Nutrition: Is It A Factor in Bloat and Torsion?
by Linda Arndt
Linda Arndt has been involved in breeding Great Danes for 25 years,
having produced champions in both conformation and obedience. She is the
author of "Watchword", a column published in The Great Dane Reporter
as well as articles in The Great Dane Quarterly and other breed magazines, here
and overseas. The primary focus of the column is canine nutrition and
diseases plaguing the large and giant breeds.
Linda's breeding philosophy: "My primary concern as a
professional breeder is the improvement and preservation of the breed through a
"designed", limited breeding program with emphasis on temperament,
intelligence, longevity and classical beauty." Also to her credit,
Linda is an accomplished Artist and Professor of Fine Arts at
It has been some time since I have written an article, so before I
discuss the topic of nutrition and its potential role in the cause and
prevention of bloat and torsion, I would like to take this opportunity to pass
on some other information that will be of interest.
I want to make breeders aware of a product that is helpful:
"Liquid Chlorophyll"-100mg. I have found it to be extremely
helpful in masking season and urine odors. For
seasons I use 1 teaspoon in A.M. and P.M. feeding and I have found my males
will continue to eat even when caged right next to a bitch in season. Do
not, I repeat, do not trust putting the animals together or you may end up with
a litter and, of course, don't use chlorophyll if you are intending to breed
your bitch. It may interfere with the male's interest in your girl!
I have found the liquid works much better than the capsules and it can be
purchased from health food stores or contact: World Organics Corporation,
There are herbal remedies available for prostate problems as well
as to aid in the prevention of future problems. Several breeders have
reported using these products on their males with great success. For
information on the following products call: Prostata-Nutritional
Support for Prostate Health 1-800-926-9601 Prosta-Max (Prod. 54-1602) 1-800-338-7979.
MSM (Nutritional Sulfur) is one of the
nutrients I will discuss in this article and its potential relationship to bloat
and torsion, but this nutrient has many other benefits too. I was
working with a breeder that had a 12 week old puppy that appeared to be a wobbler, or had some growth problems, metabolic disorder or
injury that has manifested itself in "wobbler-like"
symptoms. MSM is frequently used for yearlings when there are growth
problems present. We have noticed the adoption of MSM (Nutritional Sulfur) to this animal's diet has made a considerable
difference in simply 3 days and by six months of age everything was back to
normal.
We have been using 1/4 teaspoon in A.M. and P.M. feedings and will
continue along with Phyto-Sprout
Plus for joint soreness, a product which I will be discussing in a future
article. To order: 1-800-937-1104.
I would like to take a look at the potential role diets can play in
these diseases. I refer to these as two separate diseases because we can
have one without the other as well as spleen torsion. Of all my articles,
this one is probably the most difficult to write because of the painful subject
matter. The topic of bloat and/or torsion conjures up a multitude of
feelings for any individual who has had first hand experience with these
terrifying diseases. The feelings of frustration and helplessness are
only compounded by the fact that there has been no new research information on
the cause or prevention of these diseases. We have been told to watch the
consumption of water, particularly after exercise and to soak food before
feeding (which can destroy nutrients and actually cause fermentation).
Then we have the controversy over the use of beet pulp as well as the concern
regarding extruded versus pelletized foods.
Frankly, I am not sure, in the final analysis, how much any of these concerns
have to do with the cause and prevention of bloat and torsion. Therefore,
I would like to offer another viewpoint for you to consider.
For the past 25 years research has been looking at these diseases,
as well as other health issues, through old paradigms (models) and with no
input from the professional breeders and their practical experience. In
spite of the thousands of dollars donated to the Morris Foundation, we are no
further ahead in solving these problems. I believe there must be input
and dialogue between the research and professional breeders. Gathering
data, after the fact, really does little in addressing the cause or prevention
and thus calls for a more creative approach to solving these dreaded diseases.
