PET BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS

In order to be healthy, all pets require proper nutrition. A healthy, balanced diet can go a long way toward ensuring health and happiness for your pet. However, just as with humans, finding a proper diet may not always be easy and a good processed food may not be enough to ensure optimal nutrition. Generally, each individual pet has its own unique nutrient requirement that needs to be met and to boost physiological function. This is why an evaluation of individual vitamin requirement are important; this evaluation is essential to creating a balanced diet and obtaining and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

While all pets will benefit from some form of Nutritional Blood Testing (NBT) or Bio‐Nutritional Analysis (BNA), as described in detail herein, there are situations where NBT or BNA is actually required in order to prevent or treat ill health. If your pet has allergy symptoms, eye leaking, digestive problems, is suffering from malnutrition, or at least isn't receiving their uniquely required amounts of vitamins and minerals, its health could be in jeopardy. Malnutrition weakens your dog's system and makes it more susceptible to illness and disease. For this reason, it's important for pet owners to be aware of potential signs of improper nutrition so the situation can be dealt with quickly, before your dog suffers from too many consequences.

While deficiencies of different nutrients may manifest themselves as various sets of symptoms, there are some general warning signs that pet owners can watch out for. For example, a common effect of poor nutrition in canines is lethargy, listlessness, scratching, licking and mood swings. If your dog seems more tired than usual and does not display its usual interest in exercise and daily activities, this could be a sign that he or she is not receiving sufficient vitamins. Dogs suffering from poor nutrition also often develop skin problems and experience changes in their coats. Fur may lose its usual shine, appearing dull and lifeless and take on a dry, coarse texture.

If your pet is displaying any of the above symptoms, it may be suffering from a lack of vitamins and proper nutrition. If you observe any of these warning signs, contact a holistic veterinarian, a veterinary nutritionist

or a very experienced animal nutritionist immediately. This is vital because these symptoms are also characteristic of several canine illnesses and, even if vitamin deficiency is the problem, there may be an underlying illness that is causing it.

Diagnosis When examining a dog displaying any of the above symptoms, Pet Nutrition Systems will need to speak to you, as the pet owner, about the animal's home life. Providing information about the warning signs and behaviors you have observed at home as well as information about your pet's diet and eating habits will help the veterinary doctor to determine what is going on with your dog. Pet Nutrition Systems will then conduct a NBT or a BNA test, described in more detail suggest a physical exam checking for any additional signs or symptoms that could point to vitamin deficiency or another condition that gives rise to similar symptoms and behaviors.

Blood tests are essential in identifying the specific vitamin or substance that is deficient in your pet companion's system. For example, where vitamin D deficiency is suspected, the patient's blood can be tested for levels of vitamin D by‐products. Similarly, other vitamin deficiencies can be identified by low levels of the actual vitamin in the blood or by reduced amounts of the vitamin's by‐products in the blood or urine.

Many illnesses and medical conditions that plague canines can cause vitamin and other nutritional deficiencies that further harm your pet's health and well‐being. As a result, it's important to rule out any such medical conditions through clinical signs and testing. If an underlying condition is identified, this will need to be treated in addition to the vitamin deficiency. In circumstances where the problem is purely nutritional, your veterinarian can help you develop a treatment plan that will quickly and effectively address the particular deficiency that is affecting your pet.

Pathophysiology Vitamins are organic nutrients that are required by a canine's or feline’s body in order for its physiological functions to be properly and effectively carried out. In fact, there are fourteen different vitamins that are essential to the body's function. While vitamins do not share any particular chemical structure, they can be classified into two categories ‐ ‐ water‐soluble vitamins and fat‐soluble vitamins. This first category includes nutrients such as the B vitamins, vitamin C, niacin, and folic acid. The latter category, on the other hand, is made up of vitamins A, D, E, and K. These categorizations have an effect on what happens to these substances when large amounts are ingested.

For instance, in the case of water‐soluble vitamins, when the amount of such vitamins in the body increases, so do the amounts removed from the body through the urine. As a result, this type of vitamin generally will not accumulate in the body except in a very limited fashion.

