The GARD – Your Emails « DogtorJ.com :: Food Intolerance in Pets & Their People

The GARD – Your Emails

The GARD – The Glutamate & Aspartate Restricted Diet – has produced astounding results in the control of both canine and human epilepsy as well as in a myriad of other neurological disorders. It has been used with great success in ADHD, autism, fibromyalgia, insomnia, migraines, peripheral neuropathy and even MS.

The acronym “GARD” actual has two meanings. It first got its name from the restriction of glutamate (glutamic acid) and aspartate (aspartic acid), the parent amino acids in MSG and aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal), respectively. The principle food sources of these neuroactive amino acids (termed “excitotoxins” by Dr. Russell Blaylock) are grains, soy, casein (from cow’s milk), legumes, nuts and seeds. Glutamic acid is the principle neurotransmitter in the brain. Excessive amounts of this protein in the synapse can not only cause over-stimulation of the nerve but even neuronal death. When the neuron and their supportive cells (neuroglia or glial cells) become diseased, the regulation of glutamate at the synapse can be altered severely, leading to symptoms of neurological over-activity. This can come in the form of seizures, lowered pain threshold (e.g. fibromyalgia), anxiety, insomnia, and symptoms of neuronal or glial cell degeneration (e.g. MS, ALS, Parkinson’s, etc.). Restriction of dietary glutamate can have a rapid and dramatic effect in these cases. This can also be a long-lasting effect because many of the same foods that supply the unusually high levels of glutamate and aspartate also contain proteins that can do significant harm to the intestinal lining (villous atrophy) and to the neurons themselves.

The “GARD” also stands for The Gut Absorption Recovery Diet because it eliminates the “big 4” foods – gluten grains (wheat, barley, rye), dairy, soy and corn – that are capable of inducing villous atrophy of the small intestine, the lesion seen in celiac disease (gluten intolerance) responsible for reduced nutrient absorption. The lectins of these foods attach to the intestinal villi and cause them to shrink (atrophy), reducing their ability to absorb essential nutrients, including calcium, iron, iodine, B complex, C, trace minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. This malnutrition alone would weaken neurons as well as compromise the immune system. But the lectins of the “big 4” then enter the bloodstream, travel to the neurons and glial cells and do direct harm to these important cells, leading to neurological dysfunction and a wide variety of symptoms.

We should not be surprised in the least when afflicted individuals experience lessening or even complete cessation of their symptoms when The GARD is properly applied. Because most conditions that affect us are spectrum disorders, ranging from mild to severe, we should expect some individuals to do better than others when parts and pieces of the diet are utilized. But when The GARD is strictly applied, medical miracles have occurred…and fast!

Are you the next miracle recovery in the making? I hope so!

Dogtor J

Here are some of the things that people are saying about The GARD:

Dear John:

Here I am, finally writing back to answer your heartfelt inquiry about my health. I think you’ll smile and understand when I tell you why it’s taken me so long to return your email! (Before I start, I want to say how happy I am for you with regard to feeling good again!).

When I changed my dietary habits back in the fall (09-09-09), I began noticing pleasant change almost immediately. It truly did feel like I’d been sleeping for much of my life and now, I was wide awake.

As amazing as it is to consider, it wasn’t long before I was on my way to being pain free: No more arthritis-type pain, no more fibromyalgia discomfort, no more sleep disturbed by my inability to find a comfortable position.

Probably even more impressive than the physical improvements have been the healing that has taken place in my mental and emotional self. Right away after making the changes in my eating, I experienced a tangible lifting of my general mood which continues even today. There are no more drastic swings and the chronic depression is history.

You can imagine, with a transformation like this, that it really does fell as though I’ve been born again. For as long as I can remember, just keeping up with day to day life has been difficult at best. It has been years and years since I’ve been able to get through my days with a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

I relate my former life to Rip Van Winkle, who slept for 40 years! I’m awake now, and in the beginning, it really did feel like I’d missed so much. It’s taken some time to re-acclimate and re-learn what it means to be a normal, functioning human being.

So, Dogtor J, I’m in the process of learning to live again. I think you know how this feels.

THANK YOU FROM THE CENTER OF MY HEART.

