Choya is finally off antibiotics. This is metronidazole Round 2 that began on April 14. I was slowly tapering off, and once we were at June 12, and her poop was solid, I knew it was finally time to call it a day.
I didn't even finish the seven pills for Round 2. When I stopped the dosage, we stood at 5.5 pills. Yayyyy.
Those darned active clostridium spores should more or less killed. Whatever's left would be balanced out by the usual bacteria in her stomach. All dogs carry clostridium of some sort in their GI tract. That normal amount is okay. An overgrowth of clostridium (whichever strain) is super annoying. It really takes some effort and time to eradicate.
Doing three rounds of intensive antibiotics is never ideal. Round 1 told me that intensive doesn't quite work. Carpet bombing clostridium spores only meant driving a good chunk into dormancy and they would promptly flare within 48 hours once the pills were done. I prefer to taper. Although I wouldn't do this without checking in with a trusted doctor.
Tapering gives Choya's immune system a chance to recover at an optimal pace, and a better environment for the gut microbiome to get back into balance after Round 1. Keeping a minimal amount of antibiotics in the system allow the clostridium spores to get active, but get eaten up by the good gut bacteria that can still flourish.
To be honest, I'm nervous of letting go of the antibiotics. They've become my crutch. I gotta have confidence in my hypothesis, backed up by the poop that I've seen over the last two weeks — that Choya's gut is balanced now and is perfectly capable of dealing with mild unwanted bacteria and could produce the solid dense poop that I want.
Had a celebratory little lunch plate for Choya. Her meals are just fine. Keeping them basic and clean.
May your poop be solid-gold, sweetheart.
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