Another Poop Update

This time, I'll try to spare you the photos of Izzy's poop. No guarantees, but I'll try. Here's a quick poop recap:

• 4 weeks ago, Izzy's body worker suggested I give the GastroElm a break.
• Immediately Izzy's poop lost its sour smell.
• A week or so later, his poop started forming actual balls.
• A full month after pausing the GastroElm, Izzy's poop looked as normal as I ever remember seeing it.

And then it didn't. Last Wednesday, I decided to take Izzy for a "trail ride" out in the neighborhood. Izzy doesn't like to be by himself, and he really doesn't like to be trail ridden by himself. I know that, but I also know that horses and riders can build incredibly trusting relationships out on the trail. Thousands of endurance miles taught me that. While Izzy doesn't love the solo trail rides, I view them as a necessary evil. A few days after the ride, Izzy's poop started to splat once again, and his left flank was tender.

GastroElm goop.

I looked at the calendar and saw that Sunday was to be the return of the GastroElm. Coincidence or proof of efficacy? My plan had been to give Izzy a 4 week break and then put him back on it based on need. I guess he needs it. Further proof was that after just the first dose, his poop firmed back up by the very next day. My new strategy is to give the GastroElm one week out of every month. This is that week.

Hopefully I can adjust the schedule so that he either gets it the first week of the month or the last. Three weeks off, one week on is a bit harder to keep track of when the week starts on the 20th of the month and the 17th on the next month. Before I make any hard and fast rules though, I'll see how it goes this week. Maybe I'll discover that he only needs 2 or 3 doses to firm his poop back up rather than a full week.

See no poop pictures! You're welcome.