Sincerely and with heartfelt gratitude from J J!

(Another one of Dogtor J’s happy success stories)

*****

Just wanted to give you a big St. Bernard kiss for all you’ve written and shared. I’ve been reading you quietly since my CD dx Feb 2006. I share your site/link with others online.

How many times have I read Pain, Pain, Go Away? Well, maybe twice I skimmed it. It has come to my attention, through urine analysis, that I have high glutamate. I already am pretty paleo (‘cept I couldn’t give up my plain yogurt. Seemed so innocent.) The functional MD told me to stay clear of MSG and hydrolyzed/text. veg. protein – duh, already do that one. Sooo, that lead me to google. Who’d I find but “dogtorj”! THANK YOU FOR keeping up the good words/works. I wish you were my dog’s vet … and maybe mine, too. ha ha.

I like the way you write: you write like I would. blah blah blah. lol

Thought you should know you’re making a difference.

*****

Dear Dogtor John B Symes, D.V.M.,

My name is (O.T.) and here is my story with the G.A.R.D. diet. Instinctively, I was eliminating the “restricted” foods, one by one. But it wasn’t until last September of 2005, that I was completely on the G.A.R.D. diet. I now have a name for the program I am on. Thank you. During my next two visits, one to my neurologist and one to my nutritionist, I will ask them what they think of the G.A.R.D. diet.

My father has Celiacs Disease. However, I did not test positive. Could I be developing this and might I be required to eat on the G.A.R.D. diet in order to maintain my health and not have any seizures? I haven’t had any seizures for 95 days and still going strong. I’m just guessing that the answer is probably yes. ( “Yes! )

Do you need any help with “human” studies on the G.A.R.D. diet? If so, I would be willing to help out in any way that I can. I am so happy and pleased that the severe mood-swings and epileptic attacks (TLE, Nocturnal, Complex Partial, Simple Partial, Auras, Tonic-Clonic, deja Vu, out-of-body experiences, hyper-active libido, voices in my head, crying spells, inappropriate thoughts, uncontrollable & inappropriate laughter and more. Oh, I’m so glad that it has stopped!

Finding your research on the internet seemed to make all the pieces of the puzzle fall together.

Thank you for your time, DogtorJ. I know you are a busy man.

Best Regards,

O.T.

*****

Hi Dr John,

I am a MD Physician based in NJ, my specialty is spinal cord & rehab medicine. I have a healthy, happy, 3 year Old Bernese Mountain Dog.

I came across your site while looking up some holistic pet resources. Your serotonin theories are quite fascinating, my gut is that you are are on the right track.

There is a paper that came out recently about Sudden Infant Death syndrome and Serotonin, not sure if you read it.

http://www.boston.com/community/moms/articles/2010/02/02/scientists_link_serotonin_deficit_to_sids/

I thought about your discoveries when I read this article, Just want to make sure that you are aware of it.

How does this tie in with your seasonal seizures, Clinical data does show that more SIDS death happen in winter, but we used to think its because of cold and respiratory issues.

Regards
J.T., MD

(This Email inspired my paper SIDS- Another Perfect Storm? I had done research on the topic but never wrote a paper on it…til now.)

*****

Email titled: You are a genius

Good afternoon, Thankfully I found your informative site. Well, our “Scout” was put down today after complications from his cluster seizures on Wednesday. He was a nine year old American Eskimo. Seizures since age 2. Nobody knew real cause, said it was epilepsy. They were the worst seizures he ever had, and I think too much time elapsed before he got to our vet. He had been in a semi-comatose state since arriving home from emergency hospital. The pheno, valium, and all the rest didn’t work, made him like a zombie. He could not even stand, urinate, drink, eat, etc. The crying last nite for 14 hours straight finally while completely incapacitated helped us decide his fate this morning. Well, I can only say, how interesting everything I read was, and how ironic. We actually have been feeding him Nutro Ultra for the last couple of years, thinking we were doing the right thing. But………………… the biscuits, the “beans” we have been eating tons of lately, pasta, snacks, chips, and junk that I NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVING HIM, COULD HAVE BEEN HARMING HIM THE MOST OF ALL. Ironically since eating a lot of lentils, and pinto beans in the last month, he had been acting like he didn’t feel good, which is our cue…………….. he is going to have a seizure. Another ironic thing is I am half Italian and have 3 close relatives with celiac disease, and I have told my brother for years that I think that is what is really wrong with him as well. (Constant, life long gastro problems, depression). Simply amazing how you used your own disease and knowledge to put the two together. You are my new hero.

