Epilepsy and Diet

[DogtorJ]

I have been working on this amazing topic for the past 5 years following my personal diagnosis of celiac disease (gluten intolerance). It was not long after my diagnosis that I read that celiac children that were placed on gluten free diets often had dramatic improvement in their seizures. This really snagged my interest for some reason, as we have all been taught that epilepsy in the dog was "idiopathic" (my new, least favorite word).

I have been recommending the low glutamate diet for epilepsy for the past 4 years with phenomenal results. It is working very well in humans as well (I am now working with some human doctors and neurologists trying to get this into mainstream medicine). Glutamate is a non-essential amino acid (one that our body makes all that it needs from other proteins). It is also the parent protein in MSG, the neurostimulating chemical we use as a flavor enhancer. It works by stimulating the nerves in our taste buds. But many of you know that it also brings on migraines and stimulates pain in people with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic pain syndromes. It can also trigger seizures in people. Wheat gluten is 25% glutamate by weight. Oh oh. Now you are getting a glimpse of where this is going. Our diet is LOADED with this non-essential amino acid and the restriction of this protein can have very positive results. I will be following this post with something I call The Epilepsy Diet Made Simple, a summary-style article that helps to explain the rationale behind the glutamate-aspartate restricted diet (the G.A.R.D.).

I would love to hear from anyone who has an epileptic dog. I am in the process of getting together numbers of pets that have responded to present to my profession. I will be speaking at the annual meeting of a major veterinary association in September and presenting this data. I had so many coming in at once that I lost track a couple of years ago (especially when I started hearing about more and more human cases). I also had a lap top crash on me and I lost some data. So, I am trying to round up as many cases as I can.

The main foods that we have used so successfully in epileptic dogs are the potato-based diets from IVD (innovative Veterinary Diets, now distributed by Royal Canin) and the Dick Van Patten Natural Balance. The former are sold through vets and the latter are carried by select pet shops. The responses have been tremendous with many of the non-responsive cases being totally explainable. The following summary style paper will help, I think.

Please remember: When we approach epilepsy this way, we must be very strict, especially at first. It can take a while for all of things that are out of whack to get back to normal (brain, liver, and immune system health being the keys). I still use medication when necessary but the majority of my patients are on no anti-seizure meds with the others requiring much less than average, often simply to protect the pet against mistakes being made by well-meaning family members, neighbors, or kids.



Thanks for your help,
John

This is a discussion forum, please do not solicit personal information from our members or advertise your website.

[DogtorJ]

Here are the nuts and bolts of “the G.A.R.D“....the glutamate/aspartate restricted diet...that has helped many pets and people with epilepsy, ADHD, insomnia, fibromyalgia (pain syndromes), chronic fatigue/depression, IBS/heartburn, and much more. It should make perfectly good sense. If not, once again, I have not done my job....yet.

1) There are 4 known "foods" that can induce villous atrophy of the duodenum*: gluten, casein, soy, and corn. The gluten comes from the gluten grains: wheat, barley, and rye. Casein comes from cow's milk products and is mostly absent in goat's milk. The absence of casein in goat's milk is what makes it the "universal foster milk." (*The duodenum is the first section of small intestine after the stomach. The villi are the tiny, finger-like projections that absorb nutrients. Atrophy is the wasting away/destruction of these villi.)

2) Adhesives are made from these four foods. Powerful, industrial-strength glues are made from gluten, casein, and soy. Corn is also used to make adhesives but those made from this food are weaker, used for paper/cardboard products whereas those made from the other three can be used to make glues capable of holding metal together. The glycoproteins from these foods are clearly VERY adherent.

3) Simple-stomached animals (non-ruminants) are incapable of completely breaking down these "glues". Celiacs are the proof. These troublesome glycoproteins DO adhere to the duodenal villi after passing from the stomach, surviving the acid designed in part to break it down. This is the known pathophysiology of celiac disease. This adherence and the ensuing immune response causes serious damage to the duodenal and even jejunal villi.

