Pets have food allergies and intolerances too!

Perhaps I should have made the connection sooner, perhaps I wasn't meant to till now, especially as I am a celiac and understand quite a bit about food intolerance issues. However, it took another member on our food allergy group posting this veterinarian's link, DogtorJ ,  on gluten intolerances and our pets. The Veterinarian is a celiac himself which while changing his diet and his changes as his body healed opened an new insight for him about our pets also.

I especially knew about grains and cats, how they aren't good for them, and primarily aren't good for dogs either. Cats and dogs simply don't go out foraging or hunting for grains. They will eat grasses to purge their systems, but they don't specifically look for grains to eat either. They are primarily meat eaters, carnivores. And the pet food recalls of 2007 confirmed this simple fact that glutens, grains didn't belong in our pet's diets.  The sad truth though is that this fact didn't stay in the open. People are all about convenience and going and buying a bag of dry food whose protein is primarily from grain glutens is the easiest and least problematic to feed our fur companions.

Face it, the primary source of protein for most of our pets in their food is derived from glutens/grains, and the second comes from "meat by-products", in simpler terms, beaks, feet, unedible parts of butchered animals that we wouldn't eat ourselves.

So, the basic definition of food intolerance is best described by this veterinarian: "The term “food intolerance” has been applied to both immune-mediated (involving the immune system) and non-immune related disorders (e.g. to food additives) that result from the consumption of certain foods to which an individual is sensitive. The most serious food intolerances are those to the gluten grains (wheat, barley, and rye), casein (dairy products), soy and corn, with the first three being the most common. Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) is finally making its way into the public eye. At the time of my diagnosis in the year 2000, it was considered a “rare disorder in the US, affecting less than 1:5000 Americans.” In 2006, it was declared to be one of the most common conditions in the country, with Johns Hopkins and The Mayo Clinic stating that the official number of celiacs in this country was 1:120 people. However, the unofficial number by celiac researchers is a whopping 1:30. Other papers on this site address this obvious and unsettling discrepancy. "  

Ok, animals are mammals just like us. One of my best friends is a biology instructor, and this is a point she makes over and over when someone tries to separate us from animals. So, if you think about this, their systems are not that different from ours in a general manner. Gluten is glue. I mean think about it, how did you make paste as a child for paper mache? It's used in everything to hold things together! So what do you think it does to us inside? Think again, it does the same to our beloved pets inside.

Scientists are just now finding ties between those persons having Celiac's disease (gluten intolerance) and other autoimmune diseases. Diseases like diabetes, fibromyalgia, autism, epilepsy, attention deficit, and the list goes on and on. As this veterinarian points out, the same autoimmune disfunctions affect pets also, especially epilepsy. And as he took clients' pets off of gluten containing foods and put them on a more natural food for the species, he was seeing epilepsy disappear. Hmmmmmm, are you finding a connection yet?

He writes:

"The unfortunate truth is that pet food is not as scientifically formulated as most would like to think. For the most part, Fido’s food is made with convenience and cost of manufacturing in mind more than science. Yes, the first few ingredients look appetizing enough and there are essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals added to the mix. But are these ingredients natural for the pet and are they readily available for absorption and use by their body? Here in lies the crux of the matter.

The wake-up call comes when one realizes that once the meat source is removed from the diet, the remaining ingredients are mostly unnatural for the pet. If we exclude the beef, poultry, fish, and lamb, the remaining calorie sources are mostly wheat, barley, corn, rice, and oats, all of which are man-raised crops that the dog and cat would never consume in the wild. I love to inquire of my clients “How would a pet get rice? Swim to Viet Nam?”

But what is the problem with these complex carbohydrates being in the diet? Humans consume these with every meal and they are doing just fine, aren’t they? Ahhhh. Are we? If we were, those reading this paper would be reading something else right now, wouldn’t they? The problem is that the grains listed above have some universal problems among humans and pets alike, as do a couple of other problem foods that eclipse even the grains in health issues.

To digress for just a moment, I am a recovered celiac. For forty-something years, I suffered like most other celiacs of a myriad of symptoms, including allergies, heart burn and intestinal problems, depression/chronic fatigue, memory and balance difficulties, joint pain, and even fibromyalgia. I was taking at least four drugs twice daily; caffeine addicted, and was quite frankly not having any fun anymore. I am now two and a half years gluten and casein-free, off all drugs, symptom-free, and feeling better than I did when I was twelve. This miraculous recovery got my attention as a patient and as a doctor. How could this be? How could I be suffering from what millions of people and pets were experiencing but be well in such a short period of time? How could all of these conditions be linked together?

