Category: Uncategorized

Article Reprint…

The Dog Flu Epidemic: The Real Truth

Holistic Care / By Dana Scott

Have you taken your dog for a romp in the local park, only to be stopped in your tracks by a sign warning dog owners to enter at their own risk because of a disease striking down dogs at epidemic proportions?

If you live in the Chicago area, you’ve probably seen these signs:

  CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT NOTICE: 

CANINE INFLUENZA VIRUS IN CHICAGO 

The Canine Influenza Virus (the “Dog Flu”) is causing illness throughout the Chicago area. All unvaccinated dogs may be at risk. Even dogs showing no sign of illness may carry this virus. 

PLEASE ENTER THIS DOG FRIENDLY AREA (DFA) AT YOUR OWN RISK 

The virus is extremely contagious. Unvaccinated dogs exposed to the Dog Flu are more likely to contract the disease. 

Symptoms may include: 

• Coughing 
• Lethargy 
• Lack of Appetite 
• Nasal Discharge 
• Trouble Breathing 

So it appears that all of Chicago is in an uproar over nasal discharge and coughing.

If you note any of these symptoms, please keep your dog away from other pets and visit your veterinarian as soon as possible. Please remember, all social dogs are required to have the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine for DFA licensing. 

Why all the fuss over something as innocuous as the dog flu?

Seeding And Why You Need Know What It Is

You might not know this, but pharmaceutical companies make a lot of money from vaccines. So it’s in their best interests to make sure sales are good (and veterinary vaccine sales are really good business).

One way to ensure sales stay strong is to collaborate with the media in something called “seeding.”

“Marketing strategies are planned years ahead,” says John Virapen, who worked more than 35 years in the pharmaceutical industry and was general manager for Eli Lilly & Company. “If a new product is  on the way, the pharmaceutical companies will do the market research first and based on that, lay down strategies in terms of time and method. This is normally done with a five year projection before launch.

The 2011 Dog Flu Epidemic

So how do we know the difference between an actual epidemic and a clever marketing strategy?

A little glimpse at the last dog flu epidemic might give us some insight.

In 2011, a canine influenza epidemic was heavily covered in the media.  Even ABC News carried an article, urging dog owners to vaccinate their pets.  The article warned: (See the full article here)

“There are outbreaks of dog flu right now in the New York metropolitan area and near San Antonio, Texas, and other states have reported epidemics throughout the year. Since the virus, known as H3N8, was first identified in 2004, thousands of dogs in 38 states have become sick with the flu, and veterinarians say that number continues to climb.

“If you want to have a proactive strategy to protect against the unpredictability of canine influenza virus, the best preventive strategy is vaccination,” said Dr Cynda Crawford, clinical assistant professor in shelter medicine at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

When it all came to an end, were the dire news reports justified?

Dr David Lewis, director of consultation services at Antech Diagnostics reported his lab saw no unusual flu activity outside of the New York City area.

Dr Edward Dubovi, director of the virology laboratory at the Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center, reported seeing an uptick in positive results from greater New York City as well as cases from a single kennel in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr Christian Leutenegger, head of molecular diagnostics for Idexx,  noticed spikes in California; New York City and environs; and Texas, all occurring in August, September and October, as follows:

• California, eight cases. Five in the Los Angeles area, three in the Sacramento area.

• New York region, 10 cases. Three were in New York City, three on Long Island, and one each near Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Middletown, N.Y., Hartford, Conn., and Delaware.

• Texas, 10 cases. Five were in San Antonio, five in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Because canine influenza virus prevalence is not very high overall, Leutenegger said, attention-getting peaks can form easily from a relatively small number of cases.

So if the prevalence wasn’t very high, what were all the media reports warning us about?

And more importantly, who was behind all of these reports?

Dr Cynda Crawford is a veterinarian at the University of Florida who led the research team that first identified the canine influenza virus in 2004.

Crawford, along with colleagues at UF, Cornell University and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), share intellectual rights to the canine influenza virus; Merck has licensed the right to use the virus to make a vaccine.

However, Crawford maintains that she and the others don’t receive compensation from vaccine sales.

“It seems to be getting harder to (determine) when a disease is real and when it is being ‘pushed’ by vaccine or drug manufacturers these days,” commented veterinarian Dr Margaret Mason, a vet in Carpenteria, Calif.

About The Dog Flu Vaccine

So we now know that, once the dust settled, media warnings of dog flu epidemics amounted to little.

We also know that pharmaceutical companies and the vets who hold patents on canine influenza have a keen interest in the number of reports on dog flu outbreaks.

