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PET FOODS' INSIDIOUS CONSEQUENCES raw meaty bones tom lonsdale nutrition dog dogs

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PET FOODS' INSIDIOUS CONSEQUENCES PART 4

by Dr Tom Lonsdale

Copyright June, 2002 -

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FLUTD

FLUTD is one of the intractable diseases encountered in feline practice. The July, 1993 edition of the JSAP carried an article by Sydney University, Associate Professor ADJ Watson in which he reviewed the work of Markwell (JSAP 34 pp157-162) and commented on the work of Osborne et al.

A significant point was that struvite crystalluria is a common finding in normal cats. He comments that:

'Osborne and others (1992) hypothesize that matrix - crystalline plugs obstructing the urethra are formed because of the coincidence of urinary tract inflammation and crystalluria. As the causes of inflammation in these patients are unknown, 76.2% of cases of FLUTD in the series of Osborne and others (1989) can be said to have had unknown etiology' .

In the limited number of cases biopsied by us the cellular infiltrates in bladder and urethra have been similar to our random foot pad samples. It would seem that cats with diet-induced periodontal disease are prone to the deposition of inflammatory cells in numerous tissues including the bladder and urethra. If this proves to be the case then 76.2% of cases in the Osborne et al series (1989) could possibly be attributed to this source.

In the other 23.8% of cases the inflammation has been attributed to a range of causes. Our belief is that in these cases periodontal disease-induced inflammation may well have played a principle role in the aetiopathogenesis . The concomitant belief being that the viruses and bacteria previously implicated as sole causative agents may now be seen either as incidental findings or another means by which the urinary tract inflammation is exacerbated.

It is acknowledged that our evidence is scanty in this area since we need to keep our clinical cases alive. One case monitored by ourselves continues with a high level of crystalluria. This caused us consternation at first but now could perhaps be seen as an aspect of the normal. At the time of first presentation with blockage this cat had its periodontal disease treated by radical dentistry. The cat is now maintained on a diet of raw chicken wings and raw rabbit legs without recurrence of periodontal disease or blockage of the urethra. Of course, we are not at liberty to biopsy the bladder and urethra in order to ascertain the presence or absence of inflammatory infiltrates. (The Cybernetic Hypothesis of Periodontal Disease in Mammalian Carnivores predicts a cascade of pathological consequences for periodontal disease-affected animals. See page 23)

THE INABILITY OF THE CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC PATHWAY

Historically the function of medicine has been to diagnose extant clinical conditions. Clinicians experience enough difficulty making diagnoses and recommending treatment once pathology is in place. That the activity is retrospective has not hitherto caused much concern. (People pay doctors for disease treatment not health maintenance)

Often times in human medicine the patient can advise the clinician of symptoms. The very opposite is the case with animals both wild and domestic for they actively seek to disguise signs of chronic ill health. When one considers that the body is extremely adept at compensating whether it be for liver, kidney, bone marrow or similar failure then making a diagnosis prior to the end-stage collapse of the compensatory mechanism can be a difficult task.

That is, if one restricts oneself to the orthodox use of the clinical diagnostic pathway. If, however, one takes the view that all animals should be on a more nearly natural diet and free from periodontal disease then creation of health very often precedes identification of disease. This occurs because the basic assumption is made that diet and periodontal disease have a major impact on the wellbeing of the patient. Alteration of these two factors either solves the presenting problem or makes for a sound basis upon which to pursue further diagnosis and treatment. When presenting their animals for vaccination owners frequently believe them to be well. Change of diet at this time is frequently attended by an improvement in vitality. Owners are indignant and surprised as to how unwell their pets have been.

The following sets out in simplified fashion how the veterinarian possessing a high index of suspicion regarding the diet/periodontal disease/general health nexus takes cumulative decisions differing from his orthodox counterpart when working through the clinical diagnostic pathway.

One piece of information abstracted from the orthodox school of thought does in fact offer insight.

'Subjective assessment can be just as important and by its nature is accepted with less stigma and finality, than is a hard figure, which is often given more authenticity and authority than is deserved'.

(Atwell R, 1992)

Several other issues help, even ensure the status quo.