It has been my ongoing personal investigation into nutritionally caused
diseases that has led me to question our approach to bloat and torsion.
It is important to understand what I am about to discuss is only my opinion,
based on 22 years of experience in this breed, personal nutritional
investigation and information on health issues shared by researchers,
nutritionists and thousands of other breeders.
I believe there are things we can do nutritionally to narrow our
chances of having bloat and torsion. I have found it very interesting to
see a significant drop in the number of incidents of bloat and torsion over the
past few years in my animals and animals of my friends and breeders across the
country. Understand, I am not guaranteeing if you follow the program I
choose to use that you will never have a case of bloat, torsion or spleen
torsion. There is no such thing as a guarantee, but I feel this is a
healthy step in the right direction.
I lost my first Dane to bloat/torsion over twenty years ago and it
changed my life and the way I view these dogs. I now realize they are
extremely fragile and every day with us is a gift. I have learned to love
the breed as a whole because of this fragility and not a day goes by that I
don't think about bloat and torsion especially when I leave the house. My
whole life's schedule is geared around my dogs and would not think of
travelling to a dog show without a bloat kit. (To
purchase a bloat kit call "The Farmacy"
1-800-733-4981.)
It has been my experience that the number of incidents of
bloat/torsion have dropped dramatically over the past few years probably due to
better quality meat based foods and the incorporation of whole foods, probiotics and digestive enzymes into the diet. I
base this comment on the fact that I have had very few calls regarding bloat
and torsion in 4+ years. Before that, I would average 2-3 calls for
assistance per week. It is because of this experience and my interest in
the prevention of disease through quality nutrition that has made me consider
taking a closer look at the effects diet can have on the cause and prevention
of bloat and torsion.
It is no news that most breeders and research people believe these
diseases have multi-factorial causes:
·
stress - obvious or hidden signs
·
physiological stress
·
psychological stress
·
genetic considerations
·
environmental factors
I would like to list some other elements, seldom considered, that
need to be addressed as potential factors in the cause of these diseases:
·
temperament - sensitivities to sound,
light, movement
·
pH balance - the effect on a system when
the pH balance is off
·
dietary influences - on pH balance of
animals' electrical system
·
dietary influences - overuse of
vitamins/minerals
·
dietary influences - inadequacies or
missing nutrients, such as:
- probiotics -
friendly bacteria
- digestive enzymes
- sulfur
- micro-minerals
- anti-oxidant vitamins
- anti-oxidant enzymes
It is my opinion the disease of bloat/torsion manifests itself when
the animal is under stress due to many factors. Sometimes the stress is
external and obvious and other times it is internal and goes unnoticed.
Bloat and torsion may appear to be triggered by one event when in reality it is
a condition that has been building due to a number of circumstances. I
believe the disease is multi-factored and is in response to a chronic
deterioration of a total system affected by environmental, dietary,
psychological, physiological factors. These factors, singly or in
combination, cause excessive wear on an animal's system, changes the pH balance
and can encourage pathogenic bacteria growth causing bloat and alters the
body's electrical and chemical balance which under the right conditions will
cause stomach or spleen torsion.
It is important to look at solving this problem from a holistic
viewpoint. Instead of looking for a single cause for these diseases, like
excessive water intake or the size of the animal's chest, we must understand
the total picture. "The parts are not greater than the whole"
and, therefore, everything has a tremendous impact on the animal's total
well-being.