4) The duodenum is responsible for the absorption of calcium, iron, iodine, B complex, vitamin C, and many trace elements (zinc, boron, manganese, lithium, magnesium, and more). In fact, 95% of the intestine's vitamin D activity (involved in calcium absorption) takes place in the proximal (first) one third of the duodenum. (Here's the rub: I have yet to meet a doctor...veterinary or human...that knows or remembers this simple truth concerning the absorption of nutrients taking place in the duodenum. In fact, I have had a number of doctors look me in the eye and tell me that it absorbs "nothing". This is unfathomable to me, although I did not know this either, until I began my research. Therefore, I am NOT throwing stones here. But I am very disappointed in the educational process that we as health care providers go through if basic truths like these are lost.

5) The official number now being published by the medical profession (Johns Hopkins University and Mayo Clinic) is that 1:122 Americans have celiac disease (gluten intolerance). This is a staggering number and a vast change from "a rare disorder affecting less than 1:5000 people" that was being purported at the time of my diagnosis 5 years ago. BUT remember: wheat is only one of the four gut-damaging foods and is only the number two human, dog and cat allergen. Cow milk is number one. Casein intolerance is bound to be even more prevalent.

6) The allergies to these four foods (gluten grains, cow's milk, soy, and corn) are formed at the time the damage to the gut is taking place. These four foods are the top human, dog, and cat allergens for a reason. They are the PRIMARY allergens- those that do harm to the gut and elicit an immune response in the process. All other foods allergens are SECONDARY to this damage, drawing an immune response as they pass through the damaged gut. This is called the "leaky gut syndrome" and this is the accepted pathophysiology of adulthood food allergens in celiac disease, not a theory.

7) There are antibody-sized glycoproteins that we derive from foods that are now termed "lectins". There are good and bad lectins in our food components, with the most damaging being from the same four foods listed above. For a great paper on this subject and a good discussion of their involvement in immune-mediated diseases, click on this link (http://www.krispin.com/lectin.html).

8) Glutamic acid (glutamate) and aspartic acid (aspartate) are two NON-essential amino acids. Our bodies manufacture all of the required amounts of these two amino acids from other proteins. Glutamate is one of the principle neurotransmitters in our brain. The amount of glutamate at the synapse is regulated by the adjacent glial cell (astrocyte), which removes excess glutamate from the synapse to prevent over-excitation of the impulse-receiving neuron. Glutamate is not only neurostimulating, it is potentially neuro-lethal. Excessive glutamate at the synapse is the described pathomechanism in Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), with that excess leading to the death of that neuron. Similarly, the "glutamate cascade" is the known cause of brain death regardless of the cause of our bodily death. Therefore, it is clearly very important for the synapse to have the proper level of glutamic acid present at any given moment. Excessive glutamate can lead to overstimulation of neurons (e.g. seizures, reduced pain threshold, sleep disorders, and emotional disturbances) or neuronal death (e.g. ALS).

9) Glutamic acid is the parent protein in MSG (mono sodium glutamate). MSG is used as a neurostimulator, acting to sensitize the open-ended nerves in our taste buds so that food will taste better. MSG is a KNOWN trigger of seizures, as is its sister amino acid, aspartic acid- the parent protein in artificial sweetener in aspartame (Nutrisweet). Both are neurostimulators (and "excitotoxins", as Dr. Russell Blaylock terms them) and the very proof lies in the purpose for their use in the food industry.

10) It has been commonly held that blood sources of these two neurostimulating amino acids do not cross the "normal" blood brain barrier, that layer of cells that protect the brain by limiting the passage of certain blood components into the brain. This contention is only partly true, as there are areas of the brain that are not protected by the normal blood brain barrier. Also, the key word in the above contention is "normal". The question is whether we have normal barriers any longer. Air pollution, hydrogenated oils, and normal immune/allergic responses are known to alter the permeability of the blood brain barrier. Therefore, with 90% of prepared foods containing trans fats, with most of us living in highly polluted environments, and with huge populations of us experiencing significant allergies, it is reasonable to question the integrity of our "normal" blood brain barrier.