And we know that they want you to vaccinate …

Dr Judith Schwartz, the staff veterinarian at the Humane Society of New York, called the outbreak “very” concerning in a recent interview with CBS.

“It’s (a) concern for me not just because of the animals I see, but we could have a dog in the waiting room saying hello to another dog in the waiting room, and they could be incubating – and no one would know it.”

Schwartz said treating dog flu can cost thousands of dollars if the animal has to be hospitalized in isolation. An annual vaccine, considered to be highly effective, costs about $100.

So could a simple vaccine would be the solution to dog flu epidemics?

Studies do show that dogs who are vaccinated for canine influenza will shed a bit less of the vaccine and for about a day less than unvaccinated dogs.

So that’s good news …

The bad news is how much that $100 vaccine costs your dog … especially considering that, just like the human flu, canine influenza is a self limiting, normal illness that, in the vast majority of dogs, amounts to a couple of days of feeling sick.

Of course, we don’t want our dogs to feel bad for even five minutes!

But is vaccinating them with foreign animal protein, heavy metals like aluminum, mercury and formaldehyde, msg and other toxic substances that we know cause long-term, autoimmune illness in our dogs (like allergies, joint disease, hypothyroidism, cancer and more) really the best strategy?

Immune Suppression

Vaccination causes immune suppression … and that’s one really big reason why you should avoid the flu vaccine.

Let’s take a critical look at the flu vaccine …

It takes two shots spaced two to four weeks apart, then an additional seven days for the flu vaccine to protect your dog (and remember, protection doesn’t mean your dog still won’t get the dog flu). Chances are, by the time your dog is protected, the flu epidemic will be gone.

But let’s say you want to vaccinate your dog anyway, because there’s dog flu in your area and you’re concerned. Fair enough.

So you take your dog to the vet for his first shot. This will suppress his immune system for a good week (and that means that for the next week, he’s more at risk to catch the flu and to suffer more symptoms because the vaccine has trashed his immune system).

Then you take him in for a second shot a few weeks later. And once again, your dog isn’t yet protected, but you’ve once more sent his immune system into a tailspin and made him more likely to catch the flu should he come into contact with another sick dog (and you’ve also made him more likely to catch any other disease he may come across).

And if your dog is lucky enough to have not caught the flu while he’s being vaccinated (get the irony here?), but unlucky enough to get the flu after he’s been vaccinated, he’s not necessarily protected!

Does The Vaccine Even Work?

A new study shows that pigs vaccinated against one strain of influenza were worse off if subsequently infected by a related strain of the virus.

That means that the pigs vaccinated for influenza were often sicker if they got the flu. And your dog might be too.

People in Chicago are seeing this; the flipside of the flu epidemic that nobody talks about.

Yesterday, I received an email from a Dogs Naturally retail partner who operates a boarding and daycare facility. They decided a while back that they wouldn’t require vaccination for their customers. And it seemed like a good idea until the flu hit their area – and they were understandably nervous.

So far, they haven’t had any cases in their customers’  dogs. But they did have two fatalities …

One dog was taken to a drive-thru flu vaccine clinic and bloated the same night.

The second dog was taken to another facility because our retail partner was full. The new facility required influenza vaccination and the senior dog was vaccinated the day they brought her in. When her owners picked her up to take her home, she was obviously sick and could barely walk.

She died from influenza two days later.

How to Help Your Dog Remain Flu-Free

Dr Karen Becker is based in the Chicago area, yet for the reasons above, she doesn’t advise her patients to use the flu vaccine.

“If your pet should be exposed to the virus, as long as his immune system is healthy, he’ll either be asymptomatic (show no symptoms), or he’ll recover quickly without medical care.”

Dr Becker recommends the following as a safer and more effective alternative to vaccination:

• Feed a balanced, species-appropriate diet.
• Avoid unnecessary vaccinations and overuse of veterinary drugs and chemical parasite and pest preventives.
• Reduce the environmental toxins your dog is exposed to, which will in turn lesson his toxic burden and biological stress.
• Talk to your holistic vet about natural immune boosters like turmeric, oregano and fresh garlic, as well as useful herbs and diffusing virus-fighting essential oils to support the immune system.

Here’s a final quote on this latest epidemic:

“The important thing is that people not panic over this. Canine flu is a new disease, so there is a lot we don’t know about it, but the mortality rate is very low, and many dogs don’t even get sick from it. It made a huge splash in the press because the molecular genetics part of the story established such a clear cross-species transmission of an influenza virus-not because it is a new, deadly disease of dogs. The virulence of this virus has been greatly exaggerated by some.”
–Dr Tom Graves, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

Article Reprint:

Date: August 9, 2016

Source: University of Nottingham

Summary: The fertility of dogs may have suffered a sharp decline over the past three decades, a new study has found. The research found that sperm quality in a population of stud dogs studied over a 26-year period had fallen significantly.

