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Bloat and Nutrition
by
Kymythy Schultze and Mary Ellen Lunde Schultze, A.H.I.
(as
posted to the Wellpet List)
Hi
Listers,
Of course, there is never just ONE reason for anything.
Many factors come into play. Unfortunately, that means there
are no easy answers either, darn it.
I'd like to share my thoughts on nutritional factors that
may contribute to bloat. The following are foods that I
find to be troublemakers and why:
1) Yeast (any form) = not a species-appropriate food, a
fermented byproduct that expands and outgases, very high
in phosphorus which can upset mineral balance.
2) Sugar = (any form; beet, raw, brown, cane, fructose,
corn sweetener, corn syrup, date, dextrin, dextrose, glucose,
lactose, maltose, manitol, polydextrose, sorbital, sorghum,
sucanat, sucrose, barley malt, molasses, honey and maple
syrup) sugar feeds yeast, combine sugar and yeast together
and you've got yourself an old-fashioned "still"
that expands.
3) Dairy (any form) = another un-natural food for weaned
adult animals, another source of sugar (lactose).
4) Grain = not a species-appropriate food (cats and dogs
have no nutritional need for it), NOT often found in "stomach
contents" of prey animals (would contain grasses, herbs,
roots, bark, seeds, nuts, etc), grain biochemically breaks
down into sugar.
5) Food that is not species appropriate = unfamiliar foods
may be difficult to digest, thereby causing intestinal upset
and malabsorption.
Tolerance of these foods differs between individuals. Symptoms
may be expressed in different ways, depending on the animal
and whether it's body has the strength to raise a rebellion
(negative reaction/symptoms). Of course, this list is not
all-inclusive of causes...just a few things I've been working
on over the years :-).
Kymythy Schultze Animal Health Instructor
Kymythy's recent posting on causes of bloat left some questions
in my mind. I think some of these are appropriate for discussion
on the list. First Kymythy cites yeast as a potential cause
of bloat.
I am assuming that this does *not* include brewers yeast
since Billinghurst since brewers is not a living yeast but
the dead bodies of yeast organisms and according to Billinghurst,
one of the richest, most concentrated sources of nutrients
known.
If you are feeding BARF or a super premium kibble, what
would contain yeast?
I agree sugar should only be a minimal part of a dog's diet,
but if you eliminate the yeast are you less likely to call
it a source of bloat if you feed honey and molasses as some
listers do occasionally?
Many of the listers ala Billinghurst feed yogurt, cottage
cheese, regular cheese when giving pills,. Are we saying
these should generally be avoided? Billinghurst does seem
to agree that milk, except for puppies, is not necessary.
Billinghurst seems quite sold on grains especially when
fed with legumes, since he believes that they compliment
each other very well.
Would like to know what other listers think and welcome
further insights from Kymythy.
Mary Ellen R. Lunde
Don't
stop feeding those items unless it makes sense to you to
do so!
I wrote this post with some trepidation because I wasn't
sure how listers would react to it. Sometimes uncommon thinking
is unpopular!
Thank you for your kind questions. Remember, I believe these
foods to be contributors; other factors may certainly have
a role in bloat. I wish some bloat studies would be done
on diets that exclude the foods I mentioned...that has NOT
been done, but might be interesting.
I take it from most posts, that more clarification is needed....
1) Yeast (ANY kind) = there are many foods that are loaded
with nutrients...but, unfortunately, that does not make
them digestible or necessarily good for a body. Kinesiology
and cytotoxic tests shows that 9 out of 10 dogs can't assimilate
yeast. Beyond that, it is certainly not a "natural"
food for a domestic carnivore. Yeast is a major ingredient
in many pet food products. (I can think of a popular supplement
that has both yeast and sugar in it and I also know dogs
that bloated on it).
2) Dairy (ANY kind) = is a hormonal growth fluid created
to grow baby bovines (or goats), not dogs and cats.