11) Wheat gluten is 25% glutamic acid by weight. Casein from cow's milk is 20% glutamic acid by composition. Soy protein has much more glutamate than either of these two. Corn contains the least amount of these two non-essential amino acids but it DOES potentially do harm to the intestinal villi and IS a very common food allergen. This has become even more of a problem as we have genetically modified corn, the evidence of which came in the recent news concerning Starlink corn (CRY9C), the culprit in the "Taco Bell shell" fiasco a few years back. The reader should really search out the complete story.

12) 70% plus of the calories of the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) come from dairy and wheat alone, the number one and number two food allergens in humans, dogs, and cats. Remember: The damage they do to the gut is the root cause of the allergies. These foods are loaded with glutamate. Allergic reactions affect the blood brain barrier. The products made from these foods are often very high in refined sugar and hydrogenated oils.

13) Cow milk products, wheat, and soy are the leading sources of dietary estrogens. Dairy products have been related to breast cancer, prostate cancer, endometriosis, and polycystic ovaries. Dairy and soy have been both incriminated in altering the onset of first menses in our children, with dairy first bringing that age down from 15 to 12.5 years and soy bringing it further down to 8 years of age (in 16.7% of our little girls). Estrogens are both inflammatory and immune suppressive. Their role in breast cancer is well documented, setting the stage for the viruses that cause breast cancer. (Put "virus, breast cancer in your search engine.) Estrogens play a role in catamenial seizures (inflammatory), PMS (obvious), and in the immune suppression that helps unleash the opportunistic viruses that we have acquired over our lifetime, including Epstein Barr and others that occupy our brain. Put “virus, seizure” or “virus, epilepsy” in your search engine and read about the viral agents known to be involved in seizures.

14) The damage to the duodenal villi results in a chronic, progressive malabsorption of the nutrients it normally absorbs. Again, those nutrients include calcium, iron, iodine, B complex, and vitamin C along with numerous trace minerals. Evidence of this malabsorption is everywhere you look in this country- osteoporosis, iron deficiency anemia, thyroid diseases, folate deficiencies, and immune incompetence. Celiacs represent the worst of the worst, acting as a "who's who" of what goes wrong with humans, dogs, and cats. Growth abnormalities, juvenile bone diseases, dental issues (cavities) , and iron deficiencies are obvious evidence of the malfunction taking place in the duodenum. In veterinary medicine, the most food allergic breeds have the worst juvenile bone disorders and suffer the worst cartilage failure as adults (intervertebral discs, heart valves, and supportive ligaments such as anterior cruciate ligaments). The evidence of the chronic malabsorption of calcium and vitamin C...the building blocks for our skeletal system (collagen) is EVERYWHERE once we see this KNOWN process is taking place. What we can't readily see is how normal enzyme systems (e.g. those in the liver, kidney and brain) that control blood and neuronal glutamate levels suffer from the deficiency in those vitamins critical to the function of that enzyme. What we DO see is the consequences- the effects of the excess glutamate in the brain in the form of seizures, pain syndromes, insomnia, and neurodegenerative diseases. Another element that is difficult to accurately measure is the competence of the immune system. But you do not have to be a doctor to know that an individual that is not getting adequate levels of vitamins and minerals would have a less than perfect immune system. Celiacs stand out here once again, leading the pack in immune incompetence (e.g. fighting mono, shingles, and herpes), immune-mediated diseases (lupus, rheumatoid disease, etc), and cancer (e.g. a 50 fold increase in colon cancer). Put “cancer, virus” in your search engine.

15) The G.A.R.D. is primarily an elimination diet. It is "simple" but not necessarily easy. It is certainly much more easily accomplished in our pets tat in our own lives. In the dogs and cats, it can be a simple as changing from pet food "A" to pet food "B" after checking the ingredients. However, eliminating snacks and treats seems to be just as hard for some pet owners to do as it is for them to do in their own lives. What to eliminate becomes quite obvious, dictated by the condition being treated and degree of affliction. The "worst of the worst" require the strictest elimination, often showing marginal recovery without doing so but demonstrating significant improvements when enough is done right. Once the molecular nature of the immune system is understood, the reason for the variation is response is very clear.