Stress and the Effect on Bloat and Torsion
Stress drastically affects the body chemistry of any living
organism and it alters the pH balance of the system. I believe this is an
important factor in the cause of bloat and torsion. There has certainly
been enough scientific research done to prove when an organism responds in a
negative way to stress. The results can be detrimental to one's health
and well-being. Stress is not this thing, out there lurking. Stress
in itself does not exist. It is instead the way in which an organism
(you, me, the dogs) responds to certain situations or stimulus. Some of
us and some dogs, due to genetics, body chemistry, nutrition and personality,
seem to handle negative stress better than others. But as humans we can
make a conscious choice as to how we are going to handle and reduce stress from
our daily lives (exercise, diet, meditation, crying). But for our
animals, this is an area seldom considered. Recognizing stress as a
problem and altering their situation is determined only by how in tuned we are
to their needs. Stress can effect the pH balance
of an animal's system which in turn can set up an internal environment ideal
for the fermentation of food and the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
Exercise is important in the elimination of stress for humans as well as
animals, and dogs that are kennelled and caged without adequate exercise for
muscle/bone development as well as for psychological reasons (boredom and
inertia) are primary candidates for these diseases. This is no different
than when an individual retires, becomes inactive and succumbs to death far too
early in life.
Diet
As humans, we also have choices when it comes to our dietary
needs. We attend to those cravings and fulfil our dietary needs, unlike
the dogs that are relegated to a boring diet of processed dead foods day in and
day out for their entire life. They seldom have access to a variety of
foods in order to compensate for nutrients lacking in a diet. The idea of
feeding raw meat, eggs, fruit and vegetables to our animals has been taboo in
our country for the past 25 years. In
Environment
We remove these animals from their natural environment, bring them
into our homes as a family member and alter their life style to fit ours.
(Yes, my grandma's dog loves to be covered up
with my good down comforter.) These are some of the areas in which
animals may respond in a stressful manner because of being subjected to certain
conditions that are not really suited for four legged friends: sudden
changes in diet after being fed the same thing daily; use and over-use of
antibiotics; emotional trauma; psychological stress; ingestion of chemicals in
food or water (chlorine, preservatives, nitrites, etc.); pollution; excessive
noise; travel; boarding; breeding; showing; shipping; changes in environment;
exposure to continual artificial light; disease; excessive inoculations;
medications; loss/death or abandonment; and personal changes in their habits
such as removal or changes in crates, toys, feeding stations, family upheaval
and various other changes too numerous to mention. Some animals are able
to handle stressful situations while others are not and I suspect the animal
who is hypersensitive and internalizes stress is a primary candidate for bloat
and torsion. If our animals are able to "work" or to
"function" in a more natural way, and
this means exercise and not being caged or kennelled the majority of their
lives, this would help expend pent up energy and to manage stress.
Genetics
When we limit our gene pool to specific kennel names, bloodlines, color families as well as remaining within each specific
breed, this prevents us from maintaining hybrid vigor.
It maximizes our chances for doubling on negative traits with the increased
potential for animals that are more sensitive to stimulus (light, sound,
movement) and affect the total physiological system (body functions) and their
psychological system (mental/behavioral functions).
Temperament
In the past 10+ years I have observed a
deterioration in the correct reliable and stable temperament of our
breed. Because breeders have bred for that "up" dog with an
edge, the current generation of breeders think this is correct and normal for
this breed! Any more we have a great deal of noise, light, movement sensitivity,
dog aggressiveness and appetite problems in this breed and this is not correct
temperament. I believe it is imperative that we choose only
temperamentally sound animals for breeding stock in order to increase our
chances of producing generations of animals are more stable, trainable,
reliable, intelligent and above all flexible and able to handle stress.
Younger breeders need to look at the whole picture and realize they may have to
undo, for the sake of the breed, what breeders of my generation have done for the
sake of the show ring.
Dietary Concerns
Diet and its effect on bloat and torsion is the main focus of this
article. The processed commercial foods are an area I will continue to
address as a cause for many of our current health problems. The
commercial dog food industry is relatively young and has developed because of a
financial need to utilize foods that are substandard for human
consumption. The industry needs to take a closer look at the nutritional
requirements, feeding habits and patterns of the dogs/cats in order to help
eliminate some of our current food related health problems.