3) Sugar (ANY kind) = natural forms of sugar (honey/molasses)
are still sugar. Even too much fruit (high in natural sugars)
can upset the blood sugar in some animals, which doesn't
mean it's evil, but should be given in moderation.
4) Grain (ANY kind) = "just say no," the fact
that it cannot be fed raw tells us a lot (wild carnivores
did not cook or soak food). One of the symptoms of gluten
(a protein in some grains) intolerance in humans is bloating.
There are no nutrients contained in the above foods that
animals can't get from a more species-appropriate source.
Philosophies differ - some diets are made with "natural"
foods and some are species-specific. As your animal's guardian,
it is your responsibility to take care of your pet in a
way that makes you comfortable - which may be quite different
from someone else.
Another thought is that there is no definite "diet"
for all animals (isn't that what makes us so nervous at
the start!). There are diet "guidelines" - the
actual meal that is made depends on the person creating
it. If you are happy feeding the above foods and the reason
you are feeding them makes perfect sense to you.....great!
If you want to do some more research on your own, there
are many resources available to you. Applied Kinesiology
can be a helpful testing tool to see what your animals need
(find a well-qualified practitioner). Also, we live in the
real world with real temptations...if you feed some no-no's
to your pet occasionally, don't beat yourself up, just understand
that you might see a reaction from it, so don't be surprised.
Some of the food offenders are worse than others for some
dogs. It all comes back to looking the whole big picture...the
holistic view.
Hugs to your furry friends,
Kymythy Schultze
Bonnie,
you have to drain the swelling every time there is too much
tension.
Don't poor out all the fluid though, just enough to take
the tension away. It might take up to three weeks - that
is my experience - before it is healed.
I never used any medicine. I've been told by my vet that
it will not be helpful. The veins in the ear flap are not
very well capable of transporting the fluid out of the flap
- all one can do is keep the fluid 'in balance' with the
tissue until it cures from the inside out. Or have surgery
done which, according to my vet, hardly ever is necessary
because 'time' is the best healer.
-----
Richard Allport B Vet Med, Vet M F Hom, MRCVS in his book
'Heal Your Dog The Natural Way' :
homeopathy - Arnica [to be administered in acute dosage]
for three days, followed by Hamamelis [given in chronic
dosage] for two weeks, may help to reduce the swelling of
the earflap. [Arnica is an excellent remedy that is also
used to reduce bruising following injury.] herbal medicine
- witch-hazel lotion may be applied directly to the ear
flap. minor therapies - ferrum phos.[acute dosage] will
help to relieve the symptoms.
-----
Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine on:
Witch Hazel:Extracts of astringent, hemostatic witch hazel
are highly regarded for their use in bleeding, hemorrhoids,
and varicose veins. The distilled extract, "witch hazel
water", is used for bruises, dermatoses and sprains.
It is approved for use in hemorrhoids. NOTE - Witch hazel
should only be used topically. Arnica: Always remember Arnica
can not be wrong in any injury and will always help. Do
not use topically on open wounds. The sooner it is given,
the better it will help.
Ferrum phos: may be prescribed for bleeders with a nervous,
sensitive and anemic disposition.
-----
Hamamelis virginiana L. is the Latin name for Witch Hazel.
My best wishes to Baron [and to you],
Ignit Bekken, Surinam
OK
I have to put my 02c in here....years ago a friend had a
mix that had a huge hematoma.......vet wanted to do surgery...we
opted not to. So we did the following. We took a pot put
in on to boil...but sea salt in pot until pretty salty.
Put salt packs on ear every hour...within a day the salt
packs drew the hematoma out of the ear...little prickles
of blood leached thru the ear we continued for an additional
day...no crumpling, no disfigurement...this dog was a vizla..show
candidate.....and finished the following month in 6 shows....
I am not sure this would work for you but just thought I
would tell you are experience...
Kat, the Wire Group....and Chassis (mini schauzer)
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