a month, so that’s what we’re doing. Usually raw-fed dogs have phosphorous that’s too high, so this is unusual. Elka will be getting increased meat as part of her diet, as I think I’m giving her too much bone. But her calcium level is perfect. My mentor is going to her mentors about the phosphorous issue.
Having a mentor in this whole GI issue/raw-feeding issue is hugely important.
Meanwhile, Milton lost 2lbs, so we’re doing an allergy panel on him, as well as a GI panel. His Pancreas levels are also good. He’s now getting 3 meals a day, 1lb/meal. By comparison, Elka gets 2 meals a day, .6lbs/meal. Elka is 70lbs. Milton is 46lbs. Elka is also 3 years old and Milton is 1 and considerably higher energy. Still 3lbs/day of food for a ~50lb dog is insane.
Both dogs get green tripe with every meal, and some bone every single day, to help their GI stay on track.
Learning about raw food, pro and pre biotics, GI issues, IBS, and how to discover an obstruction (Elka did NOT have an obstruction) has been a real eye opener. I didn’t really need it, given how much I now about cat health at this point. I’d have been perfectly happy with healthy dogs that just stayed healthy, forever. I wouldn’t have complained if Mali was always healthy, either, though.
But I love them. That I didn’t sleep Sunday or Monday night is a pure testament to that. I did question if having pets was a good choice for me - when they’re sick it’s so emotionally draining. But Elka’s spinning loving treatment of me today - a pure “thank you” - reminded me why I share my home with these wonderful beasts.
Love. Pure, unconditional love.
-Lisa, on February 16, 2011 at 7:50 pm