16) The first to eliminate are the "big 4" (or the four horsemen of the apocalypse, as I like to refer to them)- gluten, casein, soy, and corn. This shuts off the damage being done to the duodenal villi, a step of paramount importance in the full recovery from any condition imaginable. Logic should dictate this to be true...and it does. This also eliminates the top four primary food allergens and main sources of glutamate, estrogens, and lectins. Could this step be any more important???

17) The next step is to eliminate the "crack cocaine" versions of these non-essential amino acids...MSG and aspartame. This can be difficult in the human diet and often requires intense research for the hidden sources of MSG. There are MSG and migraine support Websites that deal specifically with this issue. Diet drinks must be eliminated immediately. Put "aspartame syndrome" in your search engine and believe the testimonies that you read.

18) Eliminate the other sources (listed in the following article) of glutamate. Peanuts, for example, are VERY high in this non-essential amino acid, being soy's closest cousin. All legumes are rich in glutamate as are the bean family (not green beans), which include garbanzo, lima, black, kidney, and navy. Lentils are also rich in glutamate. Certainly, these foods are nutritious in other regards, but for those battling excitotoxin-related disorders, they should be limited until full recovery is attained. Then, perhaps as the body functions (enzyme systems, blood brain barrier, neuronal sensitivity, and tissue health) return to normal, these can be eaten again. Perhaps not.

19) RUN from hydrogenated oils. For an incredible read, click here for David Dewey's Hydrogenated oils- The Silent Killers (http://www.dldewey.com/hydroil.htm). You will see how these trans fats- one of man's worst creations- play a vital role in atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and in neurodegenerative and immune-mediated conditions. Learn how they kill an American every 3.5 seconds. In the context of our discussion, they damage the blood brain barrier, disrupting enzyme systems, and allowing excess glutamate levels to build in the brain by preventing their exclusion. Thankfully, pet foods do not contain appreciable amounts of these deadly fats. But after reading David's article, you may have a clue why pet's do not suffer from clinical atherosclerosis...yet.

20) In summary: The G.A.R.D. allows the gut to heal, thereby reversing the malasorption of nutrients that are vital to the health of all tissues and systems, including the brain and immune system. It is also naturally hypoallergenic, which relieves symptoms and improves the function of the blood brain barrier. It is low in dietary estrogens, which in turn reduces inflammation and improves immune function. And mainly, the G.A.R.D. is low in the non-essential amino acids glutamate and aspartate, which clearly ARE crossing into the brain in the same fashion as their concentrated forms (MSG and aspartame), causing over-excitation of neurons. The elimination of the offending foods has resulted in phenomenal improvements in seizures, pain syndromes, insomnia, ADHD, bipolar disease, and even MS and ALS. Because these foods are also the primary food allergens, their restriction also relieves numerous symptoms such as nasal congestion, asthma, heartburn, IBS, skin allergies, ear problems, and more. And when the immune system recovers from the malnutrition and over-stimulation from which it has been suffering (being over-worked and under-paid, as I stated in The Answer), it can better handle the viruses, bacteria, mycoplasms, and air pollution it faces everyday. As we learn more and more about the role of viruses in cancer, immune-mediated diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, we will easily see how our food choices have contributed so greatly to our downfall. Imagine an immune system capable of not only fighting off these opportunistic organisms but also even being capable of eliminating many of the ones that we have harbored for years.
Sound too good to be true? The bottom line is that this elimination diet works! And, it should make sense.... perfectly good, common, everyday horse sense. If it doesn't, then.........yes........I haven't done my job....yet.

John (Dogtor J.)

[JeanT]

Neither the Krispin link nor the Dewey link worked for me. Am I the only one, or are the links bad?