The research done by F. Pottenger, M.D.
in his book "The Pottenger's Cats - A Study in
Nutrition" is a fascinating look at a controlled study of cats fed raw
versus cooked foods. This study detailed clinical and pathological
findings in cats as well as humans which provided convincing evidence that
processed foods are a modern day villain. The book includes several
photos of animals and human dentition (teeth), showing the actual difference in
those eating a modern processed diet to those of isolated cultures where whole
raw foods are the natural diet. There are actual physical changes in jaw
structure with teeth overlapping and decay present in individuals raised on
modern processed diets.
I believe there is a direct correlation between the lack of whole,
fresh, raw foods in our animals' diet and the problems of bloat, torsion,
disease, short life span, fertility and numerous degenerative diseases.
The vast majority of the problems we have been told are genetic are actually
the result of feeding inadequate, incomplete, inferior grade, processed,
fractionated, synthetic, hormone raised and pesticide ridden food stuffs to our
animals and ourselves.
We have come to use a commercial processed diet in a matter of a
few short years, yet our animal's dentition (teeth) and digestive process have
not evolved slowly or had ample time to catch up being fed a processed
commercial food. Just take a look at those teeth. They are still
waiting to tear, chew and saw for survival. It is no wonder doggie
dentistry is a fast growing business these past few years. Some companies
even have a dog food that removes tartar!
There are a handful of commercial dog food companies that are
visionary and are working to add back to the diet those important missing
components. I commend the Eagle, Wysong, Nutra, Innova, Martin, Solid Gold
Companies to name a few who have worked to incorporate some of these "life
supporting" missing components into their products and pride themselves in
working with professional breeders in the improvement of these feeds.
In my previous articles ("Vegetable Soup" and "Blackwatch Feed Program", for a copy send SASE-4
stamps) I have discussed in great detail the fact that heating and processing
of food stuffs kills or alters the "living" elements normally found
in fresh raw whole foods. Therefore, dog food companies spray vitamins,
minerals, amino acids back onto the dog food after processing and before
bagging.
Most of the vitamins are synthetic and minerals are in such crude
forms the animals cannot use them. (Example: milk and chalk are both
calcium sources. Milk is a usable form derived from a whole food but
chalk is a mined mineral and not a very usable form of calcium because it is
not from a food). Then there is the even greater issue of getting each of
these synthetic and mined nutrients from separate sources and mixing them
together and thinking they will work together like they do when found in a
natural state. Wrong! When we extract the part from the whole it is
not the same.
I believe the following nutrients can be most critical in helping
to prevent bloat and torsion and are often disregarded by the majority of
nutritionists, veterinarians, physicians and of course dog food manufacturers.
·
probiotics
(friendly bacteria yogurt type cultures)
·
digestive enzymes Bioguard
(Dismutase),(Biopet/N'zymes)
·
antioxidants vitamins (Vitamin C)
·
sulfur
·
micronutrients (64 trace minerals)
Torsion: Could it be an Electrical Short Circuit?
Could torsion be the result of an electrical problem within the
body? Let's consider this possibility. First of all, 95% of the
body's activities are run by minerals. As you sit there reading this
article, you exude 11 million kilowatt hours per pound (some of us more) and if
they could harness us we could fuel a large industrial city for a week!
Minerals are what spark our body's electrons and they are
absolutely critical in the diet because they affect the electrical impulses and
the body chemistry. Did you get that? Minerals are what effect the electrical impulses and the body chemistry.
As owners, we are told to feed our animals the same processed,
pre-packaged food day in and day out. We have all seen the television ad
from a large well known company that promotes this idea in selling their
product. "Why, everything they will ever need is included in this
one package." Of course, this short sighted theory assumes we all
have the same dietary needs.
When an animal is not part of the food selection process and not
allowed to hunt and scavenge, how can special dietary needs and cravings be addressed? The best example is the mineral and
micronutrient issue, particularly the micronutrients. There have
been no minimum or maximum determined for most of the minerals and
micronutrients. Therefore, these components are simply
"overlooked" or disregarded as being unimportant in a
diet. However, it is these "essential" minerals and microminerals that are the nutrients necessary to run the
body's electrical and chemical system!