Well, “Fido” is about to teach you something. The fact is that the celiac is a “who’s who” of what is wrong with human beings but the conditions that we suffer from are not limited to those who walk upright. When I read the list of conditions that we as gluten intolerants experience, my first thought was that “This is me. This describes me to a T.” My second thought was “…but this describes everything that is wrong with everyone, including their dogs and cats.” And it does. Suddenly, medicine through the eyes of celiac disease (and other similar food intolerances) made sense. I tell everyone that it was like someone had finally put the right program into a stalled computer and it began operating at lightning speed. All of the idiopathic conditions that are so poorly understood in medicine became “open season” for this medical headhunter.

And, the answers did come one after another. I launched into two years of intensive research while applying the newly unveiled principles to my patients as well as myself. Miracles started happening around me. Allergies abated, intestinal problems cleared up, older pets became less painful and more active, and yes, even their epilepsy stopped. “Wait a second! Epileptic seizures stopped?”, you may be asking. Yes, 100% of my epileptics have stopped having seizures, just like many celiac children that were placed on gluten-free diets have responded. I got the idea from the celiac literature. How that occurs is totally explainable but beyond the scope of this article. It can be found in my paper entitled The Answer on my Website, www.dogtorj.com."

His site is definitely worth reading if you truly care for your animal companions. And perhaps it will open a few thoughts for yourself. If anything, look for pet foods whose first 4 (minimum) ingredients are MEAT, not meat by-products, not water, and that contain no grains or glutens from grains. There are many decent foods out there if you don't care to make your pets' diets yourselves. And there are many raw diets out there too if you choose to go that way. Just  remember that cats normally are also not veggie eaters, they are obligate carnivores.  Most of us read labels on our own foods, well, start reading them for your pets too! And some you would be surprised at aren't as expensive as you might think.

Also think about this, as you feed the correct food, your pet's feeding amount will change as his body realizes that it can use all of the nutrition fed to him. As this happens the amount fed decreases, as does the amount of stool excreted, as do the malodorous emanations issued due to bloat and intolerances. Doesn't everyone like less gass, less poop? And the benefits of feeding properly is a longer, healthier and more active life for your pet.

I want to live in a world where......

Cruising the web and news today I came across this iReport on CNN website called "Filled with Love". I was moved by some of the sentiment and ideas that were shown here on the vid link: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-426451?hpt=Sbin



It's about the new outlook the managers/owners have about their wildlife park, Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Sedona, Arizona. Their mission strives to educate and entertain; to provide an exciting and engaging opportunity to love and respect creation and Creator. You see caretakers playing and caring for their charges, and animals interacting with the public, like the giraffe taking a treat from someone's mouth.

They list these as their values:  "As we attend to each animal’s daily food and husbandry requirements and to their holistic health and medical needs, we experience their gratitude and friendship – their appreciation of us. We consider their social orders, their natural beauty and essence, their sense of feeling safe and secure, their eternal spirituality, and our communion with them as a common community of life. Our commitment to the animals in our care allows them to portray their instincts, intelligence, and emotions. Wisdom is served by learning the integrity of their world, their honesty, their vitality, and their life-on-the-line reality. Their wealth is a life well spent. They thrive by living in the now, focusing their attention, their power, their affection, in acute awareness of life itself. By cooperating with them and their needs, our human family can, to an appreciable extent, integrate with theirs. Our loyalty rewards us with self-respect and self-fulfillment, for we have become something more than ourselves – and so have they. God is pleased."

While I fully enjoyed the video clip and sometimes think it would be wonderful to experience a closeness with these amazing animals, I remember too that they are wild animals, and as I have posted before, they will always be wild and have their wild instinct. And I sincerely hope and pray they never harm someone when that instinct kicks in. And again, I sincerely hope the managers and keepers continually strive to educate the public who visit that they are still wild animals and this is not how they act in the wild. My concern is that a lot of people will get the wrong message here about these animals.  They will get an unrealistic view of them and should they run across a cougar in the wild will they expect it to be a nice kitty and want his chin scratched? This is my fear. If you do a Google search I am sure you can find all the news articles about tourists in national parks, like Yellowstone in Wyoming who think that it's a big petting zoo, and will continually feed the bears or think they should take a picture of their child next to or on a moose. And then because the animal does what it normally does like protect itself because it's space is threatened and seriously injure or maim the person(s), the person or family sues the park. All because people have these unreal expectations of animals in their natural habitat and that all animals should be domesticated and controlled by humans. Sorry, it doesn't work that way folks. Quite often we aren't the biggest or baddest on the food chain.

Enjoy the clip, it's heartwarming to see and dream of, but never, ever forget that this isn't a natural environment for them. Love them from afar, respect them in their natural habitat and take only pictures.

It's spring!

Ok, it is finally spring! The weather was goofy the last couple of weeks, I don't think Mother Nature could make up her mind some days, rain, snow, both, or hail, and now the winds.