A study led by researchers at The University of Nottingham has discovered that the fertility of dogs may have suffered a sharp decline over the past three decades.

The research, published in the academic journal Scientific Reports, found that sperm quality in a population of stud dogs studied over a 26-year period had fallen significantly.

The work has highlighted a potential link to environmental contaminants, after they were able to demonstrate that chemicals found in the sperm and testes of adult dogs — and in some commercially available pet foods — had a detrimental effect on sperm function at the concentrations detected.

As ‘man’s best friend’ and closest companion animal, the researchers believe that the latest results may offer a new piece of the puzzle over the reported significant decline in human semen quality — a controversial subject which scientists continue to debate.

Dr Richard Lea, Reader in Reproductive Biology in the University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, who led the research said: “This is the first time that such a decline in male fertility has been reported in the dog and we believe this is due to environmental contaminants, some of which we have detected in dog food and in the sperm and testes of the animals themselves.

“While further research is needed to conclusively demonstrate a link, the dog may indeed be a sentinel for humans — it shares the same environment, exhibits the same range of diseases, many with the same frequency and responds in a similar way to therapies.”

The study centred on samples taken from stud dogs at an assistance dogs breeding centre over the course of 26 years. Professor Gary England, Foundation Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science and Professor of Comparative Veterinary Reproduction, who oversaw the collection of semen said: “The strength of the study is that all samples were processed and analysed by the same laboratory using the same protocols during that time and consequently the data generated is robust.”

The work centred on five specific breeds of dogs — Labrador retriever, golden retriever, curly coat retriever, border collie and German shepherd — with between 42 and 97 dogs studied every year.

Semen was collected from the dogs and analysed to assess the percentage of sperm that showed a normal forward progressive pattern of motility and that appeared normal under a microscope (morphology).

Over the 26 years of the study, they found a striking decrease in the percentage of normal motile sperm. Between 1988 and 1998, sperm motility declined by 2.5 per cent per year and following a short period when stud dogs of compromised fertility were retired from the study, sperm motility from 2002 to 2014 continued to decline at a rate of 1.2% per year.

In addition, the team discovered that the male pups generated from the stud dogs with declining semen quality, had an increased incidence of cryptorchidism, a condition in which the testes of pups fail to correctly descend into the scrotum.

Sperm collected from the same breeding population of dogs, and testes recovered from dogs undergoing routine castration, were found to contain environmental contaminants at concentrations able to disrupt sperm motility and viability when tested.

The same chemicals that disrupted sperm quality, were also discovered in a range of commercially available dog foods — including brands specifically marketed for puppies.

Dr Lea added: “We looked at other factors which may also play a part, for example, some genetic conditions do have an impact on fertility. However, we discounted that because 26 years is simply too rapid a decline to be associated with a genetic problem.”

Over the past 70 years, studies have suggested a significant decline in human semen quality and a cluster of issues called ‘testicular dysgenesis syndrome’ that impact on male fertility which also include increased incidence of testicular cancer, the birth defect hypospadias and undescended testes.

However, declining human semen quality remains a controversial issue — many have criticised the variability of the data of the studies on the basis of changes in laboratory methods, training of laboratory personnel and improved quality control over the years.

Dr Lea added: “The Nottingham study presents a unique set of reliable data from a controlled population which is free from these factors. This raises the tantalising prospect that the decline in canine semen quality has an environmental cause and begs the question whether a similar effect could also be observed in human male fertility.”

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Nottingham. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Richard G. Lea, Andrew S. Byers, Rebecca N. Sumner, Stewart M. Rhind, Zulin Zhang, Sarah L. Freeman, Rachel Moxon, Holly M. Richardson, Martin Green, Jim Craigon, Gary C. W. England. Environmental chemicals impact dog semen quality in vitro and may be associated with a temporal decline in sperm motility and increased cryptorchidism. Scientific Reports, 2016; 6: 31281 DOI: 10.1038/srep31281

University of Nottingham. “Study demonstrates rapid decline in male dog fertility, with potential link to environmental contaminants.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 August 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160809095138.htm>.

This blog entry is dedicated to a brave little Miniature Pinscher (Min Pin) named Jasper.

We received a phone call in January of 2015 from a lady who explained how her Miniature Pinscher (Min Pin) was losing his battle with Autoimmune Disease. She explained how she has tried everything recommended by her Veterinarian and nothing seemed to be helping Jasper. He was continually getting worse instead of better; she had heard of Dr Kruger’s Formulas from friends and decided to give us a call. Shortly after the call she texted us Jasper’s photos so we could see his current condition. (The next photos may be hard for some viewers; viewer discretion is advised)

When you love your dog and you see them going through something like this it just tears your heart out.