[sophie's-mom]

Originally Posted by JeanT

Neither the Krispin link nor the Dewey link worked for me. Am I the only one, or are the links bad?

in the address bar after you click on the link.........take out the ")" at the end. it should work then.

[marianne]

Dogtor J where were you when I needed you? I DID have an epileptic Bulldog. I took him to UWM Medical College for evaualtion. This was a heartbreaking situation for my late hubby and me. We were able to control "most" of the gran mals,but the satus seizures needed to be treated by my vet. Iv's, meds, constant supervision. We did moniter all food given. We found the use of Flint River Ranch kibble helped. The meds he used were KBR and PB, with the addition of Milk Thistle to protect his liver.

This dog came from one of the top Bulldogs in the USA at the time. I really don't know if genetics play too much in Epilepsy...but I feel they do! Secerts of dog breeders...darn. Now years after the stud dog is dead all the "secerts" of other litters having Epi pups has surfaced.

Thank you for making this a part of your practice..So much more research needs to be done in understanding the causes and handling the Epileptic dog.

[mmilard]

I am one with an epi dog. My Rott in Miami Florida, Princess...she has seizures. She didn't start to have them until after she was spayed, and that was after I moved to SC and had to leave her behind. Not that I wanted to, but my grandmother wanted to keep her down there with her, so I was okay with it. She has been on PB for it the entire time, and I believe that has been about 6-7 years now.


Last year, we nearly lost her. Her liver enzymes were way off the chart. Everything was out of wack. She was at the vets the entire weekend. Her liver was failing her. Anyways, she made it. She was on iv fluid and antibiotics for the weekend. Her diet was changed and we took her off of the PB and within a week, she was back to her normal self. All blood work was normal including the liver enzymes.

We have had to since put her back on a low dose of PB because when she gets excited or there is a lot going on, she will seize. So she now takes 3 pills a week rather then 2 pills 2 times a day, and she has done much better.

We still are not really sure if she is epiliptic ~sp~ or not. She enjoys playing with the bufo toads down there, and I know that they are not good for her, as well as the occasional avacado (pit and all). She will jump in the air to grab those suckers right out of the tree!!

[DogtorJ]

I am writing on numerous forums right now. So, if you post a reply and do not get a timely response on my part, then PLEASE Email me if you questions or comments about this material.

I am also running a thread of testimonials on a large Labrador forum. For some reason, the forum is down right now. I will provide the link as soon as possible.

Hope this helps,
John

[DogtorJ]

Sorry. I see what happened. The right parenthesis I placed around the link got incorporated into the link itself. That keeps it from working.

Here they are again:
Lectins- http://www.krispin.com/lectin.html
Hydrogenated oils (Dewey)- http://www.dldewey.com/hydroil.htm

[damp]

VERY interesting (and I wish I understood all the medical terms)

I have 33 years experience working with mental retarded people and in relation to that also a countless numbers of people with epilepsy.

Your post woke up my memories: I work with a 23 years young man with Downs Syndrome and diabetes. Some years ago, he got very sick and had something similar to seizures and we related that to the diabetes…even the bloodsugar was normal when we checked. Some months later he was diagnosed with gluten allergy TOO (his lunch sucks but he never whines. He knows he gets sick, if he eat anything else, than his mom put in his lunch box… he is a such BRAVE BOY)

Well, after he now is on ONE MORE diet, we have never seen “seizures” we can’t relate to low or high blood sugar.

With to day’s treatment regarding DOGS, I would put my dog to sleep if it gets/has epilepsy… but if DIET could replace medicine and keep my dog FREE from seizure I would reconsider.

That said... Epilepsy is one thing... and "seizures" are caused by MANY thing...

[DogtorJ]

Hi Damp,

Of course, you are absolutely right about there being numerous causes of seizures in people and pets. But when we have recurrent seizures in individuals that are normal before and after the event, we start using the term epilepsy. Epilepsy is what we call a "rule-out" condition. We would have to rule out all known or identifiable causes of seizures before we could accurately use that term. So, you are correct again in making that point.