Contrary to this category of nutrients, fat‐soluble vitamins are not well excreted by the kidneys and therefore are able to build up in a dog's system. This is important to note because excessive levels of fat‐soluble vitamins can actually have a detrimental and toxic effect upon the canine's body.

All fourteen nutrients have important roles to play with respect to a pet's physiology. Different vitamins are involved in different functions and pathways. Some water‐soluble vitamins act as coenzymes and participate in chemical reactions, some of which result in the release of energy from molecules. Vitamin D, a fat‐soluble nutrient, plays an important role in the absorption of calcium in the intestines while vitamin E is an antioxidant and combats free radicals which have a toxic effect upon a dog's system. As result, it's clear that vitamins are an essential component of many physiological pathways and functions. Yet, it's important to remember that excessive amounts of some vitamins can actually have a very detrimental effect upon your pet's health.

Nutrient­Gene Interaction Studies regarding “nutrient – cell & gene interactions” have been

produced for over three decades now and they have proven very valuable in teaching us how to meet our pets nutritional requirements.

These studies also show us how each nutrient work and how they affect cells and genes. Our research and development team has applied these strategies for over 14 years and the results have been tremendous. This is the core knowledge needed to obtain and maintain optimum health for any species.

Pet Nutrition Systems is helping veterinary clinics all over the world treat pet companions whom are not responding well to allopathic medical intervention. We understand that the nutrient‐cell/gene interactions are so precise that if the nutrients aren’t supplied in the precise quantity, by the correct source, and in the exact concentration, the gene systems are not activated. This means the gene systems involved in health maintenance, disease prevention and cellular rejuvenation are turned on by these nutrients and turned off by the lack of these nutrients. It is a precise science and cannot be applied by reading the labels on the pet food bag or can.

Causes Canine vitamin deficiencies can be caused by a variety of factors.

Herein, our focus is on one of the most simple and common causes‐ a commercially processed diet. Pets that do not receive sufficient amounts or proper types of fresh whole food often suffer from malnutrition and a lack of essential vitamins. Furthermore, while many processed pet foods contain extra vitamins, these substances are not always present in the most readily absorbable forms and, therefore, your pet may not enjoy as much benefit from these foods as you might think. Even pets that live with caring and well‐intentioned families who attempt to supplement and enhance their processed food diets may still suffer from vitamin deficiencies resulting from dietary problems. Homemade diets that are not designed properly, or are accompanied by nutritional supplements or are prepared incorrectly can also lead to vitamin deficiencies and illness, as can diets that draw mostly from one source of food. Many of

the current raw diets are sourced by only meat and bone, beef and rice, chicken and potato may not provide sufficient nutrition for your pet.

Other factors that can contribute to vitamin deficiencies include your dog's age, genetics, and breed. Puppies and elderly dogs may require different amounts of different vitamins, and if their diets do not fulfill these needs, a deficiency may arise. Furthermore, some breeds require higher levels of certain vitamins and minerals than others, and may not be obtainable through a typical standardized diet. For example, Silky Terriers require higher levels of copper, zinc , vitamins A,D & E than other breeds.

In addition to the contributing factors listed above, medical conditions can cause vitamin deficiencies. For instance, an infection of parasitic worms, such as hookworms, can cause malnutrition by disrupting a dog's ability to absorb nutrients through the intestines. Other illnesses and conditions can also give rise to vitamin deficiencies and need to be identified and treated along with the nutritional problem in order to restore your pet to health.

Our Veterinary Prescriptive Service standard of care recognizes that the optimum diet needs to synergistically take into account the food sources, the dog's age and size, the dog's breed, and the dog’s health.