Although minerals were at one time abundant in our soil and
transmitted into grains, fruits, grasses and vegetables, modern farming
practices have depleted soils of these minerals. Herbicides, pesticides
and mechanical leaching and intensive farming has leached minerals from the
soil. We must then go to another source for high quality minerals, such
as the cereal grasses and marine plants. Yes, kelp is good to use but is
like a weed compared to seaweeds and blue green algae.
A Part of the Solution: Diet
In my previous articles and my lecture at the National I addressed
the way in which I have incorporated whole food nutrients into the diet without
significantly changing the protein/calorie content or disrupting the balance of
the commercial food. I use the following products in small amounts to
help accomplish this goal. It allows me to fill in the potential holes in
the diet with a minimum of effort.
"Daily Greens Plus"
·
probiotics-friendly
bacteria
·
digestive enzymes
·
vitamin C - non-acid type (fruits)
·
cereal grasses - (veggies)
ENZYMES
( Biopet/N'zymes)
Bioguard (Dismutase)
(800-926-5100)
"MSM"
·
nutritional sulfur - Important part in maintaining the electrical system.
"Source" (SBGA
blue green algae) Lyn @ 603-668-8157
·
micronutrients - 64
trace elements from marine plants; Essential for normal growth and development
and maintaining body chemistry and electricity.
Then if your schedule permits I suggest incorporating some fresh
fruits, vegetables and raw meat into their diet on occasion.
To order these three products: 1-800-937-1104
Part of the Solution: Sulfur/Microminerals
I want to focus on the element of sulfur
for a moment because I am astonished no one has looked at this potential
connection to the problem of torsion. Sulfur is
one of these critical nutrients yet is almost discounted by dog food companies,
nutritionists and veterinarians. I believe nutritional sulfur, which can be obtained in a product called MSM, and
the micronutrient minerals from marine plant, which can be obtained in a
product called Source, may very well play an important role in the prevention
of bloat and torsion.
There may be a possible connection between bloat and torsion and
inadequate amounts of or an absence of sulfur and
micronutrients in the processed canine diet. This one mineral, sulfur, is of such great importance in body electricity and
chemistry that I feel is an important piece to this whole picture. Most
dog foods are low or absent in sulfur content in the
nutritional assay and if they do put it back in the food it is in an amino acid
supplementation. This mineral is really given no importance in light of
the whole health picture yet here is some information about sulfur
you will find very interesting.
Sulfur is a mineral and has the same toxicity
as water. There is practically no research done on sulfur
and nothing is assigned as minimum or maximum requirements by nutritional
standards. The National Research Council (NRC) and Affco
does not even list it as a nutritional requirement for
the dogs/cats. You will not find sulfur in the
vitamins you purchase either. Sulfur is fragile
and lost during heat and processing.
Sulfur is important for the following
functions:
·
electrical impulses
·
overall body chemistry and balance
·
tissue respiration
·
regulating growth patterns
·
protein and connective tissue
(hips/elbows)
·
developing collagen (hips/elbows)
·
making bone
·
metabolism
·
fertility
Now if that isn't enough, where do you think sulfur
is normally found in abundant quantities.....in raw meat! Yes, you heard
me right, raw meat. Something we no longer feed unless we live in
Another interesting fact, nutritional sulfur
(MSM) is used in horses to correct epiphyiutis, their
equivalent to H.O.D. in over-fed yearlings, as well as in spondolysis
and nutritional wobblers. Previously I discussed my recent experience
working with another breeder and using MSM on a young puppy with wobbler-like symptoms. They saw a considerable improvement
in just a few days.
Example: It was explained to me that farm animals
bloat when they consume a diet too rich in nitrogen in relation to the amount
of sulfur in their diet.
Grains/cereal products are high in nitrogen and ferment quickly and
raw meats are high in sulfur.