1. Professional Conservatism - An overweening belief in the validity of existing protocols characterizes the veterinary endeavor. Practitioners are generally reluctant to think outside the square. When new ideas are admitted to the belief system it is usually through the agency of an 'overseas expert'.
2. Clinical trials - To my knowledge all investigations are carried out on processed food fed, periodontal disease- affected animals. Consequently the orthodox veterinary scientists working in the small animal clinical investigative area have never employed a legitimate control group and have therefore allowed the huge snafu detailed in this paper to remain undetected.
3. Litigation - In the litigation-conscious USA the leaving of tooth roots in the gums is a punishable offence. The vast over-servicing of the clients and the sale of processed pet foods is not.
4. Peer Review - Articles submitted for publication on this new topic are likely to be refereed by adherents of the orthodox view. (The pet food industry supports, and is supported by, vets in numerous different ways.) No prizes for guessing the outcome.
5. The Media - The fourth estate is supposedly the last safeguard to the freedoms and integrity of our society. Straight away we must acknowledge they have been infiltrated by the major commercial interests. Advertising revenue and mutual favors count. In our own experience journalists have frequently identified with the sentiments reflected in this paper. However unsafe libel laws have prevented a thorough airing of the allegations.

CYBERNETIC HYPOTHESIS OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE IN MAMMALIAN CARNIVORES

The following is part of a paper describing an evolutionary/cybernetic hypothesis. It serves to explain why periodontal and other consequent diseases are not necessarily a blight on animal populations. In fact from a species point of view, it demonstrates how the workings of the animal's immune system at first protects the individual and then subsequently helps to sacrifice that individual in order to protect its gene pool. There remains much to learn but to date every branch implication of this hypothesis traced by us leads to a clear and useful understanding.

'That processed foods are unsuitable for lifetime feeding of pet animals is beyond doubt. Both the chemical and physical aspects are damaging with, I believe, the emphasis residing on the physical.

As a theoretician impressed by the delicate cybernetic balance of nature there seems to be the workings of an invisible hand here. A small effort enables the formulation of the cybernetic hypothesis of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is the subtle dependable disease which modulates the effects of starvation in wild carnivore population dynamics.

• A 'feedback loop' ensures daily chewing of raw meaty bones sanitizes the oral cavity of the successful carnivore.
• Failure of the 'feedback loop' facilitates multiplication of pathogenic bacteria within plaque and development of periodontal disease.
• Incremental losses of carnivores and herbivores are thereby facilitated.
• The populations of herbivores, carnivores and bacteria are maintained in dynamic equilibrium.

An Hypothetical Example

Now let's consider the hypothetical case of a pack of wolves and a flock of sheep within a finite environment. The sole crude determinant of success of the wolves or the sheep is starvation. If sheep numbers increase they eat out the herbage and proceed to die. At the same time the wolf numbers increase at a great rate to achieve maximum concentration just as the sheep are dying of starvation . The wolves die of starvation. The violent fluctuations suit neither the environment, the sheep nor the wolves. Now introduce periodontal disease and wolf sensitivity to starvation increases several fold. On day one ten wolves dine on sheep. On day two nine wolves dine on sheep and the tenth wolf goes hungry. On day three our hungry wolf has to contend with three additional problems.

a. Nine contented, well-fed wolves.
b. His own twenty-four hour starvation
c. Increased plaque accumulation.

The unequal struggle begins as his 'appointed part in keeping down numbers' is made redundant. The pathogens benefit. Their numbers sharply increase by day fourteen. The sheep gain since only nine wolves now give chase.

It is inconceivable that the stench would not communicate powerful signals to other wolves and prey alike. Wolf number ten, aware of his condition, would probably prefer to remove himself from contention and slink away to die. Each wolf in turn will occupy the number ten position and an abbreviated period of dying is highly desirable.

Periodontal Disease Allows Immense Flexibility of Control.

If she-wolf finds hunting easy then she will return chewy food to the litter on a daily basis. It could be anticipated that wolf cubs cutting their teeth are highly vulnerable to the periodontal disease organisms. However, if sheep numbers are high then more cubs need to be reared in order to perform their regulatory role.

The next phase of increased sensitivity to periodontal disease is the four to six month age range. Periodontal disease organisms can surge in numbers in the inflamed mouth of the cub whose secondary dentition is erupting. If sheep numbers are extremely high even the blundering efforts of the adolescent wolf will be rewarded with adequate food supplies. Consequently the gums will be massaged, the periodontal disease kept at bay and the wolf will mature to become an effective killer of sheep.

