Canine IBD and IBS | Dog Diarhhea caused by Giardia Coccidia

Editorial Comment:

I can't provide a Feed Program for IBD and IBS without mentioning the vast majority of cases of IBD and IBS that come to me for help, are actually Giardia Protozoa that goes undiagnosed. So it is important you understand what Giardia is, and that it is a national problem due to contaminated water; lakes, ponds, streams, standing water, birdbaths and human drinking water. We all have heard the term Montezuma's Revenge, well, this is one of the parasites that causes this unpleasant condition. The bad part of Giardia is that it is VERY difficult to find, so I always suggest treating for it and using Panacur - vets are now reporting only 40% success using Flagyll or Metronidazol. Probitoics and MSM are critical to keeping this problem in check throughout the life of the dog. All info below.

Giardia is a waterborne protozoa that lives in the digestive track of humans and pets and it lives in the lower bowels and it runs in cycles, so it normally goes undetected unless you get it at the right moment of the test. The best indication is the reoccurring problems of diarrhea, intermittent loose stools, weight loss and sensitive digestion.

Generally, Flagyll, Metronidazole are used to treat Giardia, but it just returns once these drugs are stopped. I have found the best way to tackle this problem is to use Panacur wormer for 3 days and repeat it again in 2 weeks, taking the same 3 day dosage and dividing it up over 10 days to get it at all stages of the cycle.

Panacur like wormers or antibiotics, strips the gut of all good and bad bacteria as well, leaving the digestive track open to more digestive problems and health issues such as Leaky Gut, Toxic Gut and systemic yeast infections. That is why it is critical to use a good probiotic at the same time as treatment. Double dose your probitoics when on medicine or antibiotics, and once a day after that as maintenance. Probiotic info below.

Take time to read my Article on Giardia to be better informed about this parasite. I will say, once you have Giardia, it seems to rear it's ugly head on occasion, so keep that in mind and remember Probiotics and MSM are critical to keeping a healthy Giardia free gut. More info to follow.

HOW TO USE THIS PROGRAM

This feed program is used by many of the top breeders in the USA and overseas. This program has 20 years of success and you must follow this program exactly because each component has a job to do - deleting one of these components compromises the integrity of this program. Do not add other foods or supplements to the program without discussing it with me first. Do NOT add your own raw meats, calcium supplements, I will provide raw options that are safe from pathogenic bacteria and parasites and balanced in their calcium and phosphorus ratio.

If you have a senior adult with no health problems -go to the Senior Feed Program.

Section A.

The Basics Program - All Breeds

This program is a comprehensive and consists of 6 major components and this is it in summary form. Detailed info to follow below.

1. Dog Food - Natural/Holistic Super Premium - kibble and canned

2. BacPacPlus Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes - beneficial bacteria - Digestive enzymes to reestablish the environment of the gut after worming

3. MSM- Nutritional Sulfur

4. Nzymes - Dietary enzymes - missing in all commercial foods - antioxidants

5. Ox-E-Drops - help keep proper pH in the gut

6. Liquid Health Level 5000 - joint support supplement

Variety Options - canned meats, fruits/veggies, dehydrated raw options

Where To Purchase Products

1. DOG FOOD - Precise and Precise Plus kibble and canned - a Holistic line

2. BakPakPlus - PROBIOTICS & DIGESTIVE ENZYMES - beneficial bacteria, digestive enzymes, www.nzymes.com

3. MSM- Nutritional Sulfur - Patent research shows Giardia protozoa does not like to live in the presence of a system that has adequate amounts of MSM present. www.firstchoicenaturals.com

4. NZYMES - dietary enzymes - in chewable Pet Treat or Granular (goes further) www.nzymes.com

5. OX-E-DROPS - antibacterial, antiviral, antifungus - keeps pH of the gut healthy www.nzymes.com

6. Liquid Health Level 5000 - joint support supplement (glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and herbs). www.Liquid Health Level 5000 com

7. OPTIONAL: VARIETY ADD - fruits & veggies & Eagle Holistic canned meats www.eaglepack.com For a safe, balanced raw option use Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw - info below.

Section B.

Description of Supplements - Who - What - Why?

1. Food - Kibble and Canned -go here for more information on Precise Foods and where to puchase Precise.

DO NOT SOAK KIBBLE AND LET SET, OR USE HOT WATER ON YOUR KIBBLE IT WILL DESTROY THE INTEGRITY OF THE NUTRIENTS AND PROBIOTICS - YOGURT LIKE CULTURES ON THE FOOD.

2. Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes

Most dog/cats/people who have been infested with Giardia Protozoa or treated for IBD/IBS have been treated with numerous antibiotics, drugs or wormers to rid the intestines of this parasite or pathgens.

These drugs also strip the gut of the critical beneficial bacteria necessary for digestion and ravage the intestinal mucus lining that prevents food sensitivites and toxic and leaky gut syndrome and the pet has constant loose stools, sometimes bloody due to irratation. It is so important to provide BakPaKPlus on a daily basis for digestive health and while on any medicines or wormers you double dose AM and PM to protect the lining of the gut.

BakPakPlus- This is a combination 6 friendly yogurt like good bacteria in highly concentrated forms, plus 4 digestive enzymes, to help keep the mucosal lining of the gut in tact which provides proper digestive health. Their is not enough concentrated microorganisms in yogurt to even begin to support the gut if they are on antibiotics or wormers, it is literally like trying to hold back a dam with a cork. You have to use concentrated forms of probiotics like the BakPakPlus.

To order: 877-816-6500 Website: ~ http://www.nzymes.com

3. MSM- Nutritional Sulfur - Methylsulfonylmethane

Not all brands of MSM are equal. The one that has been around the longest, with the most research and use, long before it was even available for human consumption, is the Vita-Flex brand. It is the ONLY brand I will suggest for Giardia or growth cases, because I know it is manufactured in this country and 99% human grade.

In the patent (#4,616,039) and research information on MSM, it states "the dosage for treating Giardia to be 500 mg - 3 times a day for two weeks, then continue with 1000 mg a day to help prevent Giardia re-infestation. MSM makes the gut an uninviting place for Giardia to proliferate." I purchase mine from Dr. Wagner at www.firstchoicenaturals.com or 765-287-8288.

4. Dietary Enzymes - in pet treats or granular (multiple pets)

Nzymes - is Dietary Enzyme in a chewable healthy pet treat or in granular form. Nzymes put the "living component" back into a cooked, processed, stored dog food. Enzymes are heat sensitive and lost in processing/cooking of all commercial foods or making home cooked diets. As owners we must put dietary enzymes back into the diet, in order to maintain proper wellness and not deplete the body of this important resource. This can be done by the addition to your diet with a product called Nzymes, a chewable pet treat, or granular form which can be sprinkled on the food to replace what is lost. In other words, Nzymes provide the body with the right nutrients to allow the body to make the chemicals necessary to detoxify (clean out) the body and repair itself.

Nzymes helps with the following:
- Allergic reactions
- Natural anti-inflammatory ~ so you can avoid risky medicines like Rimadyl
- Arthritis
- Orthopedic problems ~ HOD, OCO, Pano, Wobblers, Hip Dysplasia, ACL
- Epilepsy and Seizures - due to vaccine reactions
- Vaccine reaction prevention
- Cleanses residual toxins from medicines, flea and parasite preparations.
- Boosting the immune system
- Reduces shedding
- Itchy ears
- Yeast infections
- Bladder infections
- Hotspots
- Reduces healing time from injury, surgery (cropping/bloat/c-sections)
- Reduces recovery time from anesthesia.
Nzymes are from sprouts (food) so they do not conflict with diet or any medications. I have used the Nzymes for 20 years for my animals and I take the human product and have seen remarkable changes our health. By incorporating Nzymes into the diet, you are putting back the "living component" into the modern processed and cooked diets. This gives the body the tools it needs for repair and good health.

Website to order : http://www.nzymes.com/ - 877- 816- 6500 - 8:00-6:00 PST

5. Ox-E-Drops

Ox-E-Drops is clear a safe liquid that will kill pathogens: bacteria, fungus and virus. When feeding raw meat it is particularly important to use Ox-E-Drops to help prevent problems with the pathogens in raw foods. An added benefit is that Ox-E-Drops Drops does not kill the good bacteria of the gut and helps to encourage the growth of friendly bacteria. I believe Ox-E-Drops is very important component to a diet in the possible prevention of bloat and systemic fungus infections, toxic and leaky gut syndrome, because if it's ability to help keep the proper pH balance in the gut which is important in breeds that have a tendency to bloat.