Consider this:
·
Is it possible the relationship of
grains to meat in a diet or how they are prepared sets up a condition which may
promote bloating?
·
Why were the cases of bloat more
frequent 10-15 years ago, when most of the foods were
grain based?
·
Is this why dogs raised on a more
natural diet of raw meats, tripe, innards and less grains, as in European
countries, are less apt to bloat?
I believe one of the reasons we see less bloat and torsion these
past few years is because dog foods are improving foods by going to a
meat-based food. The old-timers will remember one particular
"yellow" grain based food, the one that went in "yellow"
and came out "yellow", and seemed to sour and ferment within a matter
of minutes if left standing with water on the food.
Part of the Solution: Probiotics/Digestive
Enzymes Bioguard (Dismutase) ( Biopet/N'zymes)
Probiotic (pro-life) are microorganisms
and probiotics are the opposite of antibiotics
(anti-life). Over time man and microbes have reached an intricate state
of coexistence on this planet and on and in our bodies. In fact, all
warm-blooded animals are profoundly dependent on the microbial world.
Despite the inclination to regard microorganisms as
the enemy, the essential truth is the majority of these "life forms" favor co-habitation and cooperation, not conflict.
While some microorganisms (bacteria) are bad or
"pathogenic bacteria", other microorganisms
are considered good bacteria and play a very beneficial role in maintaining
health, particularly in the digestive tract and by boosting the immune
system. These good bacteria also inhibit bad bacteria growth and
decreasing the amount of time necessary for recovery from disease. These
good bacteria are called probiotics.
These are some examples of common probiotics
found to enhance health and nutrition.
·
Lactobacillus acidophilus
·
Lactobacillus lactis
·
Bifidobacterium bifidum
·
Streptococcus faecium
I believe we will soon see a decrease in the excessive use of
antibiotics which tend to be non-selective and kill both bad and good
bacteria. Those of you who have had fever blisters, cold sores, diarrhea, or yeast infections after antibiotic therapy no
doubt experienced this problem. Using probiotics simultaneously with
antibiotics and continuing to use them for at least a week to ten days after
you have run your course of antibiotics will help to re-establish the system
with beneficial bacteria and can help prevent or lessen the time in which you
have these negative effects from antibiotics. This is true in animals and
a little extra added to the diet daily, over and above your normal dosage of
the Daily Greens Plus, is very helpful in re-establishing the system.
One current example of this particular use of probiotics
(good bacteria) in fighting pathogenic (bad) bacteria was that of the E. coli
scare from the "Jack-in-The-Box" food poisoning incident in
(Probiotics) are often referred to by
several names:
·
good bacteria
·
friendly bacteria
·
yogurt type cultures
·
good intestinal flora
Probiotics (good bacteria) should be ever present
and in good balance within our system and in the digestive tract (humans and animals).
But when an organic system responds in a negative way to stress, this can alter
the pH balance of the body which can have a powerful negative effect by
killing off good bacteria in the digestive tract which frequently leads to diarrhea. This negative change in a system can also
set up an environment that promotes the growth of bad (pathogenic) bacteria.
Poor quality diet is another factor in the wearing down of a
system. If an animal's digestive system has to work over-time processing
foods it is very hard on the system plus the continuous feeding of poor
quality, processed foods only adds to an overall breakdown in health and
well-being.
The canine intestines are short and meant to process primarily
meat. A cereal-based diet is more difficult to digest, takes longer to go
through a system and tends to ferment quickly. This sets the stage for a condition which helps promote the growth of bad bacteria
and may increase the risk of bloating. Hydrochloric acid is necessary for
proper canine digestion but I have observed that dogs do not drool over cereal
based foods like they do over meat-based or raw meat diets. I suspect
this limited amount of hydrochloric acid being produced by the animal when fed
cereal-based foods may also contribute to this build up of gases in bloat.