Treatment If a pet's vitamin deficiency is the result of an underlying medical condition or illness, this problem will need to be treated in a way specific to that condition and the pet's circumstances. However, in addition to such treatments, or in cases where diet is the sole contributing factor to the deficiency, dietary adjustments and supplements can be very effective treatment options. If you feed your dog an unbalanced diet that comes from limited food sources, simply providing more balanced meals may be all that is required to boost your dog's health and nutrition. In certain situations where a decent diet is

not enough to address your pet's nutritional problems, supplements or a properly design diet plan can be very beneficial.

A number of different nutritional whole food supplements are available specifically for canines and/or felines. For example, herbs such parsley, nettle, kelp, and oat straw and oils such as flax, salmon and olive have healing powers. These ingredients are nutritionally beneficial to pets as they contain many vitamins, proteins, and minerals. Natural supplements may also include substances such as dandelion, chickweed, and ginseng, which are both nutritious and able to enhance and improve digestion. Through a combination of these types of ingredients, natural supplements can provide great nutritional support for your beloved pet.

However, since excessive amounts of certain vitamins can be toxic to your dog's system, it's always important to consult a veterinarian nutritionist or a very experienced animal nutritionist before administering any form of supplements to your pet companion. Taking this step will help you ensure your companion's health and well‐being.

Moreover, input from a nutritionist can help you achieve optimal treatment and nutrition for your pet, resulting in a happier and healthier pet.

Bionutritional Analysis Pet Nutrition Systems believes that we can turn up the volume on some genes and silence others, vastly improving our capacity to provide our pet’s optimum health and happiness. What is a Nutritional Blood Test?

The Nutritional Blood Test, or NBT, is a diagnostic tool used by Dr. Selmer who recognizes the importance of integrating nutrition with patient care. The NBT assesses the health of internal organs and the available vitamins, minerals and enzymes required for the metabolic processes. Using blood results and medical history, the NBT prioritizes the nutrients required to help optimize organ function and balance metabolism. It then matches the results to specific Nutraceuticals that support a clinical response. The NBT nutritional therapy is adjunctive to your other methods of treatment. In addition, the supplements that comprise the NBT Nutraceutical Therapy can help improve chronic

conditions and support the healing process. Even if the patient is already using supplements, the NBT enhances the ability to dispense them effectively. The NBT is not meant to diagnose a particular disease, recommend medical therapy or replace current diagnostic protocols.

The NBT nutritional therapy is adjunctive to other methods of treatment. In addition, the supplements that comprise the NBT Nutraceutical Therapy can help improve chronic conditions and support the healing process even if you’re already using supplements for your animal.

How NBT Works The levels of certain chemicals in the blood are the end result of the metabolic processes and the utilization or excretion of the metabolic wastes from the body. The NBT looks beyond chemical testing and quantitative assays to identify imbalances that are due to poor nutrient absorption, utilization or metabolism. One contributing factor to the reported steady rise in chronic degenerative diseases in animals is the inadequate level of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and vital nutrients found in many highly processed, commercially prepared foods. Over time, the animal’s nutrient reserves can become depleted, paving the way to disease. The NBT is a valuable tool for correcting these deficiencies and guiding sick animals back to health.

The NBT assessment relies on an Optimum Range, an additional set of parameters that are narrower than the traditional reference range and in which organs and metabolic processes are functioning at peak efficiency. There are subtle gradations of tissue integrity and organ efficiency that are identified by the Optimum Range Within the normal blood reference range. Results outside of the optimum range do not necessarily indicate disease. They do, however, indicate that a particular organ system is not functioning at optimal efficiency, and may require nutritional support. Just as the interpretation outside the normal range forms the basis for the diagnosis of a specific disease, the optimum

range interpretation forms the basis for determining optimal‐ not just “passable”‐ health. The NBT compares the blood results to the optimum range. When a value falls outside of the optimum range, the underlying physiology and metabolism, as well as the specific glands involved and nutrients used by the body for these processes, are assessed.

The assessment is further evaluated in combination with the diagnosis and the clinical signs, resulting in a recommended NBT Nutraceutical Program that is specific to your animal.

