Pet Health Articles
Article: Nutrition - Is it a Factor in Bloat and Torsion?
Toxic Gut Syndrome: The
Silent Killer
By Charles C. Kruger, DVM
www.dockruger.com
Dr. Charles Kruger is a well-known veterinarian and breeder of champion show
dogs. His most celebrated achievement involves his work with Helen (“Scootie”)
Sherlock and Judith Hale on Toxic Gut Syndrome (TGS), which had been killing
many German Shepherd Dogs, including Ch. Karagin’s Crusader ROM. Based on their
analysis of Toxic Gut Syndrome, Dr. Kruger went on to develop his now-famous
formula - Dr. Kruger’s Ultimate Supplement – that helps prevent the infection
from taking hold in the first place, and offers many other health benefits as
well. Dr. Kruger is now retired from veterinary practice after more than 40
years as a small animal practitioner. Here, in his own words, is the story of
how Toxic Gut Syndrome was identified and controlled.
As a veterinarian and a breeder of German Shepherd Dogs and
Pembroke Welsh Corgis for over 40 years, I have always been concerned with the
medical and practical aspects of canine health. My greatest challenge came,
however, when circumstances turned me into a medical researcher. It all began
when I felt personally compelled to discover the cause and means to control a
mysterious disease that was ravaging the champion German Shepherd Dog
population. This disease, which we now know as Toxic Gut Syndrome, or
Clostridial enterotoxemia, is an intestinal
infection that affects several species of animals. In the canine world, it
primarily affects German Shepherd Dogs. In 40 years of veterinary practice, I
have seen a couple of cases of Toxic Gut Syndrome in other breeds – the Irish
Setter and the Irish Wolfhound. However, a related disorder,
Clostridial enteritis, a lesser form of intestinal
infection, is seen quite frequently in many breeds of dogs.
While veterinarians had long known of these conditions,
around 1980 something unusual began happening with the German Shepherd breed.
Dogs would die suddenly, apparently from mesenteric torsion. However, post
mortem examinations yielded surprising results. These dogs did not display the
telltale twist at the mesenteric root. After examining several dogs that
exhibited this strange pathology, I went to work to discover what this new
killer might be. Library investigation turned up several references to a
condition known as Clostridial enterotoxaemia
, although very little scientific research was available on the subject. I
began to wonder if perhaps this might be the key to understanding this puzzling
new condition. Meanwhile, a promising solution to the problem presented
itself. In the 1980s, the German Shepherd breed was very heavily line-bred.
Very close breeding of this type is a two-edged sword, bringing out the best and
the worst features of a breed. I cannot say for sure that the breeding
practices at that time prompted the frequency of Toxic Gut Syndrome, but we do
know that close breeding can suppress proper immune system functioning. There
were definite families of German Shepherds with a great propensity to develop
Toxic Gut Syndrome.
After the deaths of several well-know champions, I had the
sad opportunity to participate in the autopsies. Again, while it was assumed by
the attending veterinarians that there would be a twist at the mesenteric root
indicating mesenteric torsion, there was no evidence of the expected lesions. A
team made up of myself, a friend (and laboratory technician) Judith Hale, and
German shepherd authority Helen (“Scootie”) Sherlock, cultured the contents of
the dead dogs’ intestines. Judith was able to isolate very large numbers of
Clostridium perfryngens bacterium - the very
bacterium mentioned in the literature.
Clostridium is a virulent variety of bacteria that
is a normal intestinal inhabitant in small numbers. Under certain environmental
circumstances, it multiplies rapidly, giving off high levels of toxins that
enter the dog’s blood stream, in effect, poisoning the dog and causing death.
According to my library research, Clostridium p.
causes deaths in lambs, pigs and human babies in Papua, New Guinea that
resembled the deaths I’d seen in German Shepherds. The human form was given the
name “pigbell”.
Fortunately, an injection was developed that protected these
babies, and another was successful in the lambs. Now that we confirmed that the
same bacterium was responsible for the deaths of the German Shepherds, our aim
became stopping the infection’s progress in this breed. At first we hoped the
injections that protected the lambs or the human babies would be effective to
protect the dogs. To our disappointment, we found that the human drug was
licensed in England and could not be brought to the United States. We obtained
the inoculation used to protect lambs. We tried it on some dogs, but were
disappointed again. The tissue reaction in the German Shepherds was so severe
and painful that it was not realistic to continue its use. Clearly, we were not
going to be able to cure this condition once it was already underway. We needed
to find a method of prevention rather than a remedy to stop this killer disease
from ever taking hold.
