Hello there, fellow pet owners!

We're sharing our story with you today because, let's face it, it's not exactly a pleasant one - our furry friend's been feeling under the weather. For us, it's always a stressful and worrying time, especially when we're not sure what's causing the issue. We've had our fair share of vet visits with our spitz, Varusha, over the past four years, and we've learned that our dog's weakest link is indeed their stomach. So, today, I want to focus on our experiences with treating their gastrointestinal issues.

➥ About Us: meet Varusha, our little spitz - they're a picky eater, but they love their kibble, meat, cottage cheese, veggies, and vitamin supplements, along with a dash of linseed oil. Before last year, we didn't have any issues, and they were always happy and healthy, with no regular complaints.

The only real problem we faced was when Varusha's bowel movements stopped at three months old. It was a combination of our mistake and the breeder's, but we quickly consulted with the seller, who advised us to introduce meat and grains into their diet. We got a bit carried away and bought some high-quality beef, which unfortunately made things worse. The vet told us that their digestive system had come to a complete halt, and we had to administer injections and probiotics to get things back on track. Thankfully, we were able to sort things out, but it was a close call.

Fast forward to September 2017, when our dog was bitten by a tick. Yes, we're guilty of forgetting to treat Varusha in time, and we lost a week before we even realized what was happening. We didn't notice the tick at first, and it wasn't until our dog started showing symptoms that we realized what had happened. We lost three precious days before we could get our dog the help they needed.

Tick-borne diseases: what pet owners need to know: if you're a dog owner, you need to be extra vigilant between April and November, and make sure to apply tick repellents regularly. After every walk or hike, check your dog for ticks, and don't hesitate to use tick-killing sprays if you find any. We've had our fair share of close calls, from our dacha to our backyard, and even in the middle of Moscow. But we've always managed to catch the ticks before they could cause any harm.

Tick-borne diseases, like piroplasmosis, can take up to five days to show symptoms, and by the time we realized what was happening, it was too late. Our dog was showing signs of weakness, loss of appetite, and vomiting, but we didn't make the connection to the tick bite until it was too late. Thankfully, we were able to get our dog the help they needed, and we're just grateful that everything turned out okay in the end.

Diagnosing tick-borne diseases involves taking a blood test, which may not show immediate results. In our case, it took a week for the symptoms to appear, so we were lucky to catch it in time. Here's a rundown of the tests and procedures we underwent during the month:

One of the things that really stood out to me about our experience with Pro-Kolin Plus is how individualized the treatment was for Varya. The fact is, treatment for babesiosis is all about addressing the specific needs of the animal. In our case, the infection caused a severe intoxication, and we were lucky to avoid having to administer an IV. The treatment itself involves introducing a substance that targets and kills the blood parasites. After that, the vet will prescribe a course of recovery therapy, depending on which organs have been affected.

After the babesiosis, an ultrasound and blood test confirmed that Varya's liver and stomach were in dire need of attention - her gastritis had flared up. We immediately started treating those issues.

So, what's the takeaway from all this? It's that Varya's problems had been building up for a long time, and she needed comprehensive treatment. We saw a bunch of vets, but it wasn't until we found a specialist who recommended Pro-Kolin Plus that we finally got the help we needed.

As for the gastritis, we didn't really focus on treating it - we just gave Varya a special diet in a can, but she refused to eat it. So, we had to switch to her regular menu. She'd either gobble down a huge amount of food or starve for two days. Now that I think about it, I realize that was probably due to the pain. If I touch her stomach area, she'll tense up and whine. Her stomach would often harden, which is a sign of a spasm. When we went to the dacha, we'd bring her wet, pre-made food, and after that, she'd always get diarrhea - it seemed like her gut flora was out of whack.

It's been over a year since the babesiosis, but it wasn't until we started Varya on Pro-Kolin Plus that she finally made a full recovery.

? Pro-Kolin Plus - a dietary supplement?

Notice that this isn't a medication, but rather a supplement, kind of like a probiotic or prebiotic for humans. It's a combination of both.

➥ Price 1125 rubles with shipping

➥ Where to buy my-shop - it's not a common product, but there are plenty of online offers, and the difference is just in the price. I found the best deal for me with shipping to a nearby pickup point. I haven't seen it in stores like Four Paws or Dinozavrik.

➥ Packaging

Pro-Kolin Plus came to us in a white cardboard box, with a 60ml polymer syringe inside (there are 15ml and 30ml options, but buying those wouldn't be cost-effective).

I've got to say, I wasn't a fan of the syringe-like dosing system with the limiters. It's supposed to prevent over-dosing, but it's just not that convenient for me, so I end up giving it to my dog 'by eye'.

No special storage required for this stuff - just keep it at room temperature.

➥ Composition

kaolinite, soybean oil, pectin, prebiotic Preplex, Enterococcus faecium bacteria. The added flavoring gives it a beefy taste.

No nasty stuff in here, all good. Unfortunately, the flavoring didn't sit well with some dogs, so it's probably better to leave it out.

It ended up being a thick, muddy-colored paste with a greasy texture and some lumps.

This stuff is designed for dogs and cats, but I couldn't find any info on other animals.

➥ Dosage

Our vet told us to just read the packaging for the dosage, but unfortunately, there's nothing written on it. And to make matters worse, our dog's weight category (5-6 kg) isn't even mentioned. Luckily, I found some info online:

For cats and puppies, the daily dose is 1-2 ml, while for adult dogs it's up to 5 ml. The frequency of administration is two or three times a day, as specified by the vet. They also determine the course duration based on how quickly the desired effect is achieved.