Sincerely,

L. D.

*****

Hello Dr. J,

Searching for new information, I found your website through an article written by Dr. Wilson on Epilepsy. Looking at how “old” your articles are, I just wished I have found them a long time ago. But maybe if I did I would not have believed then. Now I wholeheartedly agree with you.

I patiently read through your articles on epilepsy and the answer and G.A.R.D. I have the patience because I have been searching for some way of helping my daughter for about twenty years now. I am so happy (if that is the right word) to find validation on a number of my observations regarding my daughter’s seizure status. Triggers and so forth. She’s still being plagued by seizures but a few a day is much much better than tens and even hundreds when she first started this nightmare. As you have pointed out – it was started by a virus-mediated encephalitis (mumps part of the MMR vaccine). There are still many issues, but the major one of self-doubt (mine) is lessened considerably. Thank you.

I just have to be more restrictive about my daughter’s diet. I have eliminated wheat, dairy, corn and a lot of food items that I could clearly pinpoint as seizure triggers long before today. I am working on reducing her meds – seizure triggers as well – slowly as her condition and sensitivity would allow; and projecting as much self- assurance as I can to convince her neurologists that I am doing the right thing. I would like to be able to “pick” your brain, but you must be a very busy person.

Once more thank you for the feeling of support your articles had generated.
L.

*****

Good Evening John,
I’m (P.M.) and I would like to set up a follow-up phone consultation for March. I owe you a heartfelt THANK YOU for the suggestion of Sage medical labs. My IBS has totally subsided, between the GARD diet and my hidden delayed allergies. I’ve lived this way for 35 years, YIKES!!! I’m getting stronger by the day and I’m experimenting with new food combinations so that I’ll never have to feel exhausted again!!
Anyway I look forward to speaking with you and will await your response as to an open date and time. Be well.
Cordially,
P.

*****

Love your website. Information is spot on. Battling and winning against fibromyalgia and autism following diet principles same as yours. Great progress so far and expect to beat both of these firmly. Will send more detail if requested.

Thanks and God bless,

D.N.

*****

Hello,

My name is (U. H.),

I am currently unemployed due to epilepsy and depression. I wanted to say thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was told about your site by my mother who has been diligently searching the web trying to find a cure to my atypical depression and in turn my epilepsy. I have hade epilepsy since I was 15 and I am 35 now. I have always been told that my neurologists did not know the reason for my seizures. They said I might be more susceptible when I am very tired, but that is all they gave me. Have never smoke or drank and tried to eat healthy. About 7 years ago I started drinking soy milk and eating more soy burgers (trying to be healthy). I have usually had between 1 to 2 seizures per year but 2 years ago I had a series of 4 in a row and after that the depression started (actually, I have had bouts of depression before but this has been the longest) and I also started having 1 to 2 seizures per month instead of per year.

I moved in with my sister about 6 months ago and she and her husband had been on the Phase 1 diet (it’s an anti-fungal diet from Doug Kaufman) and it didn’t have wheat, sugar, milk,soy, potatoes, or corn and I went 6 months without a seizure for the first time in 2 years. I recently had one but it was right after the Christmas holiday with me stuffing myself with sweets and breads so it has actually helped to solidify the idea that my diet could be the cause of my epilepsy. I just heard about your site from my mother this evening and read your epilepsy and Diet article and was flabbergasted.

Thank you very much DogtorJ for the time, patience, and love you have put into your work.

U.H.

*****

Dear DogtorJ,

In my immeasurable search for truth about my Celiac Disease, I have come across your lecture on food intolerances and The Four Horseman theory on gluten, casein, soy, and corn. I am so, so, so, so impressed! This is what I’ve been coming to suspect in my years of research. It all makes sense now. When first diagnosed, I was thrilled (if you can use that word) to find out exactly what I had so that I could take control. But two years later, I still have symptoms and now I understand that perhaps it’s because I’m still eating dairy, soy and corn. OMG! It’s a revelation and I can’t thank you enough.