In regular veterinary practice, cases of bloat/torsion and
mesenteric torsion are familiar. In bloat/torsion, a twisting of the stomach
follows a rapid accumulation of stomach gas. In mesenteric torsion, there is a
less significant buildup of gas, followed by a twisting of the entire small
intestine at the attachment of the mesentery ligament. It now appeared to me
that the three conditions – bloat/torsion, mesenteric torsion, and Toxic Gut
Syndrome – have similar symptoms. However, the diseases differ in their
progress. In bloat/torsion, dogs seem to blow up like a balloon before your
eyes. With mesenteric torsion dogs exhibit a strange, hunched-over posture.
In either case, the intestine loses its blood supply and the
dog dies within a few hours due to toxins and shock. Without surgery, both
conditions are usually fatal. While the cause of bloat/torsion is not clear, it
is my opinion, however, an initial overgrowth of harmful, gas-forming bacteria
in the digestive track is implicated. With some research into the unique
physiology of the German Shepherd intestine, it became obvious that prevention
of Toxic Gut Syndrome required control of bacteria on a daily basis.
In general, the German Shepherd breed exhibits very low
pancreatic enzyme production compared to other types of dogs. As a result,
intestinal pathogens responsible for Toxic Gut Syndrome can increase rapidly
under certain conditions. In dogs, pancreatic enzymes serve as a first line of
defense, slowing down the progress of bacterial overgrowth. German Shepherds
lack this first line of defense. Bacterial overgrowth is rapid and by the time
the dog exhibits symptoms, the intestine has become paralyzed due to the toxins
released from the bacteria. At this point, the dog is beyond recovering and
will die.
Preventing Toxic Gut Syndrome now seemed to depend on two
control measures. The first was limiting the number of pathogens in the
intestine. The second was increasing the number of friendly bacteria and
enzymes to keep pathogens in check. Supplementing the level of pancreatic
enzymes, therefore, appeared to be one necessary step in preventing bacterial
overgrowth. The second control measure for pathogens is to increase the
presence of good bacteria called Lactobacillus
, which normally inhabits the healthy intestine. Lactobacilli
are found to thrive in milk products and are used to culture yogurt. They also
help control the growth of pathogenic bacteria and have a cleansing effect on
the intestinal wall.
I then began to develop a supplement that would provide
therapeutic amounts of enzymes and live acidophilus
bacteria. At first, I used live-culture yogurt and a commercial enzyme product
made for large animals. This seemed to help control bacterial overgrowth, but I
wanted to find an even better supply of Lactobacilli
and digestive enzymes. At this point, I formulated the first stage of what was
to become my Ultimate Supplement. With additional study and experimentation, I
decided to add vitamins, minerals (including trace minerals), some essential
fatty acids and antioxidants to provide complete nutritional support.
Dogs and cats readily accepted this formulation, and it
immediately became clear that it helped stop early death due to Toxic Gut
Syndrome and help control even minor bacterial infections that cause diarrhea in
puppies and older dogs. In my efforts to find a means to control the fast-acting
Toxic Gut Syndrome, I seemed to have found a means to control the bloat/torsion
complex as well. In addition, other benefits from the formula were realized. We
saw changes and improvements in skin and coat condition, less flatulence and dog
body odor, reduced shedding, smaller, firmer stools and overall better digestion
of food. I have had numerous breeders who use the Ultimate Supplement and have
found an increased effective reproduction rates. I was particularly impressed
that it also controlled “nervous diarrhea” while transporting dogs. After 20
years of administering the supplement with no deaths from toxic gut or the
bloat/torsion complex in any dog using it, I feel confident in saying that this
formulation helps control these diseases. It is, however, absolutely necessary
to give the prescribed amount everyday for the entire life of the dog, in
particular while the dog is under stressful situations, such as in training with
a handler or on a show circuit.
Experience has shown me that supplementation with a well
formulated product provides many other benefits to dogs as far as enhancing
their overall health and energy. In my forty years of breeding German Shepherds,
I have never seen a dog react adversely to sensible supplementation. The most
dangerous situation is when one feeds excessively high protein content to
puppies. It is for this reason that manufacturer’s make different puppy foods
for different size dogs. The difference is the protein content. Protein in dog
food provides phosphorus; excessive phosphorus may contribute to developmental
bone disease, especially in the growth plates.
There is absolutely no reason every dog cannot attain
optimal health with the use of my Ultimate Supplement! Forty years of clinical
practice has shown me that each dog has unique nutritional requirements. This
is obvious when you feed the same diet to a group of dogs. Some will thrive
while others will not. My supplement is a “gap-filler” – it fills in the gaps
to meet the individual nutritional needs of each dog. I am certain that the
lives of many dogs that were susceptible to these conditions as outlined in this
article, have been saved as a result of using the Ultimate Supplement, a fact
that I find personally rewarding.