However, "idiopathic" epilepsy in the dog (and person for that matter) becomes a pretty classic situation, striking the dog between 6 months and 6 years (Why does it "wait" that long sometimes? Hmmm...) and being characterized by a normal individual before the seizure event and a complete recover afterwards. There are not many medical conditions that meet that last criteria. Plus, we see epilepsy much more in certain breeds than others. Who gets it the worst is the cool thing to see.

Just as the most fpod allergic breeds have the worst juvenile bone diseases, secondary inhalant allergies, immune mediated diseases, and cancer, they also have epilepsy, narcolepsy/cataplaxy, and OCD.

The Rottie is one of the poster children for this concept, aren't they? I hate to see them have so many problems. BUT, the good news is that these food issues are playing a HUGE role in all of these. They start out as allergic dogs with serious juvenile bone diseases and end up with bone cancer at age 6.5 years. That SHOULD not happen! "But what about "genetics?" you might be saying.

WE will be discussing what "genetics" really are in another thread. Here's a hint. If something is "genetic" (like hypothyroidism, myelopathy, or bone cancer) then why does it wait years to show up? Why does it wait? WHAT is waiting? What finally triggers it into action? Believe it or not, there are good answers to these questions...logical answers.

Hope this helps,

John

(PS. Put "cancer, virus" in your search engine. Better yet, put "breast cancer, virus" in your search. Did you see the stuff about the new breast cancer vaccine? Hey, I thought it was "genetic".)

[Judi W]

There are genetic predispositions that are then are triggered which is where your research becomes so very interesting. Not all genetic diseases express themselves from birth. Many are developmental prior to expression. The predisposition however is still a faulty system and although we learn to treat and manage diseases caused by such, those vulnerable individuals should probably not be in the gene pool.

[DogtorJ]

Originally Posted by Judi W

There are genetic predispositions that are then are triggered which is where your research becomes so very interesting. Not all genetic diseases express themselves from birth. Many are developmental prior to expression. The predisposition however is still a faulty system and although we learn to treat and manage diseases caused by such, those vulnerable individuals should probably not be in the gene pool.

I certainly think that you are right... in many cases, the afflicted should not be in the gene pool but maybe for a different reason than most think. The interesting thing is that, if we look at genetics as being the opportunists that they truly are* and we can limit or even totally control the things that "trigger"/unleash the genetics, then why not breed the ndividuals with those sorts of problems if they are great representatives of the breed in all other regards? (* Again, if something is genetic, then why does it wait years to show up?)

NOW, I know that sounds like TOTAL "heresy", but please hear me out for just a second. Here is an example of a rather minor "genetic" problem- demodecosis. I have heard many say that we should not breed dogs that need to be treated for generalized demodex (its a genetic weakness, right?). I see three breeders of English Bulldogs here..lots of Demodex...at first. But why do they have clinical demodex when most other dogs (that have the mites in their skin) don't? Well, I was taught and you have heard that they have an inherited immune system problem that allows this. And those who state that are partly right.

The fact is that English bulldogs are some of the MOST food allergic dogs on the planet. Now we know that the primary food allergens are so because of the villous damage they do in the duodenum. The allergies to the big 4 (gluten, casein, soy, and corn) are formed at the time of this damage is done by these foods. (Then, the secondary food allergies occur as other food proteins pass through that damaged gut...rice, lamb, beef, eggs, fish, etc. This is not theory. This is the known pathomechanism for secondary food allergies in the celiac, like myself.)

So, the English bulldog has the worst allergies and is clearly one of the most afflicted breeds when it comes to food intolerances. This is illustrated by their cartilage related disorders that stem from the calcium malabsorption taking place in that damaged duodenum. 95% of their (and our) calcium is absorbed in the proximal 1/3 of their duodenum. Think cherry eyes, hypoplastic tracheas, early cruciate ruptures, and the severity if their chondrodysplasia (flat faces, short legs, and spinal abnormalities).