You remind me so much of myself……..I’m laughing because so much of what you say and how you say it makes me think of my most recent rampage with a medical doctor who hosts a discussion group for Celiacs. She has thrown me off the site, despite my paying to be a member. She was so intolerant of my thinking and so outwardly rude on this public forum. She would not allow talk of vitamins and supplements despite Celiac being a disease of malabsorption. When I told her that I wouldn’t be bullied, she suspended me and I still can’t rejoin the group, so I suspect it’s going to be permanent.

Anyway, I’d love to talk to you. I’m going to look into how I can pay for a consultation with you and look forward to re-reading that whole dissertation again. I will spread the Good Word to those who will listen and even to those who won’t.

You are a genius!!!!!
C. S., MSW, LCSW

*****

Hi John,

My whole family went gfcf and additive free, we never eat soy anyway, about three and a half years ago, we had moved to Canada and were trying for a baby, after having no problems previously, this was our fourth. I got pregnant immediately, as usual, but miscarried after 7/8 weeks, which was very unusual. We tried again and the same happened. I was like a woman possessed, I spent hours each night trawling the internet for answers. I eventually realised I was estrogen dominant, had a luteal phase defect and was severely malnourished, because of the gluten and casein. We all stopped using everyday chemicals in the house and on our skin, hair and teeth. We also bought a reverse osmosis water system, which turned out to be the final key, we had been trying for another baby for the previous two months and the month after we started drinking RO water I became pregnant, I took no chances and sourced a natural progesterone cream and applied that until my placenta started producing it at 15 weeks. The result, Luca, is fast asleep upstairs, he will be 3 in April.

Since moving to Italy I have let things slide, we have dabbled with digestive enzymes, which sort of worked, but were expensive. Our house has been getting progressively manic, my eldest son, Luis, formula fed, is 6 and has major food allergies, he also has mood swings, can’t stand loud noises and is very aggressive. All his other Asperger’s symptoms have disappeared since removing additives, sugar, gluten and dairy, but they had started to creep back since I became lazy with our meals, He also has a big salicylate intolerance.

Thanks again for your email and I am off to try and finish your ‘The Answer’ after which I will be reading ‘How to Start Treating Just About Anything.’

Ciao bello

*****

Hi Dr. J,

I have been faithfully following the GARD way of eating for 10 days now and am sure I have seen my last seizure. I have avoided MSG and Aspartame for years along with any artificial sugar substitutes, including HFC. Every three years my Master of Acupuncture, Dr. King puts needles through the lacrimal fissure to break my seizure cycle. I took medications for about 5 years with no success, tried the Ketogenic diet which was successful but strenuous, Atkin’s diet, cinnamon, a whole food diet, avoided triggers (strobe lights, fluorescent lights, carnival rides, etc.), made a stress free life, but the GARD has given me knew hope of conquering epilepsy.

S.G.

*****

Dear Doctor J,

I am an epileptic and I have understood the value of diet. I was familiar with your site but ran into it again when I was doing research on how diet effects epilepsy. I was looking for a good resource for my clients. I added a link to your site on my blog. I hope you do not mind.

I also found that eating mostly raw helped. I feel much better when I drink “green drinks” (see Raw Family – Victoria Boutenko) as part of my diet. I also use magnesium taurinate, as that seems to be the best combination for epileptics (according to Complimentary and Alternative Therapies for Epilepsy. By Orrin Devinsky and others)

I overcame epilepsy using a whole body approach. You can read my story in my blog and if you want you can add your blog to your site. I am now also helping others to out-shine this disorder by coaching a whole body approach.

Regards,

*****

Dr. John,

You are one amazing man! I admire you and your tenacity and ability to discover the truth about why people (and dogs) get sick and diseased. You are brilliant! I have now read almost all your website information except for the longer article entitled “The Answer”. I’m in information overload status!