And now our wonderful companions want to commune more with nature.  Of course my brother's collie, Corny, has been communing with nature all along. Unfortunately he's been bringing it back inside with him! Usually this is in the form of mud.  And while I am all for him communing with nature, I  am ecstatic that the snow is for the most part over! Things are thawing and drying out nicely.  At least my 3 little guys are fussy and don't like being wet, much less being muddy. And the peke, Biscuit, doesn't mind playing in it, but he doesn't like to be muddy either. Maybe, just maybe I can clean the house without all the mud coming back in!

Now that they don't have snow and mud to play in, there are a myriad of birds to bark at, neighborhood doggies to yell to and sirens to howl at. The cats and the little old dog are enjoying the spring sun and fresh air now. The old man is a sun worshipper, and dozes daily in the sun now. The cats are also enjoying the increase in bird traffic providing new channels and looks to "kitty tv". And I suspect it won't be long before Yummy and Chronic push more to try to escape to the outdoors. Chronic was used to being an indoor/outdoor kitty, and I don't let my kitties out. Too many hazards out there for them. They are truly better indoors.  And according to my brother, Chronic is a screen ripper if he wants out bad enough. So this means I need to be creative in my screen covering to protect them and keep him in. If he tries it. So far with the nice days we've had lately, I have had the back door open with only the screen door closed and locked and one window open. He hasn't tried any of those screens. But he has enjoyed watching outside through the screen and enjoying the fresh air.

  Mr. Sun Worshipper himself. He looks so happy!

Ah the last point about spring and the changes our companions go through that signal warmer weather. Shedding is up soon, oh joy, enough fur in the house now to make numerous new furry critters! LOL

Ah... spring, funky weather and mud covered dogs!

Ok, the picture above pretty much says it all where the mud lovin' dog is concerned in our house.

Today is the first day of spring. The birds know it, although the weather can't make up it's mind. Yesterday afternoon it started raining, then came the thunder and lightning, soon it started to pour and hail, which then moved on to sleet and ended with 3 inches of snow by this morning.

While I will say the snow is pretty, I am not happy to see it back again. The collie, Corny, and the Peke, Biscuit, however were very happy to see it back. They love to play out in it, chase snowflakes and bounce in it. And Corny loves to make mud puddles and holes in the yard for these mud puddles. Darn it just when my yard had finally dried out and it was enjoyable outside for us humans.

Corny has a thing for any form of water, be it in liquid, or flake form. And he loves it even more if he can make mud and wear as much of it as possible. This leaves a lot of muddy footprints in the house, dried mud flaking off with fur all over, and very dirty towels requiring washing every day. Thank heavens for tile floors. And with that being said, I am getting to know my mop far more than I ever hoped to. I have to give my brother credit though, he usually tries his best to dry Corny off or wipe as much mud off as possible before letting him loose in the house. It's about like fighting a losing battle though. And Corny loves to be outside as much as possible, which is fine if it's a nice day and dry out there. He has also developed his dribble art to a new 3 dimensional form now. This means there are little peaks and valleys of firmly caked on mud all over my patio. And if you scolded him for the mud mess, and bring him in, he'll put his feet and muzzle in the sole water bowl and dribble it all over the floors in the house. And I hate to say it, I have no idea how to break him of this habit. Yesterday alone I cleaned out and refilled the water bowl no less than 4 times.

He is the sweetest dog you might ever like to encounter, but he has his bothersome habits like this. Good thing I also have slip covers on all the furniture and can wash the throw pillows, because he also thinks he's a little dog and should be on the sofa. Yesterday after one particularly close lightning strike and thunder I suddenly found myself sharing the little love seat with an 80 pound scaredy cat.  Silly thing..... Overall he's a great dog, and tries to please and loves to be the center of attention. I just wish I could figure out why he has this obsessive thing going with the water and the mud and dribbling it all over.

Anyone else ever have this type of thing with their border collie?

If I didn't have dogs.....

I got this bit through the email, and thought it would be nice to share it here. It's so true for most of us!

I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.

My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.

All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.

When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.

When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.

I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.

I would have money ....and no guilt to go on a real vacation.

I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grand kids through college.

The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.

My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.

My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere. My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.

I would no longer have to Spell the words B-A-L-L, F-R-I-S-B-E- E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, B-I-K-E, G-O, R-I-D-E .

I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.

I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.

I'd lookforward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading "mud" season. 

I would not have to answer the question "Why do you have so many animals?" from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.

 How EMPTY my life would be!  

Cats.... crazy cats

So.... there are these 3 wonderful and individual personality kitties  in my house these days. And they are all either helpful to my brother while he works or they are very strict on the amount of calls coming in, and accomplish adding to his frustration by hanging up his work phone by one manner or another. And yes, all our kitties are adopted or rescued.

His kitty, Chronic, is usually the one hanging up the phone. Here's his latest picture, and yes, we put him on the icanhascheezburger site, and this was taken today.....