These pictures were very hard for us to view and we knew that we needed to act right away to help Jasper! Through our conversation we explained how Jasper needed to be on our Everyday Health Formula and Healthy Skin & Coat Formula to bring Jasper’s system back into balance to address the Autoimmune Disease, work on clearing up his skin issues and start getting his hair to grow again. We explained how this was not going to be a quick fix and she would need to be patient. Give Jasper’s body time to build up on the supplements and allow his Immune System to go back to its normal level.

DISCALIMER – Supplements are NOT a cure for anything. Proper supplementation can and will help to bring your dogs body back into balance the way nature intended. You should ALWAYS consult your Veterinarian when your dog becomes injured or ill. 

The change in Jasper’s condition was gradual and positive; they could see a difference within a couple of weeks. They continued the supplement therapy for several months and Jasper continued to improve. The progression of his Autoimmune Disease had come to a complete halt at this point.

Jasper responding to the Everyday Health Formula and Healthy Skin & Coat Formula

Jasper eventually started feeling good enough to interact and play again. His hair has continued to fill in all of the bare spots and he is starting to look like his old self again.

It has been a little over a year now since we first heard of Jasper’s situation; we are happy to report that he is doing GREAT! We are also happy to report that Jasper’s Autoimmune Disease is in full remission. His health is fantastic, his skin has cleared up and his hair is almost completely filled in.

All of us at Dr Kruger Pet Supplements are overjoyed that we could step in and offer our assistance to help Jasper. He will always have a very special place in our hearts and we will continue to stay on top of his progress and life.

If you would like more information on Dr Kruger Pet Supplements just go to www.drkruger.com or give us a call and we will glad to speak with you!

Jasper – taken on March 25th, 2016

Update from Jasper’s Mom;

Kathy Blannin McKenzie – Hardest thing I have ever been through with any of my pets. We had so much support from our amazing vet, support groups, breeders and Dr Kruger’s. Jasper is back to competing in agility, hogging the bed, greeting customers and generally being his old self. “Pemphigus foliaceus is an autoimmune blistering disease of the skin with characteristic lesions that are scaly, crusted erosions, often on an erythematous base. Mucosal involvement is absent even with widespread disease.

What are enzymes? Enzymes are fundamental to all life. They are in every
living thing. They are needed for every chemical reaction that occurs in the
body. Without enzymes no biological activity would occur. They catalyze and
regulate nearly all biochemical reactions that occur within the human body.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of enzymes active in human
metabolism. They move your muscles, stimulate your nerves, make your
heart beat, keep you breathing, and allow you to think. Our bodies cannot
exist without enzymes.

How do enzymes aid in digestion? Enzymes are an integral part of the
digestive process. From the time food enters the mouth, enzymes are at
work breaking the food down into smaller and smaller units until it can be
absorbed through the intestinal wall. These enzymes come from two
sources, those found in the food itself, and those produced in the body.

What is the difference between pancreatic enzymes, plant enzymes,
and microbial enzymes? Supplemental, pancreatic, plant, and microbial
enzymes are all designed to enhance digestion. However, plant and
microbial enzymes use a “proactive” approach and begin working on foods
sooner after ingestion. Pancreatic enzymes usually begin working
approximately 30 minutes after food reaches the stomach. Because of their
stability in the acidic environment of the upper stomach, plant and
microbial enzymes can begin their digestive action immediately after the
food reaches this region. With the increased exposure to digestive enzyme
activity, food has a better chance of being broken down into small, more
readily absorbed particles.

Why are food enzymes missing in cooked and processed foods? Modern
food processing techniques and all types of cooking destroy nearly 100%
of the enzymes naturally occurring in food. Enzymes are completely
denatured when exposed to temperatures over 118deg for any length of
time. The modern diet consisting of cooked and processed food is
essentially devoid of active enzymes.

• When raw food is ingested, enzymes present within the food are
  released, thereby assisting the body’s digestive processes in breaking
  down the food into its simplest components for utilization within the body.
  However cooking and processing destroys those enzymes, forcing the
  body to supply the additional enzymes needed to adequately digest the
  food.

There are several categories of food enzymes:

Lipase, breaks down fats that are found in most dairy products, nuts, oils, and meat.

Lactase, breaks down lactose (milk sugars).

Protease, breaks down proteins that are found in meats, nuts, eggs, and
cheese.

Amylase, breaks down carbohydrates, starches, and sugars, prevalent in
potatoes, fruits, vegetables, and many snack foods.

