Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group dogASgone: K9B27

Another story for encouragement and edification.

Just as some cats can develop AS in captivity, another species from the same family tree—dogs—can also contract AS. George related the story that his son’s dog (I think) was diagnosed with AS after he had some trouble walking.

Now domestic dogs, unlike either domestic or feral humans, follow diets that are rather tightly controlled.

And, as smart as the smartest breed of dog might be, most of them are not suggestible; they are neither subject to, nor do they practice Voodoo: The placebo effect cannot be employed or enjoyed by man’s best friend, despite what some misguided humans, like Stephen Barrett might believe.

The skeptic will still claim that it was just coincidence that the dog was successfully treated by altering his diet, back to what is obviously natural for animals: Elimination of starches; the NSD.

Dog’s caretaker will probably not experiment by again altering his feed; it is—after all—a dog, not just someone’s child! (sorry, I HAD to…)

Got Starch? Run Spot run!
John

"Unfortunately, the soul’s need for learning often brings about the full-blown disease. And it must be cared for creatively, or allowed to take its course."
William A. McGarey, M.D., Director of Medical Research, A.R.E Clinic.

I posted a few years ago about my friends dog who limped very badly and was getting worse as the weeks went on. I thought it was quite unsual that the dog, a German Sheperd named Tyrone, could also have AS just like us poor humans.

Even more unusual was the fact that the Vet diagnosed the dog as having AS and it only took him two days. The disadvantage to being a dog is that if the pain killers given to you by the Vet stop working, the next step is usually being "put down".

George

I have read on kickas.org that wild dogs and cats can also develop AS. Where's the starch there?

Hi, fridrix:

I have not found the reference you mention, and have looked for--but not found--any references to wild cats and dogs developing AS.

It would, however, be rather easy to understand how a lower-tier lion, for example, might often be required to feed upon the left-overs of a grazing animal and then ingest plenty of starch from undigested contents. I don't know whether any skeletal evidence of AS in wild animals has been found, but there should certainly be a valid dietary explanation for the disease development.

Spondylitis is not uncommon in wild animals, but the cause is usually identified as an infection associated with osteomyelitis, for example.

Best Regards,
John


"Unfortunately, the soul’s need for learning often brings about the full-blown disease. And it must be cared for creatively, or allowed to take its course."
William A. McGarey, M.D., Director of Medical Research, A.R.E Clinic.

I can't thank you enough for posting this, John!!

One of my dogs, Andy, is an Austrailian Shepherd who was born a homogenous merle, suffering from 'Fatal White Syndrome', a condition where he was born mostly white, with only one eye, and totally deaf. "Merle to merle" breeding causes this to happen.
Though he had sight in his only eye, he lost it due to IRITIS, and his retina detached.

Last year, he suddenly started having back pain, unexplained back pain. But it lasted a couple of weeks, then was gone. It's happened on one other occasion since then. My plan is to have him x-rayed, should it happen again.

I often wonder since he had the Iritis, and the fatal white syndrome, if he just didn't also have AS.... Thanks to you, my thought isn't as "crazy" as I'd thought!!! Do the animals carry the HLA gene, also??

THANK YOU!!!!

PS if you'd like to see what these dogs look like, there is a web site called aussielads.com. They're a huge rescue outfit in Arizona.

Stacie

Hello Stacie,

Tia, RIP, the German Shepard picture in Littlesiss's (lisa) signature was an honorary member of KA because she had AS.

I talked with a veterinarian in Mexico who was very aware of AS...he said that they spent a lot of time on the subject when he was in school and was thrilled to speak to a human that had AS:) Apparently AS in canines is pretty common in Mexico. To add to what John said about lower-tier lions getting starch through the left-ovetrs of grazing animals...it was my experience that dogs, even from fairly wealthy households, were commonly fed the leftovers from the family meal. And, as you can guess, the Mexican diet contains a LOT of starch.

Can't remember if HLA-B27 was mentioned as I was totally ignorant or what AS was at the time...All I knew was I had it and I wanted it gone! It wasn't until I found asweb.com and met Dragonslayer that I began to understand. I wanted it gone and now it is:)

Pete



"Maybe the problems of two people don't amount to a hill of beans. But this is our hill. And these are our beans!"
- Lt. Frank Drebin

Even more unusual was the fact that the Vet diagnosed the dog as having AS and it only took him two days.

I guess with all the dog biscuits consumed vets see enough cases to become familiar with the symptoms. Not known for saying 'Can't be AS, you silly bitch'. Certainly here in the UK vets have always been known for having more brains than medics, it is much harder to get into the vet schools.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . Friend hast thou none;
For thine own bowels which do call thee sire,
The mere effusion of thy proper loins,
Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum
For ending thee no sooner. (MM)

Hi, Stacie:

You are a saint, caring so much for Andy! I just cannot imagine the trouble you are going through with him.

It is almost certain that both back pains and the iritis is linked to a B27-like tissue Osp (outer-surface protein). I don't know whether they do animal-to-human cross-typing using standard nomenclature (the "H" in HLA stands for human), but here is a good article about dog DNA.

You are not crazy, but Purina IS for the wrong-headed food blends they purvey.

Great website. Until I read it I though 'Merle' was just a redneck cousin!

Best to You, and Andy, too!
John


"Unfortunately, the soul’s need for learning often brings about the full-blown disease. And it must be cared for creatively, or allowed to take its course."
William A. McGarey, M.D., Director of Medical Research, A.R.E Clinic.

Hey, George:

I thought it was you who posted ages ago about this!

For some reason, vets work pretty fast compared with our doctors. I think the latter are just testing our loyalty

There were times, I'm almost sure, that my family (and even myself) wished they had that 'ultimate' option!

Best to You,
John

"Unfortunately, the soul’s need for learning often brings about the full-blown disease. And it must be cared for creatively, or allowed to take its course."
William A. McGarey, M.D., Director of Medical Research, A.R.E Clinic.

Holy smokes, John!!
350 genetic disorders that resemble those of humans~ That's incredible!! What a great article, as well as so many other "dog tales" to look at. Thank you again!!

Andy is the love of my life. I fought so hard to get him, as the humane society wasn't going to adopt him out, due to his condition. After a week of daily battles, I finally got to bring him home. Six months later, I found his sister at the same shelter. Her eyes are fine, but she too, is deaf. They're both my little angels!!

I too, wasn't aware of any "merle to merle' breeding, and agree with you, it sounds like something redneck!!

Thanks again for all the info! You're one of the well informed people I know!


Stacie