Adorable kitty actually with very, very expressive body language. And loves the space on my brother's desk now that he cleaned it off and reorganized it. And for a big fluffy boy, he squeaks when he talks. He has these wonderful fluffy bloomers (as I call them) and walks on his tippy toes in the back. Looking at him from the backside and watching him walk, he has earned the nickname "Sir Poofy Pants", or Prissy Pants.

Kitty number 2 is Yummy. The other big boy in the house. He also tries to help my brother while he is working. Usually he is more in the form of comic relief or tries for customer service. Either he interrupts the call with a loud meow or if he thinks he's being ignored, he'll use his claws to get attention. The latter usually results in much cursing and yelping. The former makes customers bewildered as most of them think they are talking to someone in an office.



Yeah, Yummy is also not a schmoozer, hates being kissed. And is very demanding. Thought he was king of the roost from day one when he was a bitty kitten. He is also relentless when he wants something.

Then there is Djinn. He is the eldest of the group and probably the most mellow (most of the time). He has his moments though. Like this morning out of the blue, ambushing Poofy Pants (Chronic) and making him squeak in fright. Thought I was going to lose it laughing!

However, lately he has taken to curling up as close as he can to the back of my head, taking over most of the pillow and laying his shoulders and head on my head! For an old lady, this causes hot flashes!



He is a lover, and loves to play. Mostly he provides us the comic relief or the cuddle we need.

There are some who will swear that cats have no personality, they only know what we teach them, or that they are creepy. But those of us who are cat lovers, we know better!

Some new observations on pets adapting to blindness....

So, as most of you know by now, this is Lil'Shit, my geriatric male chihuahua. And no I didn't give him his name, but he is appropriately named. And now we've nicknamed him "Super Dave". Meaning he is always falling off of things and gets up and goes on, perhaps a tad bit more addled than previously.

He is fully deaf now, and for some time blind, with cataracts. Although he could see shapes and shadows. This function is decreasing over time also. And it takes very bright light for him to distinguish things. And if he gets into a shadow, he seems lost. He also has developed this need to be on the edge of everything all the time. We are always trying to watch him if he's on the couch with us or in my brother's bed like the picture above. He seems drawn to teetering on the edge all the time! You pull him back to you, and he is like a magnet and goes right back to the edge. Sometimes we catch him in time before he goes teetering off, sometimes we don't. Sometimes he'll be sound asleep and simply slip right off the furniture and be very puzzled when he has his abrupt awakening. The song that keeps coming into my mind as I watch him always on the edge is Aerosmith's "Livin' on the Edge". He is absolutely never far from the edge of anything. And like Super Dave, he gets up, shakes his head and keeps on going.

However! The other evening I noticed something as I was working in the kitchen, I had to bend over to get to a lower drawer and this is how this came into my line of sight. I stood straight up and had to watch this! Poppy, the cranky one, was snuffling around the kitchen floor as usual when I am working in the kitchen (she's looking for dropped items to snag), and Lil'Shit was there with his shoulder to her back leg, and his nose sort of tucked into her flank. As she would move, he would with her, keeping touch with her, and if she stopped, he did. My Goodness! Exactly as if she was his seeing eye dog, so to speak! This went on till she made the circuit around to me, when he felt or sensed me, he transferred over to my ankle.

Well I mentioned it to my husband and brother at supper, and something clicked with my brother. He said well that would make sense with what he saw the other evening when he had put the dogs out after their supper. When he went to let the dogs in after they had done their business, Lil'Shit was out meandering around off of the patio. The others rushed in, and Poppy who usually was always the first one to rush in, didn't, she turned around and ran out to retrieve Lil'Shit, by nosing him till he noticed her then she brought him in.

It seems this has also happened before with Biscuit, the Peke, when the others came in, he stayed out with Lil'Shit, monitoring him till the both came in together.

This morning when I went to let them all in, in the rush of furry bodies, he got bumped away from the open door and couldn't figure out why the wall wasn't opening. Thumbelina (his daughter) darted back out to him to bring him in.

I have to say, this for me was not expected behavior for this crew. But it makes sense. Animals really do watch out for one another and they do care for their elderly. And he is just taking it all in stride. And he knows very well how to sound the most pitiful to get spoiled. It worked on my brother and his wife, how do you think he ended up on their bed with the lovely fleece throw wrapped around him?

So I guess I should note that just because a beloved animal companion, be they dog, cat, horse or bird, are losing one or more of their faculties; this is not cause for putting them to sleep because you think they are suffering. They really aren't suffering, they adapt much, much quicker than we do, we, as empathetic souls, are the ones suffering watching them lose their senses. So if we watch and wait, you will see some very beautiful and remarkable changes happen. Especially if you have other animals around them. They aren't suffering, they are learning to adapt to the new situations, and we just need to be understanding and supportive and not add more change to their lives right now.