AND, their immune system suffers GREATLY as they malabsorb the B complex, C, iron, iodine, and other trace minerals and vitamins that cannot get into their system through that same damaged gut. The Demodex LOVES an individual like this- one with chronic inflammation in their skin (allergies) PLUS immune suppression. This is a recipe for disaster in the same way that estrogens are for their contribution to breast cancer in women...chronically inflammatory and immune suppressive. A deadly combo when there are viruses about.(Did you do that search yet?)

So where do "genetics" come into play in demodecosis? Its NOT some mysterious immune system insufficiency that we cannot put our finger on like we were led to believe in vet school. The immune failure and rise of the opportunistic demodex is pretty understandable once we see what their diets are doing to their gut, skin, and immune system, aren't they? To prove this (and I have ), I have "cured" these trouble demodex cases by putting them on hypoallergenic diets that do not cause the gut damage. Yes I treated most of them conventionally as well but they did not recur.

I get "last opinions" all of the time now..."Fix him or we ae putting him to sleep". I have in my Yellow Page ad..."Bring me your worst". I now love to see these horrible cases walk in my door. I look the people in the eye and tell them that they will be the next miracle. And they are. I just have to see what SECONDARY problems they have developed (hypothyroidism, Cushings, demodex, other immune-mediated diseases) and treat them. I am still amazed at how many vets overlook food allergies and hypothyroidism. It makes looking like a hero very easy.

But what about other "genetic" traits? What DO we think causes epilepsy in the trouble breeds and bone cancer in Rottweiler's at age 6.5 years? Let's face it...It's a virus. It has to be. Everything points to that. Some researchers have been saying that all cancer is viral for years and years and we WILL determine that in the near future, just as they have in cervical, breast, liver, lymphoid and other cancers cancer. Some of these viruses are acquired naturally and others through vaccination. The bad news is that some of thes viruses are transmitted vertically...from mother to offspring. Some can even be transmitted from the father, having viral genetic material in the sprem itself. Again, NOT theory.

Are we starting to get a feel for why "genetics" wait years to show up? Do viruses ever incorporate their genetic material into ours and that of our dogs. Yes, of course. That's what viruses do. In fact, that is what they were created to do...to cause variation and allow adaptation in nature. How do we adapt to change? How DO our "genes" mutate or adapt??? Can you imagine our double-stranded DNA infiltrated with virus genetic material? Haven't you seen this on the Discovery channel yet? :)

What about epilepsy? Do viruses ever cause seizures? Of course they do. Herpes and paramyxoviruses love the brain and they are known causes of seizures. Even good 'ol Epstein Barr has been shown to cause seizures and 50% of our kids have him by age 5 and 95% of Americans do by age 40. (But, he has now also been linked to some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Uh oh.). Once again, we either get these viruses naturally, through vaccines, or vertically. Ever hear of a dog developing epilepsy after a distemper shot? Oh yeah. Why doesn't "idiopathic epileps happen before 6 months? Hmmm...How about kids developing epilepsy 3 weeks after their last MMR vaccines? (errrrh).

So, is this "heresy", saying that genetics are not what they seem and that we actually have some control over their manifestation in our lives and those of our pets? Depends on whose "religion" you are stepping on. I know longer consider the genetics I have been taught a valid doctrine. There is some truth to it but to say that something is genetic and that there is nothing we can do about it is a different kind of heresy...true heresy, in my mind. We are made better than that folks. And guess what...we ARE what we eat (and breathe) afterall. Whodathunkit?

I hope you got something from this "sermon".

John

[DogtorJ]

I did not mean to offend you, Judy with the title of that last reply. I'm sorry if it did. I have used that title in other similar posts and it is just how I feel about how we have lumped everything into that big 'ol recycle genetic bin we call "genetics". I did not mean to aim it at you or your post.

[Judi W]

I don't know why you would say I might offend easily simply because of a discussion and such an apology is specious. If you have discovered methods to ameliorate disease that is wonderful and will be a boon to the individual, that does not negate the fact that the vulnerability of certain individuals to things that are innocuous to most is not something that needs to be paid attention to.

