ENDOCRINE

Diabetes Mellitus

Species affected: Dogs, cats, horses (though less commonly)
Background: This condition occurs primarily in animals with obesity, sedentary activity levels, processed food, high carbohydrate diets in carnivores (cats especially), and chronic, low-grade stress; also due to the pollution of urban environments.
Symptoms: PU/PD, polyphagia, unexplained weight loss and later, diabetic ketoacidosis.
Diagnostics: Blood values for glucose, insulin, serum fructosamines to monitor long-term glycemic control; sugar in the urine.
Special Notes: Cats are frequently NIDDM, while dogs are more frequently IDDM. Cats are known for spontaneously recovering from diabetes; they may fluctuate in and out of the disease state before becoming permanently diabetic. A low carbohydrate diet is recommended for these cats. Diabetic polyneuropathy does occur (more commonly in cats that in dogs) and is a sign that glycemic control is poor.
Principles for Supplementation: Diabetic polyneuropathy has been found to be more responsive to controlling blood glucose levels or to acupuncture, than it is to alpha-lipoic acid or any other herb/nutraceutical.

CANINE AND FELINE PRODUCTS

Therapeutics:	Dosage:	Mechanism/Purpose:
Aloe vera juice	Cats 1/2 teaspoon, bid	Lowers blood glucose.
	Dogs 1/2 teaspoon - 1 tablespoon, bid
Diabogen9	Cats 1/2 capsule, sid	Improves glycemic control.
	Dogs 2 capsules/50 lb,sid
Small Animal Antioxidant9	Cats 1/2 capsule, sid	Antioxidant.
	Dogs 2 capsules/50 lbs, sid

EQUINE PRODUCTS

Therapeutics:Dosage:	Mechanism/Purpose:
Diabogen98-10 capsules, sid	Blood sugar control.
Equine Antioxidant91 scoop, bid	Antioxidant.
Flax/Hemp Oil3 tablespoons, sid	Improves insulin transport through cell wall.
Magnesium citramate91-2 grams, sid	Improves insulin receptivity in cell wall.
Ultrachrome92-4 capsules, sid	Can help stabilize blood sugar.
Vanoxyl94-6 capsules, sid *If using diabogen, only use 2 capsules, sid	Stabilizes blood sugar.

Cushing's Disease

Species affected: Dogs (primarily), cats, horses
Background: Predisposing factors include a history of excess vaccination and/or drug therapy especially with the long-term use of steroid drugs. Stress, obesity, old age, lack of exercise, pollution, and poor-quality diets are also likely to be causal or predisposing.
Symptoms: Signs in the dog include abdominal enlargement, symmetrical truncal alopecia, thin skin (especially on abdomen), PU/PD and occasionally diabetes. Cats may present some of the same signs as dogs. Equine Cushing's Disease is characterized by long, dull hair, chronic laminitis that is difficult to treat, chronic infections, insulin resistance, increased or decreased weight gain (often with uneven distribution of fat), increased urination and drinking and poor digestion.
Diagnostics: The diagnosis is not always straightforward and may require a combination of blood tests depending on which symptoms are present.
Special Notes: Treatment depends on which form is present: pituitary or primary adrenal. An incidental laboratory finding of Cushing's without overt symptoms should not be treated conventionally, but is ideal candidate for natural treatments.
Principles for Supplementation: Supportive treatment like antioxidants and ginkgo will not help indefinitely without additional therapy, but may improve an animal's status in the short-term.

CANINE AND FELINE PRODUCTS

Therapeutics:	Dosage:	Mechanism/Purpose:
Canine Geriatric Basic Nutrients9Dogs 1-2 capsules/50 lbs, bid	Source nutrients, supportive.
Feline Geriatric Basic Nutrients9Cats 1-2 capsules, sid	Source nutrients
Small Animal Antioxidant9	Cat 1/2 capsule, sid	Antioxidant.
	Dog 2 capsules/50 lbs, sid

EQUINE PRODUCTS

Hyperthyroidism

Species affected: Cats (primarily)
Background: Hyperthyroidism is a rare diagnosis in the dog and would likely be due to a thyroid tumor. Cats are commonly hyperthyroid, occurring in older cats for unknown reasons. Recent studies suggest that sand/clumping cat litter and canned diets are risk factors. The lesion is either a hyperplasia or benign tumor of the thyroid, and the symptoms relate to an overproduction of thyroxine (not metastasis from a tumor, for instance). The syndrome is commonly associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (also common in the cat in the absence of hyperthyroidism) and renal failure.
Symptoms: Weight loss, increased appetite. Signs of feline hyperthyroidism may include hyperphagia with weight loss, polydipsia, polyuria, vomiting, loose stools, vocalizing at night and thyroid nodule.
Diagnostics: Blood test for thyroid function.
Special Notes: None.
Principles for Supplementation: Natural treatment supports the thyroid gland and immune system; treatment may need to be multifactorial including homeopathy, acupuncture and herbs to make permanent changes.

CANINE AND FELINE PRODUCTS

Therapeutics:	Dosage:	Mechanism/Purpose:
Chinese Herbal Vitammune9	Cats 1-2 pills, bid	Builds qi and blood, enhances the immune system, general health.
Moducare9	Cats 1/2 capsule, sid	Plant sterols and sterolins modulate immune function. May be of use with autoimmune thyroid disease.

Hypothyroidism

Species affected: All (rare in cats)
Background: Dogs suffer from hypothyroidism which, in approximately 95% of cases, is an autoimmune disorder equivalent to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The causes are genetic (common in certain breeds like Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, and many others), environmental, and immunologic (especially, some believe, due to yearly distemper vaccines). Horses are commonly hypothyroid, but rarely is it a primary problem. Measuring thyroid function in horses is generally inconclusive and treatment with thyroid hormone is less than satisfactory.
Symptoms: Obesity, lethargy, intolerance of cold, dull coat, dandruff, skin disease, slow heart rate and metabolism.
Diagnostics: Initial diagnosis of hypothyroidism is notoriously difficult in dogs, especially if the basis for the diagnosis is a simple T4, which is affected by other illnesses, phenobarbital, etc. If the disease has progressed to the point where thyroid function is severely compromised, it is easily diagnosed. In horses, many commonly used drugs such as phenylbutazone suppress thyroid function or interfere with the tests.
Special Notes: Most horses with apparent thyroid dysfunction probably have insulin resistance and pituitary dysfunction.
Principles for Supplementation: Natural treatment supports the thyroid gland and immune system; treatment may need to be multifactorial including homeopathy, acupuncture and herbs to make permanent changes.

CANINE PRODUCTS

Therapeutics:Dosage:	Mechanism/Purpose:
Chinese Herbal Vitammune9 Dogs 5 pills/50 lbs, bid	Builds qi and blood, enhances the immune system, general health.
Kelp1Dogs 100 -500 mg, sid to bid	Iodine helps thyroid function. Adjust dose by monitoring thyroid hormone level.
Moducare9 Dogs 2 capsules/50 lbs, sid	Plant sterols and sterolins modulate immune function. May be of use with autoimmune thyroid disease.

EQUINE PRODUCTS

Therapeutics:	Dosage:	Mechanism/Purpose:
Core Level Pituitary6	4 tabs, sid	Supports thyroid and pituitary glands.
Equine Antioxidant9	1 scoop, bid	Antioxidant.
Equine Chinese Herbal Performance Tonic9	1/2 - 2/3 scoop, bid	Increases qi and blood, tonifies kidney yang.

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