Dosage - 1 drop per 20 lbs of body weight. Use daily on food, mix with a little water and your canned Eagle meat and use as a gravy. During times of illness - double this dosage.

To order: www.Nzymes.com or 877-816-6500

6. Joint Supplementation

I have used Liquid Health Level 5000 joint supplementation with great success on my dogs. It is particularly noticeable when you introduce it to an elderly dog diet - they respond very well to joint nutritional supplementation. The amount of glucosamine in better dog foods is barely a maintenance level dosage, which is why I supplement my dogs. Whereby it is beneficial for all breeds ages and sizes, the large and giant breeds are particularly vulnerable due to their size, rapid development as a puppy and later tendencies toward bone cancer - normally of the long bone or growth plate.

I start my puppies on joint supplementation at 10 - 12 weeks of age and continue throughout their adult life. With the large/giant breeds their joints have added stressed, so any thing that can help support them as they age, is a positive step in the right direction.

For more complete information and ordering go to this website: Liquid Health Level 5000

7. For Variety - Meats - Fruits - Vegetables

MEATS: I use Precise canned dog foods for variety and I mix a couple of tablespoons of canned meat with tepid temperature water and make a gravy.

Do NOT use grocery store brands they are full of preservatives and 4D meats (dead, diseased dying and disabled) and they give the dogs stinky gas and are full of unhealthy fillers. NO homemade concoctions of meat/rice combinations that you make up at home, they are very unbalanced in their calcium and phosphorus levels and can cause growth problems.

FRUITS &VEGETABLES:

I think it is important to incorporate some real foods into you dogs diet on a daily basis. Not only is this done for nutritional purposes, but because the dog gets bored eating the same thing day in, day out!! This is a list of recommended foods to use in moderation:

yogurt, buttermilk berries melons, apples, banana, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, oranges, squash, sweet potato, green beans, zucchini - minced/diced/raw/cooked - they love frozen berries and melon balls!! Pulverized fresh veggies are best for digestion.

NO raw onions, grapes or raisins, macadamia nuts.

Water On Food:
Commercial foods need to be fed with moisture so dogs don't over consume water after a meal, and so the kibble does not pull moisture from the dogs system in order to break down properly. Use "tepid" temperature water never hot or warm and never soak your food as it breaks down and destroys nutrients. Mix up and feed immediately. I use approximately 1 to 1-1/2 cups of water for adults per each meal. Adjust accordingly for puppies. If they have loose stools, you may be using too much meat or water than necessary. Adjust that before you panic and think they are sick.

Drinking Water:
It is very important to NEVER withhold water from your dog. This can lead to over consumption and bladder infections. Use common sense, do not let them drink excessively after exercise or dinner. Like a horse, let them cool down and then drink. I have found if I have water available in several places, they never overdo it since they know it is available to them when they need it. That way they drink less amounts of water, but more frequently.

Withholding water for fear of bloat is a myth. Stress is the cause and bloat/torsion is the response. It is much more complicated that simply saying water is the cause of bloat.

(See my article on Bloat and Torsion for details) (See On My Soapbox)

Something else to consider using with IBD and IBS

Colostrum - is the first "pre-milk" fluid produced in the first few hours from the mammary gland of mammals, and it carries all the antibodies to protect the young when the immune system is new and underdeveloped. Bovine Colostrum is often used due to it's rich source of antibodies, growth factors and nutrients and may provide passive immunity to the newborn against various infectious microorganisms, particularly those that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Children who were not breast-fed do not receive the natural antibodies from their mother milk, and often have a lifetime of allergy problems. Likewise young puppies/kittens who do not nurse, are often not protected by the antibodies from mother's colostrum.

Hyperimmune bovine colostrum is rich in immunoglobulins of the IgG type, which are protective against such infectious microorganisms as Cryptosporidium parvum (a major cause of AIDS-associated diarrhea), diarrheogenic Escherichia coli strains, Shigella flexneri, Clostridium difficile, and rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea in young children.

Research shows Colostrum will regenerate and rejuvenate the immune function, as well as heart muscle. It is highly recommended for pets (humans) with cardiomyopathy and other heart disease or diabetes issues.

Another product that has amazing results with IBD and IBS and serious digestive issues is that of SeaCure.

I use Dr. Wagner's bovine colostrum for myself and my elderly dogs, it is guaranteed "first milking". www.firstchoicenaturals.com

Blackwatch Feed Program for Canine IBD and IBS