I have Murphy’s, Blaylock’s, Mercola’s (No-Grain), Rubin’s, Colbert’s books and others. The grand mals have wiped out a lot of my memory, so I need to do a lot of rereading — a lot. I’ll be rereading all your internet writings, too. It is your information that has put it altogether and made the most sense as to a “cause” for my idiopathic epilepsy.

I, too, am a conservative Christian, and I have followed the Biblical diet of no scavengers, no pork, etc. for years. I did not realize how the wheat had been altered by man, and even though I knew I should not be eating dairy and wheat, I have been. And my favorite snack is organic popcorn (air-popped); I will have to pray for God’s strength to resist these “killers”.

I am so grateful that you took the time to reply to my email. You are truly a wonderful man and you are serving God when you help all of us “sick” people. I am sincere when I pray that God will bless you with your own health and the ability to continue your most valuable work. We need you!

Thank you so very much for all your work. I am so grateful that I happened onto your website. You have encouraged me and I have hope that these serious grand mals will be a thing of the past.

I thank God for YOU!

K.M.

*****

Doctor Symes,

Thank you so much for your website. I truly believe God led us to your information. I wrote you awhile back letting you know our progress. We’ve been on a gluten-free, soy-free, casein-free diet since mid-July, and we have seen wonderful improvements!

My husband was bedridden almost every day for months. It started with just chronic headaches, then it moved to all over body joint aches and extreme fatigue. We went to the emergency room several times. Then the anti-inflammatory medication the doctor put him on gave him an ulcer. He slept almost 12 hours every night, but never felt rested. He was miserable, which, of course, made me miserable too. Finally in desperation I did an online search for dietary support for his fibromyalgia-like symptoms, and found your website.

The ulcer disappeared a week after starting the diet, though sometimes he gets a strange mild flare-up again. He seldom has headaches anymore, and he hasn’t complained of joint pain in months! He sleeps much better, and can sleep less than 8 hours without getting crabby the next day (though we both aim for 8 hours per night. It’s just that we have a toddler who sometimes wakes us up!)

My husband says he feels like his old self again! There are some days when he gets mild attacks of the previous pains, but we attribute that to possible cross-contaminations, or the fact that it can take awhile for the body to rid itself completely of the offending substances. We are praising and thanking God!

I too, noticed a health improvement after starting the diet, though I just did it to accompany him. I think the main culprit that affects me personally is the casein, but I try to stay gluten- and soy-free as well, just in case. I’ve had a problem with random severe attacks of fatigue the past few years. After starting the diet, I’ve noticed that the fatigue strikes much less often than it used to! I recently ran across an article about adrenal fatigue, and the symptoms listed there matched my symptoms exactly. I’m thinking that’s what I have.

Besides stress (which I’ve had a lot of, who hasn’t?), one of the causes that leads up to an adrenal fatigue problem is inadequate nutrition! So the pieces all fit together: I remove the things from my diet that are preventing me from absorbing nutrients, I start feeling better, and my adrenal glands are freed up to work on healing themselves.

In addition to going gluten-, casein-, and soy-free, I also removed all MSG from my cooking (I never knew what it was or how dangerous it was before reading your website!) We also take a quality multi- vitamin, heavy on the Bs, and magnesium. And we have started doing weekly bentonite clay baths to get rid of any toxins built up in our systems. It took awhile to get used to at first, and it was very expensive. We’re not exactly rich. But I finally figured out the tricks to keeping the grocery bill low without compromising the diet; I’m proud to say that we’re spending only about $10 more per week on groceries than we used to!

Anyway, I’m writing this testimonial to say thanks so much, and to update you on our progress. When I wrote before, I had had some questions about depression, and that condition has also improved dramatically in both my husband and me! Just wanted to let you know.

You have my permission to use our testimony on your website if you want. I’m telling all my friends, and anyone who will listen!

Thanks!!

A. S.

*****

Hello Doctor Jay,

What a man you are? …And what a research you did? …And how you have made yourself so helpful with the cleverness, research skills and abilities and all that God has given you?