Bacteria

Bacteria, particularly anaerobes, were the earliest inhabitants of the planet. Their evolving interest is on a par with the interests of wolves. The vigorous chewing on raw bones render the mouth of the carnivore an inhospitable place, except for the enamel sulcus of upper, pre-molar four. It is usual to find a bead of calculus immune from the abrasive forces and containing a full complement of plaque bacteria lodged in this sulcus. It is easy to understand that once the feeding function of the host declines the complete colony of plaque organisms can readily colonize the gingival sulcus.

Sheep

The sheep in our example benefit from a balance of wolf and bacteria numbers.

• All bacteria and no wolves leads to over multiplication of sheep, mass starvation and population destruction.
• All wolves and no bacteria leads to intense predation pressure and population destruction.

Further Implications

We can see the supreme efficacy of the negative/positive feedback loop. Nature has struck the perfect balance ensuring that the wolf's very strength carries with it its inherent weakness.

Paradoxically it is the susceptibility to periodontal disease of the individual carnivore which confers a survival advantage on the species. The carnivore susceptibility to periodontal disease as opposed to the omnivore and herbivore can be explained thus - in the extreme, herbivores (e.g. sheep), can all be at the brink of death by starvation and then, with the next shower of rain, their feeding fortunes recover. No particular advantages would accrue to the flock which reduced its numbers dramatically at the onset of a drought.

Human omnivores appear to withstand a level of periodontal disease more readily than carnivores. As a cooperative species even periodontal disease affected individuals could be of benefit to the survivability of the group.

Conventional wisdom has it that the immune system is necessary to protect the host. This is a simple, linear 'cause and effect' concept that takes little account of degree or time within the holistic framework. The 'Cybernetic Hypothesis of Periodontal Disease' allows a range of options depending on degree and time. This can be summarized as two functions thus

1. In a short time, and with minor challenge, the immune system will provide a minor degree of protection sufficient to protect the host genes and therefore the gene pool.
2. As either the time frame or the degree of challenge increases the immune system will provide a major response. This major response will serve to expedite the demise of the host genes. The concomitant of this being that the host gene pool (the critical issue) will be protected.

It is important to note that this graduated response facilitates the shaping of populations. i.e. the animal which employs the immune system least will be the best adapted to its environmental niche and therefore have the greatest breeding potential.'

(Part of paper submitted for publication, Tom Lonsdale 1992)

Symbiogenesis, the mutual evolutionary adaptation of species, is gaining in scientific significance. (Sir Crispin Tickell, ABC Radio National Science Show, 28 August, 1993) I am prepared to venture an opinion that we can expect similar developments in veterinary science.

BENEFICIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE VETERINARY SNAFU

'Truth emerges more readily from error than from confusion'

(Francis Bacon)

If Bacon is right then the giant insidious error of processed pet foods should give rise to some major insights. Redoing the work that has passed for 'science' should occupy researchers for a considerable time and elucidation of some of the pathways prove interesting. Practitioners should be kept busy correcting the wrongs of previous advice until firm preventative protocols are in place.

'If you are not part of the answer, you are part of the problem.'

(JFK)

There can be no doubt that there are people in authority, and those who have built their careers, teaching the processed pet foods mythology. That individual careers and future exam results may depend on the bias of authority figures requires careful negotiation.

In order to become part of the answer I suggest you need to forge a pact with those employers and teachers previously associated with the problem. This will enable a safe passage across the transitional landscape.

CONCLUSION

Processed pet foods seem to be an inescapable part of modern consumerist society. Despite the complacent belief that all is well, a closer look reveals the opposite. That an industry could grow so large and be so lacking in redeeming features is the more outstanding. One's consolation must be in the knowledge that it will not always be thus. The truth must finally out leaving the manufacturers and their collaborators as the final casualties of pet foods' insidious consequences

REFERENCES

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING

Dr. Tom Lonsdale is a 1972 graduate of the Royal Veterinary College, London. His small animal general practice is Riverstone Veterinary Hospital in New South Wales. His research interests are comparative periodontal disease in the social and environmental context. His innovative hypothesis was initially presented in December 1992. He is the author of the book "RAW MEATY BONES".