Maintaining a slightly acid system in these animals is very
important to digestion as well as a quality diet. In addition, you can
use a squirt of apple cider vinegar in the daily water which helps maintain
this balance.
I choose to use the Daily Greens Plus, which in my opinion, has numerous benefits in helping to minimize our
chances of bloat. This probiotic/digestive
enzyme plus vitamin C and vegetation in the form of cereal grasses are
important to my animals because it:
·
maintains good bacteria growth
·
replaces good bacteria that is lost
·
helps maintain the proper pH balance
·
keeps pathogenic bacteria in check
·
increases utilization of food/nutrients
·
helps to boost the immune system
I keep on hand a variety of forms of probiotics.
It comes in a paste which I use for new puppies or during emergencies.
Because it is not necessary to keep the paste refrigerated, it can be carried
in a grooming bag or purse for travelling and dog shows. I use probiotics daily in the form of the Daily Greens Plus and I
also keep plain probiotics on hand in the form of
"Probiotic Power Pack" or "Fasttrack" which can be mixed in water and put down a
tube if an animal has bloated. You can use 1/3 cup mixed in a cup or more
of tepid temperature water or any liquid you can get your hands on and dump it
down the tube. If there is considerable foam present dump a cup or more
of grapefruit juice down the tube to break up the foam--plus it makes the
system acid again and then follow up with the probiotic
mixture. This buys you time until you can get to the vet. This past
summer my partners, the Bennetts, saved the life of
one of the top producing collies who was exhibiting at our local summer
show. By tubing and using the grapefruit juice and probiotics,
they were able to buy enough time to get the dog into surgery thus saving the
life of this valuable and loved animal. We carry a bloat kit with us at
all times plus grapefruit juice, paste probiotics in
a tube and powder probiotics in a dark container.
Beet Pulp - Does it Have a Role in Bloat?
It is my opinion this controversy was centered
around politics or economic decisions in the industry and not really on
important dietary consideration. Therefore, I will not devote any more
time to this topic because I do not believe Beet Pulp is that big of an
issue. If you are want more information on this question it was discussed
at length in the Wysong Review June 1988. For information 1-800-748-0188.
I do have a four page paper available regarding saponins.
If interested send me a SASE.
Part of the Solution: Antioxidants
I want to talk about the importance of antioxidants in the after
care of torsion surgery. I cannot address the topic of surgery without
discussing specific antioxidant enzymes and the remarkable results we have seen
using these enzymes.
First some background on oxygen free radicals and their
counterparts antioxidants. What do oxygen "free radicals" and
car exhaust have in common? They are both toxic by-products produced by the
production of energy. Energy is necessary to make both the car and the
human/animal body function.
The fuels may be different, one is oxygen the other is gasoline,
but the end result is the same. Both produce energy and both have a toxic
waste by-product from that energy production. "Oxygen free
radicals" (toxic by-products) are the bad guys and antioxidants are the
good guys because they move around the cells of the body and gobble up the free
radicals. Think of these toxins as "body rust" and antioxidants
are the rust inhibitors. Free radicals are what make us age and
eventually die. So antioxidant enzyme supplementation can help by:
·
aiding in the prevention of aging and
diseases such as cancer and other debilitating illnesses
·
reduces the negative effects of cancer
therapies
·
reduces the negative effects of anesthetics after surgery
·
speeds repair of tissues and bone due to
surgery/trauma
·
boosts the immune system
·
retards periodontal disease and the
prevention of heart disease
·
works on
soft tissues and is great for reducing allergy problems (*Note: I no longer have
hay fever because of this enzyme.)
·
flushing
toxins from the system, chemicals, pesticides, etc.