Hmm, the dosage info on our packaging is completely different. I'm not sure who to trust, but since this is a dietary supplement, it's not like it can harm my dog, so I'm giving it 1/3 of a teaspoon per dose, once or twice a day.

➥ Our symptoms

Diarrhea in my dog: basically, we just avoided giving her store-bought food, as that would've made things worse - it's one of the signs of an imbalance in her gut.

Coughing in my dog: the first vet didn't even consider the possibility that it might be caused by parasites, so we had to go back for a second opinion. They gave her an anti-parasitic medication, and the cough disappeared after three days. And it's one of the reasons why this supplement is prescribed, as those meds can have a pretty harsh impact on the body.

I've gotta say, treating my dog's gastritis was a long and frustrating process. We were basically following the same treatment plan as for humans, with vitamins and No-Shpu. We were giving her 4 injections a day, which our vet had carefully measured out for us, but to be honest, I didn't really know what we were doing. Despite the vet's assurances, we didn't see any real improvement, and my poor pup was still experiencing spasms and bloating.

It's been a real challenge, to be honest. We've had to change vets a few times, and it's been a real rollercoaster. But then we found Pro-kolin, and it's been a game-changer. It's helped us tackle a few issues that had been plaguing us for a while.

➥ So, what's Pro-kolin good for?

It helps restore normal gut flora;

I'm a big believer in the importance of gut health, not just for dogs but for humans too. It's amazing how often people overlook it.

It suppresses the activity of pathogenic microorganisms;

We had a real problem with parasites in our dog's blood, and it was causing a range of issues, from lethargy to digestive problems. Pro-kolin really helped us get on top of that.

It stimulates the immune system;

I've seen it firsthand - a healthy gut is key to a strong immune system. And it's not just about preventing illnesses, it's about overall well-being. Our dog's coat has really improved since we started using Pro-kolin.

It helps cope with the consequences of stress;

We didn't really experience any major stressors with our dog, but I can see how it would be helpful in situations like that.

It improves appetite;

Our dog's appetite has actually increased since we started using Pro-kolin, which is a bit of a mixed blessing, to be honest! She's always hungry now, which can be a bit of a challenge.

It improves the absorption of useful substances

I've noticed a real difference in our dog's coat since we started using Pro-kolin. It's shinier and healthier-looking, which is a great sign.

It promotes weight gain.

That's actually a bit of a drawback for us, as our dog has been gaining weight a bit too quickly. But I can see how it would be helpful for dogs that need to put on weight after an illness or surgery.

One thing that's really cool about this product is how versatile it is - it's not just for one thing, but for a whole range of issues, from poisoning to stress, and even digestive problems. As a pet owner, you want to be able to spot the signs of illness early on and take action to help your furry friend.

Of course, it's not a magic bullet - in serious cases, it's meant to be used as a supplement, not a replacement for proper treatment. It's also a good idea to give it to pets that are switching from one food to another to avoid digestive issues.

➥ Our experience with the supplement

So, after the injections, we started giving our dog the Pro-Kolin supplement.

We'd squeeze out a small amount, about a third of a teaspoon, and put it on the back of their tongue. At first, we did it twice a day, but after a few days, their stool got a bit runny, so we switched to once a day, and everything settled down. Another thing - I'm not sure if it was a side effect of the injections or the supplement, but our dog started drinking an awful lot of water! We had to increase the dose by about three or four times. Of course, we didn't know about these 'side effects' at first, so the first few days were a bit of a mess ?

One thing to note is that there are no contraindications for Pro-Kolin, so my advice is to monitor your pet's response and adjust the dose accordingly.

It's best to give the supplement about half an hour before mealtime, so it can be absorbed properly. That's what I did, and it seemed to work well.

✍ After a week: the stomach pains were gone, and I could feel that their belly was nice and soft when I palpitated it. Their appetite had improved significantly, and they were no longer tearing up their eyes, which was a problem we'd been dealing with lately.

✍ After a month: we'd used up the syringes by this point, and it had been about 30-35 days since we'd started the supplement. Their digestive system was back to normal, and they were eating twice a day with a good appetite. Their weight was back to normal, and they were no longer experiencing bloating or discomfort. The liquid stool was a thing of the past, and we could even give them treats like cheese and pancakes without any issues.

My verdict is that the Pro-Kolin supplement is really effective in treating digestive issues and restoring the gut flora in animals.

✚ no question about its effectiveness

✚ no comparable products (at this level)

✚ I'd say this product offers good value for money.

✚ It's also super convenient to administer compared to pills or powders.

✚ And the best part? No contraindications!

✚ Plus, no unwanted side effects to worry about.

☒ The only downside is that it's not always easy to find in local pharmacies – I had to search online.

☒ I also had a bit of a problem with the flavor additive – my pet refused to take it.

☒ And let's be honest, the syringe could be a lot easier to use – measuring out 1-2 mL is a real challenge.

If your pet's been experiencing any of the issues I mentioned – like stomach problems, parasite issues, stress, or even something like gastritis or a tick bite – I'd highly recommend trying Pro-Kolin. We actually struggled with our own pet, Vara, for over a year before we discovered this product – wish we'd known about it sooner!

Better safe than sorry, right?

ღ๑♥●•· Until next time! ●♥•°•ღ