Hi everyone. New to this site and my first post.
We adopted Benny from a rescue beginning of December. Was in bad shape when rescued beginning of October but was nursed to health over a couple of months by the Rescue founder and foster before we adopted him. he was vaccinated, treated for mites and parasites etc. He was already neutered. He was put on vet GI food and had on and off soft stools as well as diarrhea. 5.5 yrs old.
We were told we could transition him to another food, which we did...a high protein, medium fat, low carb grain free food called Go! Solutions. Free feed dry kibble (never over eats) and wet twice a day, about 35g per feed. We transitioned over a week. He started to have on-off stool...some diarrhea, some soft, (both often odorous) some perfectly firm. Had him tested for parasites and bacteria as well...nil. Blood work when was tested at beginning of October was good. His stool continues to be on and off and I see no specific pattern.
Result was vet recommending hypoallergenic vet prescribed food, which after my research, I discovered (with all due respect) is lousy food (extremely high calories from carbs and other allergens) other than it has hydrolyzed protein (soy). Wasn't clear at end of 2 month test what that would tell me if it worked because it was not an elimination diet.
So I have decided to take matters into my own hands. I am putting him on a Limited ingredient diet for 8 weeks hoping I will see a positive result and then can start to rule out possible allergens. Kibble and wet has only one protein (turkey) and one vegetable (pea)....as limited as I could find in commercial cat food.
Now to the essence of the thread. I am also considering probiotics (Now Probitotic Defense and Jarrow SB) as part of the problem may be bacterial given he was outside when rescued. While they come in special capsules to protect from the gastric acids killing essential bacteria, if I am going to provide recommended half dose twice a day, I am short one capsule.
So the question is, should I also purchase separate empty enteric or time release capsules to ensure each dose has max bacteria survival rate by the time it reaches the large intestine, or is sprinkling half of the capsule powder over wet food sufficient?
Appreciate any thoughts or comments on this or anything above.
We adopted Benny from a rescue beginning of December. Was in bad shape when rescued beginning of October but was nursed to health over a couple of months by the Rescue founder and foster before we adopted him. he was vaccinated, treated for mites and parasites etc. He was already neutered. He was put on vet GI food and had on and off soft stools as well as diarrhea. 5.5 yrs old.
We were told we could transition him to another food, which we did...a high protein, medium fat, low carb grain free food called Go! Solutions. Free feed dry kibble (never over eats) and wet twice a day, about 35g per feed. We transitioned over a week. He started to have on-off stool...some diarrhea, some soft, (both often odorous) some perfectly firm. Had him tested for parasites and bacteria as well...nil. Blood work when was tested at beginning of October was good. His stool continues to be on and off and I see no specific pattern.
Result was vet recommending hypoallergenic vet prescribed food, which after my research, I discovered (with all due respect) is lousy food (extremely high calories from carbs and other allergens) other than it has hydrolyzed protein (soy). Wasn't clear at end of 2 month test what that would tell me if it worked because it was not an elimination diet.
So I have decided to take matters into my own hands. I am putting him on a Limited ingredient diet for 8 weeks hoping I will see a positive result and then can start to rule out possible allergens. Kibble and wet has only one protein (turkey) and one vegetable (pea)....as limited as I could find in commercial cat food.
Now to the essence of the thread. I am also considering probiotics (Now Probitotic Defense and Jarrow SB) as part of the problem may be bacterial given he was outside when rescued. While they come in special capsules to protect from the gastric acids killing essential bacteria, if I am going to provide recommended half dose twice a day, I am short one capsule.
So the question is, should I also purchase separate empty enteric or time release capsules to ensure each dose has max bacteria survival rate by the time it reaches the large intestine, or is sprinkling half of the capsule powder over wet food sufficient?
Appreciate any thoughts or comments on this or anything above.