Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/541817
Abby's Magazine - July/August 2015 | Page 13 Dr. Marlene Siegel Pasco Veterinary Medical Center 813-973-2929 www.pascovet.com disease process, effort should be aimed at resolving whatever the underlying contributing cause is. Severe hypercholesterolemia in cats is rare and in dogs is usually secondary to hypothyroidism (low thyroid). It is far less expensive to prevent the disease than to treat it. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. ACTION PLAN Diet: feed a biologically appropriate species diet (balanced raw diet that is 95% grass fed or free range type meat with 5% organic fruits and vegetables) that is inherently low in carbohydrates. Plant based digestive enzymes: Most animals that have been on processed diets (can and kibble) have exhausted their stores of pancreatic enzymes and need an assist with breaking down their food to the individual building blocks required for proper assimilation into the body. Probiotics: Having the correct gut bacteria is critical to proper digestive health and a healthy immune system. In the wild, animals ate the fermented GI contents of the animal they killed, supplying them the probiotic rich contents. My patients eat fermented foods like milk kefir (which I make and sell). Kefir not only supplies amazing healthy bacteria to the gut, but they aid in digestion, produce B Vitamins and amino acids, repair leaky gut and carry nutrients from the gut into the body. Essential vitamins/ minerals and amino acid supplements: "Essential" means that the body does not manufacture it, it must be eaten in the food we (and our furry friends) consume. Much of the food we eat (even if it is organic) is nutrient deficient if the plants were grown on nutrient depleted soils. It makes sense that if the minerals were not in the soil for the plant to uptake, then they are not going to be available in the plant or in the meat of the animals that consumed the plants. Essential fatty acids: Omega-6 fats: • Arachidonic acid (AA) • Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) • Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) • Linolenic acid (LA) Omega-3 fats: • Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) • Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) • Eicosapentaneoic (EPA) Krill oil is high in omega 3's and has been used in people with hypertriglyceridemia. Exercise: Good for the body, mind and spirit! Resolve or manage any contributing disease process: There is supportive evidence that secondary hyperlipidemia may be managed or resolved if the underlying problem can be treated. Speak with your veterinarian or a knowledgeable holistic veterinarian for the best approach to obtaining a diagnosis and the resultant treatment. Statin drugs used in people may be evaluated if there is no response to diet change and no underlying disease process can be identified and corrected. The efficacy of these medications in animals is questionable and the side effects may not warrant their usage. Most disease can be prevented by maintaining a healthy digestive tract. Feed a species appropriate raw diet with plant based enzymes, probiotics from fermented foods, all the essential vitamins minerals and fatty acids the body needs, topped off with plenty of TLC exercise and sunshine!