Cellulase, breaks down cellulose, the fibrous structure that makes up most
plant cell walls.

 To provide enough enzymes to relieve the burden on the body, the choices
are to eat more raw food or the take a supplemental enzyme-based
product. Those with compromised digestive systems may need increased
levels of enzymes in order to obtain optimum health.

 What are some short and long term benefits? The benefits will vary
depending upon the individual, diet, and general health. For the most part,
people notice less fullness after meals, faster emptying of stomach
contents, decreased gas, less stool being passed, and more regular
bowel habits. Long-term benefits have yet to be clinically demonstrated, but
is an area of active research.

Is supplementation really necessary? The enzymes naturally present in
food play an important role in digestion by helping to predigest the
ingested food in the upper stomach before hydrochloric acid has even
been secreted. This pre-digestion is hindered when food is cooked or
processed because the enzymes are destroyed by the processing
procedures. Placing the full digestive burden on the body, the body?s
digestive process can become over-stressed and incomplete. As a result,
vital nutrients may not be released from the food for assimilation by the
body, and gastrointestinal problems may result.

 What happens when food is not properly digested? Over a century ago,
Virchow described “digestive leukocytosis” a condition in which the white
blood cell count increases after a meal. Further research by Kouchakoff
identified cooked and processed foods as the causative factor. Kouchakoff
observed that raw food induced no change in WBC counts while cooked
foods, particularly cooked meat, caused rapid increases in serum
leukocyte levels. When incompletely digested food molecules are
absorbed, the body identifies this particulate matter as foreign antigens
and forms circulating immune complexes. The immune system then
mobilizes macrophage leukocytes to digest the food.

 Why take an enzyme supplement? Supplemental enzymes replace the
enzymes once present in raw food. Most enzymes are lost in cooking and
processing. Only raw or uncooked food contains enzymes. Nature put
these enzymes in food to aid in digesting the food you eat so your body’s
enzymes would not have to handle all the work. By taking a supplemental
enzyme you free up your body’s enzymes. When enzymes are missing from
your food, the full burden of digestion falls on your own digestive system.
Food sits in your stomach for nearly an hour before your body’s digestive
enzymes are secreted. It is during this time that food enzymes do their best
work breaking down complex food molecules. These supplemental
enzymes are temporarily inactivated in the stomach, but not before they
have already accomplished much of their mission of breaking down the
food molecules. During the first 30 to 60 minutes after eating, enzymes are
hard at work, predigesting food long before the stomach acids render
some of them inactive. Enzymes not destroyed in the stomach are re-
activated in the small intestine.

Today’s typical diet of cooked, canned, and convenience foods make it very
important to take supplemental enzymes to relieve some of your body’s
digestive stress. Since your body will put a higher priority on digestion than
on maintaining health, it will steal enzymes from the immune system to
finish digestion. Taking a supplemental enzyme can help take stress off
not only your digestive organs, but also your immune system.

The last several months have been very crazy in the office as we have been working on tasks related to our sponsorship of an award winning educational television series designed for broadcast on public television (PBS affiliated television stations).

This is a HUGE first for our company and something that will surely go a long way to making Dr Kruger Pet Supplements a very recognized and trusted household name!

The press releases went out yesterday and we are now able to share this exciting news with all of you!

Dr Kruger Pet Supplements is proud to announce that we are a major sponsor of Urban Animals TV Show. This is an awesome family oriented pet show and one that will be seen all over the country starting in September of this year.

We are very excited about the opportunity this sponsorship represents and equally proud to sponsor such a great pet show!

What is Urban Animals?

Urban Animals is an award winning educational television series designed for broadcast on public television (PBS affiliated television stations). Our mission is to educate people about animals by creating informative, entertaining, and exciting television programs that encourage conservation, rescue, adoption, and responsible pet ownership.

Fun, hip, and infused with cosmopolitan energy, each episode of Urban Animals features stories that focus on unique city people and their often unexpected interactions with animals … including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, exotic pets, zoo animals … even wildlife that call the urban canyons home. Audiences are offered the relevance of seeing interesting urban dwellers and learning about how they keep pets and interact with animals, and this makes the show a great draw for animal lovers of all ages who live in cities, suburbs, and rural areas alike.

Toxic Gut Syndrome: The Silent Killer

By Charles C. Kruger, DVM

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.

Our 3 Golden Rules that lead to success using any of the Dr Kruger Pet Supplements Formulas.