Your example of the demodex is actually a prime example. Do all dogs who have wheat in their diets develop demodex? No, of course they don't. Why not? Just as the GSD breeders felt that they could ignore pano because it self-limits, they now have dogs that suffer from pano not only as juveniles, but well into age 3 years or more. To ignore a propensity just because it can be masked, is very short-sighted.

[moondog]

Hi Dogtorj,

With all due respect, the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is", comes to mind when reading this, and for me, it's for a very good reason....the core of the advice you are giving here is in almost complete contradiction to the manner in which I was able to successfully manage my dog's protein-losing enteropathy for more than half of the ten years she blessed my life with.

Luna had no health problems for 6 years, other than mild elbow dysplasia. She was fed a diet of Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance kibble, a food I do believe is a very good food, and had been gluten, casein, soy and corn free her entire life. One week shy of her sixth birthday, she got very, very sick. We do not know what the trigger was, but in no way can I attribute it to her diet, and by your own recommendation of this food it appears you would agree. Why does a seemingly healthy dog suddenly become deathly ill when the dog next to her lives in the same environment, eats the same diet, has the same exposures and does not become ill? It had nothing to do with gluten, casein, soy, or corn because there was no exposure to those proteins, and in fact, two of those proteins were ultimately instrumental in saving her life. The only reasonable explanation that she would become ill and another dog with the same exposures wouldn't, is that she had a genetic weakness that predisposed her to the intestinal disease she was afflicted with. A weakness that remained latent (present or potential but not evident or active) until something that remains unknown in her environment triggered her genetic proclivity to an inflammatory condition.

I began home-cooking for her, learned everything I could about her condition, and I listened to all the "dogs must eat meat" arguments, which seemed to make sense in my limited experience...so I made sure her protein source was meat based. The only problem was she could only tolerate a diet (single protein - meat, single carbohydrate - potato for starters) for an average of 3 months before she'd "crash" and completely lose her tolerance for it. I had been told by people with IBS to try tofu (which I have also read is recommended for celiac disease), but I resisted, because "dogs need meat". After four diet changes in 8 months due to intolerance, I ran out of options, and my last "hurrah" was to give a tofu (the god-forsaken soy) and cottage cheese (the god-forsaken casein) diet a try. Luna thrived on this diet, regained every ounce of weight she had lost during her ordeal, and as long as I was very strict about restricting her diet to tofu, cottage cheese, and rice, Luna had very few upsets for the remainder of her life - 4 full years without any hint of a need for further diet changes. I was able to add a very small amount of cooked chicken after the first month or so on this diet, as it was apparent that more than a very small amount of meat protein was not tolerable for her. This dog had complete blood panels done on a quarterly basis from the time she first became ill, and those results reflected the recovery that was also apparent in her presentation.

It is too long to retype here, but if you have access to Dr. Donald Strombeck's "Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets, The Healthful Alternative", read Chapter 9 Digestive Tract Environment: Protection of Its Integrity. His bountiful research at UC Davis has shown that "tofu (the dreaded soy) has some unique properties for protecting intestinal mucosa" and that "tofu is the best protein to feed animals with gastric disease". I can tell you from my own experience with my dog that this certainly proved to be true.

I'm sure you can see why I will readily take two of your "four horsemen of the apocalypse", soy and casein, and I will not throw them out with the bathwater. Had my mind been on such a single track as I am seeing in what you've written here, my dog would not have seen her 7th birthday. I am not discounting any benefit your advice has to offer for dogs that can and will benefit from it, so don't misunderstand me on that front, but I do believe that to put all the eggs into one basket and then claim there are no others, is shortsighted at best.

As for the glue reference, it's also true that glue is made from the skin, bone, and other connective tissue of animals - all of which have properties that are beneficial when consumed - so I'm not really seeing why the implication that if glue can be made that it constitutes something sinister.