I do not know you, and vice versa, but already I love you — for your work, for your info you have given me on your site, for the explanations. And all this came from my anger and frustration at having another seizure! I had one Monday morning at around 3 a.m. my husband said told me later when I woke up again. He watched as he usually does in the middle of the night when they come and tries to help but he cannot stop this thing. this new seizure — the third for the year so far — had me sad and depressed and in bed all day Monday and then angry Tuesday. Then Tuesday afternoon I said,

“Come on Jesus, enough is enough! I do not smoke, drink, go eat McD’s…, BurgKin…, or other junk. OK, I do love ice-cream sometimes but i am not an addict with it. I eat OK enough, this illness is not in my family. Doctors (even at one of the so-called BEST neurological centers in the world (in Bonn, Germany — I was there April 27th for all sorts of tests — and after reading your entire web site, now I know why The Germans needed a huge neurological center — they started this gluten nonsense and sickened folks!– I’m sorta kidding there sir ) ‘hem and haw’ about me with all the EEGs and MRIs they do and have nothing to say to me more than…‘it started sooo late in your life … hmmm, strange. hmmm, let’s see it is what we call idiopathic…. will increase your dosage then‘ … which ticks me off even more coz all i see is their stupidity!! What are you going to do for me Jesus, tell me!!!”

After saying that to myself, I began to search the Net for “idiopathic epilepsy that start at adulthood” and your site came up — along with other but yours was the most mature and informative and and and… and I must say this morning (Wednesday) I feel better than I felt Monday and Tuesday…without having an appointment with you or anything. At lease I see some reason behind my issue and what it could be from and why I have it. My parents are shocked and sad for me because I used to be so happy, but with 6 to 8 seizures per year, increased dosages per year and so on, plus every doctor I go to shrug their shoulders and say, “look at it this way, think of yourself as being smart. you are smart, all the smart folks had it — Dostoyevsky, Goethe, this one that one…” and I get angrier and say I do not care. They lived in former times and I am now, and I want this stopped with modern advanced research, and the same way it started so suddenly in my life!!

So, this long email is to excitedly tell you how proud I am of you and the research you have done and how you have helped tons of people (and pets). I will try your diet recommendation with hope– although I am not a lover or meat nor any other seafood except fish. However even if it doesn’t help me I will still be proud of you because really… I dunno why I am paying for health insurance to go to a doctor to hear NOTHING while I can free Internet access to get my brain filled with useful, carefully studied information that I can use in order to help myself.

Well, best to you and thanks for reading my long email,

L.T.

*****

Hi Dogtorj

I have a holistic pet food store, and I’m trying to educate pet owners about good and bad in pet foods. Today I was browsing and click on your website. I read your articles about pet foods. I have to say (these are the) first articles that I was agree with. So I’m writing this thank you email. And also I was wondering if i could print them out and give them to my client’s.

Thank you very much,

P.A.

*****

Hi Dr. Symes,

Thank you so much for writing me back, and for all of the priceless information. I truly believe everything you have said about the cystitis because I suffered from it myself for many years in my lifetime. I have been gluten free for almost two years now and this is the first time in my life (I’m 40) that I have not been sick with everything and anything I come in contact with. My allergies have basically disappeared (the allergist told me I was allergic to everything except cats and ragweed), and I no longer have urinary or female issues unless I accidentally come in contact with gluten or corn. About six months after going gluten free, my gastro symptoms started returning and someone on the myspace celiac support groups told me to examine corn since I was substituting it so much in my diet. It made all the difference in the world. Of course, this doesn’t even take into account all of the other type of symptoms I was experiencing that were getting progressively worse and multiplying over the last 10 years. I used to tell my husband I felt like I was “dying by the inch”.

So far 10 of my family members have found relief to things they couldn’t figure out previously through multiple visits to the doctor just by going gluten free! And I spend a bulk of my time spreading the word about it to anyone who will listen! So, we’re on the same page, you and me! Please send me any and all info or links you have that will help me in the human journey, too! I will be sure to pass them on!

Thank you SOOOOO much!!! God Bless you really big!!!! ;-)

In His Grip,
T.W.

*****

I came across your website a couple years ago when I searched about dogs and allergies (after my American Hairless Terrier stayed at a kennel while we went on vacation for 10 days, we came back to a dog with beautiful skin; he’d always had what the vet said was a “strong smell” and little bumps in places on his skin; I asked what they’d been feeding him and started buying it, it was organic and didn’t have any grains).