1. The formulas are dosed based on the amount of food your pet eats per meal; this is the only true way to determine the proper amount of supplement/s your pet should be getting. Your goal is to get your dog up to 1 full scoop per one cup of food and your cat up to the equivalent amount of supplement/s based on the amount of food being fed.
2. This will not work if you are trying to give supplements to more than one pet in a “free feeding” environment. This is based on predictive feeding as explained above.
3. You must following our dosage instructions; your pet must have the supplement/s on every meal; skipping days or only giving the supplement/s on one meal a day (unless your pet only gets one meal a day) will not be sufficient for the supplement/s to do their job properly.

 DIRECTIONS FOR USE – DOGS:

Introducing anything new into your dog or cats diet should be done slowly over a 7 to 10 day period. This will allow your dogs system to get use to the new addition and reduce the likelihood of causing issues. For dogs and cats with very sensitive systems, consider stretching the introduction period out a little longer than 7 to 10 days. You know your dog better than anyone else; you are in the best position to judge how slowly you so go.

For all breeds of dogs:

Instructions:

Start off with just a pinch; this should be just enough to cover the bottom of the scoop (you should not be able to see the plastic bottom). Over the next 7 to 10 days (based on 1 cup of food per feeding) you will gradually add more supplement to the scoop go from:

Day 1: Just a pinch on each meal

Day 2: 2 pinches on each meal

Day 3: 3 pinches on each meal and so on…

Until you reach the desired dosage of 1 full scoop (teaspoon) per 1 cup of food.

Remember this has to go on each meal to achieve the desired results. For best results you should provide the supplement with each feeding.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE – CATS:

Introducing anything new into your cats diet should be done slowly over a 7 to 10 day period. This will allow your cats system to get use to the new addition and reduce the likelihood of causing issues. For cats with very sensitive systems, consider stretching the introduction period out a little longer than 7 to 10 days. You know your cat better than anyone else; you are in the best position to judge how slowly you so go.

For all breeds of cats:

Instructions:

Start off with just a pinch; this should be just enough to cover the bottom of the scoop (you should not be able to see the plastic bottom). Over the next 7 to 10 days (based on 1 cup of food per feeding) you will gradually add more supplement to the scoop go from:

Day 1: Just a pinch on each meal

Day 2: 2 pinches on each meal

Day 3: 3 pinches on each meal and so on…

Note: It is doubtful that your cat will eat more than 1/2 cup per feeding; you will most likely never reach one full scoop per one cup of food.  That is ok because it is based on the cat’s food intake. Just make sure your cat is getting the proper dosage for the amount of food he or she is eating per meal.

TIP:  Most cats like a little gravy with their food; you can always add just enough warm water to melt the powder, mix good into the food so it coats all of the food in the bowl.

If your cat eats more than one cup of food or less than one cup of food per feeding you should adjust the increments accordingly.

Dr Kruger Puppy & Pregnancy Dog Formula

*** NOTE ***

“This formula is to be used on pregnant females at conception through the last puppy that is weaned. The female needs to stop getting this formula and should transition to the appropriate formula for her age, condition and needs. The puppies can continue to receive this formula until they are 6 months of age. Once the puppies are 6 months old they need to be transitioned to one of the other formulas based on their needs. At a minimum the puppies should transition to Everyday Health Formula.”

One scoop per cup of food. Use with each feeding. Liver loosens the stool until the dogs adapt. To avoid diarrhea, start with just a pinch; this should be just enough to cover the bottom of the scoop (you should not be able to see the plastic bottom). Over the next 7 to 15 days (based on 1 cup of food per feeding) you will gradually add more supplement to the scoop go from:

Day 1: Just a pinch on each meal

Day 2: 2 pinches on each meal

Day 3: 3 pinches on each meal and so on…

Until you reach the desired dosage of 1 full scoop (teaspoon) per 1 cup of food.

Remember this has to go on each meal to achieve the desired results.

Note:  You should always monitor your female while she is nursing her litter. Note the amount of milk she is producing. Should she start to produce an over abundance of milk you should reduce the amount of Puppy & Pregnancy Formula she is getting on each meal until the milk she is producing is proportional to the amount of milk needed by the nursing litter.

Puppy & Pregnancy Formula is for all breeds of puppies between
weaned and 6 months old:

Using the scoop provided, sprinkle one level scoop over each cup of food. Use with each feeding. Incorporate with your dog’s regular feedings to help give your dog the complete nutrition they were intended to have. Daily use will help produce strong newborn puppies that have both hearty appetites and strengthened immune systems.

Container       Servings

   Size

_____________________

  5 oz       =    40 Servings

10 oz       =    80 Servings

20 oz       =  160 Servings

54.75 oz  =  438 Servings

Have a picky eater on your hands?  Having trouble getting them to eat their formula?