The well-known Great Dane
dog breeder, Linda Arndt (also known as “The Great Dane Lady”), authors the
following article entitled, “Nutrition - Is It A Factor In Bloat & Torsion?”.
Throughout the years, Linda has made some very distinct and important
observations in the correlation between the lack of proper nutrients in a dog’s
diet and the onset of bloat, the most dreaded of syndromes within a number of
breeds, including Great Danes, German Shepherds, and English Setters. Often
bloat, as well as Toxic Gut Syndrome (also known as Clostridial enterotoxemia),
are acute, fatal diseases that cannot be reversed or stopped once initial
symptoms appear.
Like humans, dogs can experience a range of anxiety-filled situations at any
given time, including change in environment, sickness, traveling, breeding or a
loss of a companion (either human or another pet). Often, they become stressed
and their bodies react physically, sometimes extremely by developing
syndrome-type reactions in the form of bloat or Toxic Gut Syndrome. My Ultimate
Supplement is formulated to assist in prevention of these two fatal diseases and
to sustain and optimize the overall health of the dog long-term.
Please note that if you are anticipating some type of stress in your dog’s
life in the future, it is wise to start the Ultimate Supplement about two weeks
prior to the event. Therapeutic dosages may be needed so please feel free to
email me with your dog’s breed and situation and I will recommend how much you
should be adding to your dog’s daily ration of food. Dosage recommendations
MUST be followed for proper protection. It is also recommended that daily
long-term use of the Ultimate Supplement be followed for best results.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Linda Arndt for this very informative
article and for allowing us to publish it on our website. I feel this replaces
ALL the research that has been done in the past by other veterinarians and
scientists. Please feel free to share this with your veterinarian and with
other dog fanciers you know.
Nutrition -
Is It A Factor In Bloat &Torsion?
By Linda Arndt
www.GreatDaneLady.com
There have been a number of ongoing investigations into nutritionally caused
diseases that have led many to question our approach to bloat and torsion. It is
important to understand what is about to be discuss in this article is only an
opinion, based on my 30 years of experience in breeding, personal nutritional
investigation and information on health issues shared by researchers,
nutritionists and thousands of other breeders.
There are things we can do nutritionally to narrow our dog's
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 the 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.
It has been my experience that the overall number of
incidents of bloat/torsion I have heard about has dropped dramatically over the
past few years due to better quality, meat based foods and the incorporation of
whole foods, probiotics and digestive enzymes into the diet. It is no news that
most breeders and research people believe these diseases has multi-factorial
causes:
I would like to list some other elements, seldom considered,
that need to be addressed as potential factors in the cause of these diseases:
It is in my opinion that bloat/torsion manifests itself when
the animal is under stress due to many factors. Sometimes the stress is external
and obvious. Other times it is internal and any signs that may be displayed go
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 the total system affected by environmental, dietary,
psychological, and physiological factors. These factors, singly or in
combination, cause excessive wear on an animal's system, change the pH balance
and can encourage pathogenic bacteria growth causing bloat. This 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 alters
the pH balance of the system. I believe this is an important factor in the cause
of bloat and torsion. There has been plenty of scientific research done to prove
the negative effects stress can do to a living organism. The results can be
detrimental to one's health and well-being. Stress is not a physically present
"being", lurking around the corner, waiting to attack. Stress does not
physically exist. It is the way in which an organism (you, me, the dogs) respond
to certain situations or stimulus. Some of us (as well as some dogs), due to
genetics, body chemistry, nutrition and personality, seem to handle negative
stress better than others. However, 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). 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 affect 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 kenneled 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
Dogs who are relegated to a boring diet of processed dead foods day in and day
out for their entire life 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 Europe, Australia and other parts of the world, a natural raw diet
has been an important part of the feeding program. It is interesting to me that
breeders overseas believe there is a direct correlation between the increase of
bloat/torsion, growth problems and other diseases when they have incorporated
processed foods partially or totally into their feed program.
Environment
We remove dogs 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 kenneled 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
Because breeders have bred for that "up" dog with an edge, the current
generation of breeders believes this is correct and normal. Any more we have a
great deal of noise, light, movement sensitivity, dog aggressiveness and
appetite problems in dogs 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 that 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
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!
The processed commercial foods are an area I will continue to address as a cause
for many of our current health and dental 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. While they serve this
purpose under the guise of promoting "complete vitamins and minerals" and
"nutritionally complete", most are not even close to being at all beneficial.
Vitamins used in such commercial foods are synthetic and minerals are in such
crude forms the animals cannot use them. 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.
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. 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. There are a handful of commercial dog food companies that
are visionary and are working to add back some of these "life supporting"
missing components into their products and pride themselves in working with
professional breeders in the improvement of these feeds. 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.