·
aids in reproductive problems,
regulating cycles and problems with infertility and sterility (humans and animals)
The dietary consideration for the after surgery animal is the same
as I have addressed previously in this article, particularly the use of Daily
Greens Plus and MSM-Nutritional Sulfur. They
are a must. But I want to discuss an enzyme called Bioguard
(Dismutase) or (Biopet/N'zymes) which is a
remarkable antioxidant of particular interest to me regarding bloat and torsion
because of its ability to:
·
minimize the side effects and after
effects of anesthetics
·
speed healing of soft tissue
·
reduce the inflammation and soreness of
soft tissue
·
prevent "reperfusion injury"
after bloat and torsion surgery
"Reperfusion injury" is a condition whereby toxins, free
radicals or oxygen by-products are released into the system of the animal after
surgery trauma and anesthetics which often causes
death. According to a study done at
The dosage is 1 teaspoon daily of granular or 4-6 capsules a day
per adult. Split dosage A.M. and P.M. feedings. (One
capsule per 20# of body weight for puppies.) To order call Biopet / N'ZYMES (877) 816-6500 or Bioguard
(Dismutase) (800-926-5100)
Summary
It is my opinion, the disease of bloat and torsion manifests itself
under stressful conditions. Sometimes the stress is external and
obvious. Other times it may be triggered by one event, but is my feeling
the disease is multi-factored in response to a chronic deterioration of the
total system affected by environmental, physiological, dietary and
psychological factors. These factors, singly or in combination, causes
excessive wear on the animal's system, changes the pH balance from acid to
alkaline, encourages pathogenic bacteria growth (bloat), and alters the body's
electrical and chemical balance (torsion).
I do not claim to have the answers for these diseases, but I do not
believe one has to be a rocket scientist to realize we must stop looking for
one cause and be more sensitive to the whole animal, how it interacts within
its environment and what nourishment we are putting into these living
systems. We must replace our physical bodies with whatever material we
choose to ingest in the form of food.
If we choose junk foods and toxins then our bodies become junk and
toxins and we soon fall prey to disease, debilitation and death. We truly
are what we eat and the dogs are what we choose to feed them since they no
longer have a choice in the selection of their own diets.
I honestly believe we can minimize our chances and even prevent
most diseases, including bloat and torsion, as well as manage those who have
already gone through the surgery and live without fear of reoccurrence.
It is my sincere hope that you have as much luck with this program as we have
had over the years. But understand, it is NO GUARANTEE, but for myself and other breeders it is a definite step in the right
direction. The year 1994 was a year of great loss at Blackwatch--the
bad news is I lost 6 of my Danes. The good news is they were all 11-13
years of age and lived an extended life right up to the end and I am fully
convinced their longevity and quality of life was due to this holistic approach
of feeding these animals
This is my basic feed program:
Basic Blackwatch Feeding Program Adults
and Puppies
Dry Food - A high quality, moderate protein,
(21%-24%); (No
puppy foods or performance foods), meat-based food with more than one source of
protein in the food.
Naturally preserved.
Meat - 2-3 tablespoons and tepid temperature
water (1/2 - 1 1/2 cups). Enough
for a gravy.
Daily Greens Plus - This provides the following:
·
probiotic -
friendly yogurt-type bacteria
·
digestive enzymes - Bioguard
(Dismutase) ( Biopet/N'zymes)
·
non-acid Vitamin C (fruits) 1400mg per
scoop
·
barley/wheat grasses (vegetables)
Source – micronutrients or SBGA
(both contain Blue Green Algae). See
container for amount contact Lyn Richards 603-668-8157
MSM - Nutritional sulfur - 1/8 - 1/2
teaspoon daily according to weight
Fresh Raw Foods - fruits,
nuts, veggies, raw meat 2-4 times per week 1 teaspoon-1/4 cup depending on what
each animal will tolerate
For those interested, I will provide a list of the better dog foods
on the market as well as specifically what I feed. I also have
information on some balanced completely raw meat diets called "Natural
Selection" and "Meat Eater II" that are now available.
Just send me a SASE and request a list of feeds.
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Copyright 2002 Linda Arndt, Blackwatch Danes. DogLogic. All rights reserved.