Some of our customers have found easy ways to ensure that their beloved dog or cat gets their formula everyday mealtime by doing the following

1. Put their formula in a small portion of cottage cheese, mix well and give it as an after meal treat.
2. Put their formula in a small portion of yogurt, mix well and give it as an after meal treat.
3. Mixing the formula with a small portion of peanut butter and given as an after meal treat has also been known to achieve the desired results.
4. Dr Kruger Pet Supplements also makes a Flavor Enhanced version of our formulas that also solves the picky eater problem. For more information about or Flavor Enhanced Formulas please call our Toll Free number 1-800-711-8736 and we will be happy to help you!

You know your pet better than anyone else… trust your instincts and you will find a delivery method that works best for your particular pet!

I recently ran across this article that was published on 1/5/2017; this is huge news for dog owners. Especially with breeds that tend to have a predisposition for developing cancer!

Original article;

New medication ‘a breakthrough’ for canine cancer

KUSA – Colorado State University is calling a newly approved lymphoma medication a breakthrough in canine cancer.

Tanovea-CA1 is the first drug approved by the FDA for treatment of canine lymphoma. It will be available to veterinarians nationwide this spring and could give a new hope to owners of dogs with cancer.

CSU veterinarians and Fort Collins-based company Vet DC helped bring the new drug to market. The university’s Flint Animal Cancer Center led the medication’s clinical trials.

“Dogs with lymphoma are very sick dogs and they usually present and are noticeably show that their lymph nodes are very swollen and very tender. And because you have lymph nodes all over your body, it can be very uncomfortable. After treatment the size of the lymph nodes decreases quite rapidly so even after a week or two, the dogs are feeling much better,” said Terry Opgenorth, vice president of CSU Ventures.

Veterinarians estimate that one in four dogs will develop cancer. Doses are given every three weeks with a total of five infusions. 

Lymphoma is among the most common forms of cancer in pets. It typically starts in the lymph nodes and other organs of the immune system. The new drug is designed to target and attack cancer cells implicated in lymphoma.

“Across the board, we saw some positive activity in up to 80 percent of all the lymphoma patients that were treated with this medication,” said Dr. Doug Thamm, a veterinarian and cancer researcher who led clinical trials at CSU’s Flint Animal Cancer Center.

A 9-year-old Golden Retriever from Denver named Dane had his health rebound after treatment. His owners thought their dog would have to be euthanized because he could no longer stand and wouldn’t eat or drink much.

After five months, Dane received his final treatment and his owners said he is doing much better.

Tanovea was originally created to treat lymphoma in human patients but never went through the human clinical development stage. The clinical trials were done on pets.

“The FDA has a center for veterinary medicine. They are very much interested in innovators of bringing drugs to market that actually have supportive data in the population that they’ll treat, which are the canine patients. Tanovia is the first of its kind to treat canine lymphoma,” Opgenorth said. 

(© 2017 KUSA)

Original article and copyrights located at: http://www.khou.com/news/local/animals/new-medication-a-breakthrough-for-canine-cancer/382569537

Veterinarians and pet owners alike are experiencing success using the therapy described here for canine alopecia (hair loss in dogs).

The most common form of canine alopecia is seasonal alopecia, also called cyclic follicular dysplasia.  This condition is denoted by hair loss on a dog’s flanks and back. Hair loss can also occur on the base of the tail, nose, and ears. Usually the skin becomes darker in the areas where the hair loss has occurred, and the dog’s hair will become dry and coarse.

Some breeds of dogs are more likely to be affected by seasonal alopecia than others. Bulldogs, boxers, schnauzers, Airedales, labradors, Scottish terriers, Akitas and Doberman pinschers are more susceptible than many other breeds.

Canine seasonal alopecia usually starts in early spring or late fall and lasts for up to six months, with the the dog’s hair typically growing back in afterward.  Sometimes the condition recurs year after year, and sometimes it only occurs once in the dog’s lifetime. Because many dogs become affected with seasonal alopecia in the spring, researchers have concluded that lack of sunlight may be a cause.

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that helps regulate hormones and the body’s circadian rhythm. It is being used in veterinary medicine as a natural treatment for coat loss in dogs, cats and ferrets. Researchers are not exactly sure how melatonin helps thicken and regrow fur.  Some researchers think it may be the relationship between melatonin, sunlight, and the body’s circadian rhythm.  Other’s feel that melatonin’s antioxidant properties help promote hair growth. Melatonin has also been shown to help a pet gain back weight after surgery, stress or illness and help with anxiety, insomnia, and noise phobias. Mink farmers have been known to use melatonin to promote thick coats in the winter.