A friend of mine just sent me a link to your website today about the GARD for me. I’m glad she did since I’d forgotten everything I’d read the first time (probably since I was equating most of it with dogs and not me). I’ve been gluten/dairy/soy free since July and noticed a big decrease in my back pain. Now I’ll have to go on the GARD and see if that helps even more.

Thank you for putting all this information out there for everyone.

Kathy

*****

“THIS IS “AWESOME INFORMATION” A MUST READ…THANK YOU, JOHN….”

L.M.

*****

Hi!

I translated your article “Gluten intolerance in dogs and cats” to Finish for a friend who works for the Great Dane club in Finland. They have their own “club magazine” that is distributed to the members of the club. She wanted to know if we would get your permission to publish your article, translated by me, in the club magazine? It would be really valuable information to Great Dane owners here in Finland. Or at least I think so.

I have a German Shepherd, 11 years old, and she had some trouble with her hips and back. Nothing helped, until I started a totally gluten free diet. Now she’s like a puppy again! So it really works….

Best regards

R. L.

*****

Hi, Doc. Thanks for responding. I’ll start the glucosamine as soon as I can get to a store to get some. It’s frequently combined with chondroitin; is that good or bad? My breakfast these days is usually old fashioned oatmeal (instant isn’t a food item) or Cream of Rice. To both I add a heaping spoonful of milled flax, which says it provides omega 3, and I already take two 400 mg. vitamin D tablets a day, along with the 400 mg. already in the coral calcium I take. I did this because I was having a problem with shin splints (or at least severe pain down the shin bone) and that was the best solution my doctor could come up with.

Thanks again for your help. Without your website and the wisdom contained therein, I’d still be on prednisone, getting fatter and continuing to poison myself. I now walk past bakery shelves full of donuts and rolls or look at Pizza Hut ads for a “meal” of pizza and bread sticks, and I think to myself, “There’s no food there.” I don’t have even a trace of envy for those who are eating them. I shudder to think what our kids are doing to themselves.

Ever gratefully,

M. R.

*****

Dear John,

My number one health expert I turned to was Dr Barry Sears, until I discovered you on the Internet. Your breadth of knowledge is daunting. The information you provide as Dogtor J on the Internet fits with Sears’ and with my knowledge of health and diet in humans and other mammals coheres well enough to convince me you are credible.But, you go farther and have answers to questions Sears does not ask that I need answered.

I have two beloved Siberian Huskies. My 3rd and eldest died in Feb after a two year+ battle with multiple myeloma. At time of diagnosis, she was given 6 to 12 months. I did everything humanly and medically and emotionally possible, and she lived for 27 months, the last half+of which included a second more aggressive cancer–hemangiosarcoma–where she was given only 3 months and lived a happy vibrant 15 more months. She was the miracle girl at the University of Illinois Vet Oncology Clinic. She inspired me to write my doctoral dissertation in philosophy on mammals. Also, I was with a woman for eight years during which she graduated from Johns Hopkins then became a DVM and then a practicing vet for two years. And, I have ADD, depression, though in recovery through diet (vegetarian with cage free eggs and pharmaceutical grade fish oils) and SNRIs. And, I have a 22-month old son now possibly with some Asperger’s issues that I am working 110% to help him overcome with diet, 24/7 active love, affection, and behavior.

So, obviously from all that you can see how I find your knowledge and findings helpful and interesting.

Warm Regards,

*****

My Dear Dr. J,

While searching for food alternatives for my two dogs, I ran across your website. As I read bells were going off as I recognized many of my own symptoms – Celiac or wheat sensitivity, insomnia, etc. I quickly eliminated wheat from my diet. I was able to replace pasta with a brand called Tinkyada made from brown rice, and Sami’s bakery bread made from millet and flax. Both are incredibly delicious.

I tell people my doctor is a Veterinarian. Because the knowledge I have gained from your generosity has cured me of many maladies. I cannot begin to thank you. I pass your Website on to anyone who will listen.

Yours truly,

J. C.