The Results of the NBT The NBT provides a unique lab report that prescribes the most effective combination of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and raw glandular, specifically blended to match the imbalances found in the animal's blood. These nutrients are precisely dosed according to the animal's weight and the severity of the imbalances or deficiencies The nutrient combination, referred to as the NBT Nutraceutical Therapy, is given orally in an easy‐to‐use veterinary prescriptive nutrition meal along with symptom‐oriented liquid remedies. All formulations are custom‐prescribed and individually labeled.

Advantages of Using Pet Nutrition System’s Veterinary Prescriptive Nutrition Service: • Easy to Administer • Dosed By Weight Of Animal • Food Grade Quality • Scientifically Linked to Blood Work • Free of Chemical Additives, Preservatives And Fillers • Maximum Assimilation and High Bio Availability arranged for your animal’s unique nutrient requirements.

We will request a Nutritional Blood Test (NBT) be taken by your vet or one that we refer to you. The NBT includes your animal’s routine blood work (CBC, Super Chem (w/LDH), T‐4) along with the 9945 NBT form or a blood test questionnaire. After receiving the NBT results (typically

within 3 to 5 days), Pet Nutrition Systems will consult with you to go over your animal’s NBT results, after which, you may then order a custom designed Nutraceutical formulation or symptom‐oriented liquid remedies. If you would like an NBT for your pet please call us at (562) 295‐6391 or send an email to us at VPN@petnutritionsystems.com.

Nutritional Blood Testing & Bionutritional Analysis Nutritional Blood Testing (N.B.T.) and Bionutritional Analysis (B.N.A.) represent the ultimate high tech bridge between aconventional veterinary diagnosis and holistic, individualized nutritional therapeutic supplementation. These procedures represent cutting edge, high‐tech integrative veterinary medicine. These systems are similar, and both incorporate a computerized system of blood and clinical history analysis, together with a computerized formulation of individualized supplementation.

These custom blended nutraceutical formulations/meals incorporate specific, individualized doses of vitamins, nutraceuticals, minerals, enzymes, nutrients and symptom‐oriented non‐drug medicinals (herbal, glandular, and homeopathic). These therapies more closely match the metabolic and nutrient requirements of an individual patient than any processed meal, supplementation or supplementation programs available to date.

N.B.T. and B.N.A. assessments rely on an Optimum Range of blood values, with an additional set of parameters that are narrower than the traditional blood reference ranges and in which organs and metabolic processes are functioning. N.B.T. and B.N.A. assessments also offer a computerized plan for remedies designed to be helpful for the signs and symptoms of chronic degenerative disease including pain, discomfort, inflammation, weight loss, skin irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Test Interval Pet Nutrition Systems may recommend shorter or longer BioMedical Profile treatment periods depending on the severity of the case. Critical care patients are re‐tested soon after they start nutritional therapy, e.g. in one month or six weeks. Most of our patients that have chronic,

degenerative diseases are re‐tested three months after starting their first BMP nutritional program. Once the patient is stable or has recovered we stretch the re‐test interval to 6 ‐ 12 months; shorter intervals for geriatric patients. Patients who have returned to good health (normal balance) do not need to be re‐tested.

As with any diagnostic practice, these blood test results should be interpreted in context with the history, current medication(s), physical examination, and other aspects of the patient's health. We take time to understand each patient's special needs.

Summary

Pet Nutrition Systems find that the most effective way to correct metabolic imbalances is through the prescribed use of natural therapies that support the body's normal repair mechanisms. The ideal nutritional program utilizes the application of NBT and BNA results to design the nutritional solution the owner providing a healthy diet to their pet, administering supplements, modifying the pet's environment or lifestyle when necessary, and properly addressing the underlying factors that contributed to disease. The beauty of a BioMedical Profile is the consistent way that it interprets a broad range of blood tests and guides Pet Nutrition Systems towards proper nutritional therapy. In order to achieve normal physiologic function one has to correct all the imbalances simultaneously. A good veterinarian, holistic practitioner or pet guardian will consider all therapeutic modalities that may help the patient or pet compainion.

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