Dr Kruger Healthy Skin & Coat Formula

Dr Kruger Healthy Skin Formula contains the same vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes and live cultures as the Original Formula but has added Milled Flaxseed and d-Biotin to improve the quality, shine and thickness of the dog’s coat.  Recommended for dogs older than 6 months with a low to moderate work level.  Along with better nutritional absorption of food, daily, long-term use will show an improved and sustained quality of coat, helping your dog to restore the hair lost due to this condition.  It is also excellent for dogs that live in colder climates to increase coat coverage for protection.

With Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, Dr Kruger Healthy Skin & Coat Formula is ideal for any dog that suffers from skin and coat problems such as dry, itchy skin, excessive shedding and Seasonal Alopecia.  Daily use will help to bring your dog’s coat back to full growth.

• RELIEVES DRY, ITCHY SKIN
• REDUCES EXCESSIVE SHEDDING
• PROMOTES PROPER COAT QUALITY & GROWTH
• IMPROVES DIGESTION & NUTRIENT ABSORPTION
• NON-GMO ALL NATURAL FORMULA
• DETOXIFIES ANIMALS INTESTINAL TRACT
• BOOSTS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM 

Recommended Dosage:

1 to 1 ½ scoops ( 1 to 1 ½ Teaspoons) per one cup of food.

Added to each meal (everyday)

Fish Oil Supplement for Dogs with Natural Vitamin E

Omega-3 fatty acids have been extensively researched and can help support skin and coat issues in dogs.

Studies have shown that fatty acids are vital for maintaining normal skin structure and function, and high doses can help support your pet’s coat by helping pruritus (itching) and alopecia (bald spots).

You should seek out a premium fish oil that is virtually odorless. Oil that is crafted in Iceland from sustainably caught, wild ocean fish. Packed with natural source vitamin E from non-GMO Argentinian sunflowers, a powerful and biologically active antioxidant.

Free from soy, wheat, corn, artificial flavors and preservatives. Higher in EPA and DHA than salmon, Pollock, krill, and cod liver oil, so your pet consumes less calories. Oil is human grade, wild caught, and sustainably fished. Manufactured in a 100% carbon neutral, ISO-9001, and GMP-certified facility. So you can ensure that your dog gets nothing but the absolute best product.

Recommended Dosage: 1 pump per 20 lbs of body weight. This needs to be added to every meal.

Melatonin

Recommended Dosage: Research recommends not exceeding a dosage of 3 to 6 mg every 8 to 12 hours.

A general guideline is:

• 1.5 mg for dogs under 25 lbs
• 3 mg for an average medium to large sized dog 26-99 lbs
• 6 mg if the dog’s weight exceeds 100 lbs

This dose can be given once or twice daily.

If given once daily, the recommendation is to dose in the evening.

Please remember, though, that every pet is different and it is always best to consult with your veterinarian for the best possible dosage of Melatonin for your pet’s individual situation. Adjustments may need to be made for particular health situations and/or medications.

Side Effects:  There have been no reports of significant side effects of melatonin use in dogs. There have been a few reports of minor gastric upset and sleepiness. Melatonin has been shown to slightly alter the time an un-spayed female comes into heat. Melatonin may also interact with corticosteroids and some internal body process. Melatonin is not recommended for use in breeding dogs because it has been shown to sometimes alter mating desire and when a dog comes into heat.

Signs of Melatonin Overdosage:  It is very important not to exceed the recommended amount of melatonin.  Be very careful when choosing your melatonin product. Many of the melatonin products sold for humans are much stronger than the recommended amount for dogs. Signs of overdosage include diarrhea, vomiting, high blood pressure, incoordination, and even possibly seizures.

Note: It is always best to consult with your veterinarian before concluding that your pet has a particular ailment. In the case of Canine Alopecia, you should make sure that your veterinarian rules out thyroid disease, Cushing’s disease, parasites, mites and certain bacteria.  All of these can cause symptoms similar to Canine Seasonal Alopecia. To test for thyroid or Cushing’s disease, your veterinarian will need to perform a blood test; for parasites, mites and certain bacterias a skin sample may need to be taken.

The regimen described here has a proven track record of working on mild to severe cases of  seasonal alopecia. Based on our experience dealing with this issue; the following is the most common and effective treatment.

Mild Cases:  Dr Kruger Healthy Skin & Coat Formula only resolves the hair loss issue.

Medium or more stubborn cases: Dr Kruger Healthy Skin & Coat Formula and Fish Oil appears to resolve the issue.

Severe Cases: Dr Kruger Healthy Skin & Coat Formula, Fish Oil and Melatonin appears to be the combination that has the greatest positive effect on extreme cases of seasonal alopecia,