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. 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 have leached minerals from the soil. We must then go to another source for high quality minerals, such as the cereal grasses and marine plants.
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 micro-minerals that are the nutrients necessary to run the body's
electrical and chemical system!
Part of the Solution: Sulfur/Micro-minerals
There may be a possible connection between bloat/torsion and inadequate amounts
of sulfur and micronutrients in the processed canine diet. Sulfur is one mineral
of such great importance in body electricity and chemistry that I feel it is an
important piece to the whole health picture.
Sulfur is normally found in abundantly in raw meat. Yes, you heard me right, raw
meat! This is something we seldom saw fed unless we lived in Europe ,England ,
and Australia and now many breeders in those countries have switched to
processed foods. Sulfur is found in protein rich foods, such as eggs, as well as
in green vegetables, cereal grasses (barley, wheat, rye, grasses), alfalfa and
fresh grasses (like the ones they tend to graze on in the yard, crab grass and
young ragweed leaves, seaweeds and algaes). These are things missing from most
commercial diets.
Consider this:
Is it possible the relationship of grains to meat in a diet or how they are
prepared sets up a condition that 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?
One of the reasons we see less bloat and torsion these past few years is because
dog foods are improving by going to a meat-based food.
Part of the Solution: Probiotics/Digestive Enzymes
Probiotics (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.
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.
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 California . Some of the
individuals were given a very high powered "probiotic" in order to fight off the
potential effects of the deadly bad bacteria found present in the contaminated
meat.
(Probiotics) are often referred to by several names:
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 that 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.
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. You can use a squirt of apple cider vinegar in the
daily water which helps maintain the pH balance.
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
traveling and dog shows. If an animal has bloat, you can use 1/3 cup probiotic
powder 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.
Beet Pulp - Does it have a Role in Bloat?
Beet Pulp, the Much Maligned Prebiotic. Beet pulp is probably one of the most
misunderstood and maligned ingredients in manufactured dog foods. Take the time
to understand to understand the role of prebiotics and probiotics in the
maintenance of the healthy body. If this is done, then one can begin to
understand the role of beet pulp in a feeding program.
This article speaks to misinformation that has perpetrated about beet pulp. This
is not just theory on my part. The input is from scientists, medical and
nutrition people who have studied in the area of prebiotics and probiotics. I
will address villae clogging, use of fiber, and saponins. Please note that the
positions held in the misinformation have not been proven scientifically. They
are theories only.
From Dr. K. Kern
Wysong Corporation and Research Facility Jan 27, 1993
"The claims ...... that saponins cause bloat in is not documented by any
reference to any scientific literature. It is simply conjecture and assertion
and not fact" Saponins are found in over 100 plant families. These foods have
been a part of the mammalian and human diet for thousands of years. Saponin-containing
foods are also known to be of therapeutic and health enhancing benefits. There
is no documented proof that feeding a pet food with micro-amounts of saponins
causes gastrointestinal paralysis and vomiting(bloat).
Beet pulp in a diet encourages colonization of those bacteria which best ferment or digest that form of fiber and discourage those organisms which do not effectively ferment fiber. It so happens that many good bacteria that commonly inhabit the large intestines can deal with beet pulp (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Enterococcus faecium are just two) and many pathogenic bacteria are not supported by its presence (Clostridium sp.,Salmonella sp. and E. coli. 1
Because beet pulp is an ideal food source for these good bacteria, they tend to
overgrow potentially bad bacteria (pathogens and gas producers) and make the gut
much more resistant to these harmful organisms. As a result of this digestive or
fermentation process, vital nutrients called short chain fatty acids are
produced which provide superior nutrition to the cells lining the large
intestine enhancing their ability to function. 3
These short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are the key to a healthy and efficient
digestive tract. The cells that line the intestinal track feed voraciously on
SCFA. These cells have a high turnover rate and rely on SCFA to provide adequate
nutrition. 2
That portion of beet pulp left after the fermentation of bacterial digestive
process promotes ideal nutrient digestibility. The volume of stool is not
excessive thus allowing the motility of the gut to move the nutrients along at a
rate which assures maximum digestion and absorption.
1. Collins MD, Gibson Dr. Nutritional modulation of microbial ecology. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1998
2. Hallman JE, Moxley RA, et al. Cellulose, beet pulp and pectin/gum arabic effects on canine microstructure and histopathology. Veterinary Clinical Nutrition 1995;2:137-141
3. Albert S. Townshend DVM, Wellness for Life, Am Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1999
Part of the Solution: Antioxidants
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:
Summary
It is in my opinion that 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. Overall, it 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, cause 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.