2. Welcome to the genetic ice age in animals. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 October 8, 2015October 8, 2015October 8, 2015

3. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Remember: Extinction is forever! October 8, 2015

4. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 This will be an introduction to EI imbalances in animals. October 8, 2015

5. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Hopefully you will never have to treat an EI imbalance that looks like this! October 8, 2015

6. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Why have these EI imbalances occurred first in animals? A genetic geometric progression of EI imbalances has occurred. Indiscriminate family breeding plus “designer” animal breeding has brought the “gene pool” close enough to cause the EI imbalance. October 8, 2015

7. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Dogs & cats – live 12-15 years and have multiple offspring. Horses – live 20 –25 years and +/- have 1-2 offspring. Humans – live 70 – 75 years and +/- have 1-2 offspring. October 8, 2015

8. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 What is this EI imbalance ? The imbalance is the development of deficient or bound cortisol leading to the high estrogen, which not only further binds cortisol, but also binds T3T4 leading to a deregulated immune system. The actual animal EI test is only done on blood samples. This includes cortisol, T3 T4, total estrogen & IgA, IgG & IgM. These are comparative levels, not emperical levels. The laboratory will give you the normal ranges versus the level that appears in the animal. October 8, 2015

9. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Genetics, aging, medical input and environment input: Regulates Hormones Regulates B & T Cells October 8, 2015

10. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Figure one – The adrenal, thyroid, pituitary, hypothalamic axis normalizes the immune system in animals. October 8, 2015

11. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 This schematic shows normal relationships and feedback activity between the adrenal cortex and the hypothalamus and pituitary, and in turn, a healthy regulatory influence on the immune system. October 8, 2015

12. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Figure two – Cortisol deficiency or imbalance can lead to anterior pituitary over-producing ACTH which leads to an adrenal estrogen excess which not only binds cortisol, T3 T4 but deregulates the immune system in animals. October 8, 2015

13. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Deficient or inactive cortisol triggers a flood of ACTH and adrenal estrogen. The combination binds remaining cortisol as well as thyroid hormone, and destabilizes the immune system. Metabolism also slows as a result of impact on the thyroid. October 8, 2015

14. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Figure three – replacement therapy with physiological dose levels of hydrocortisone and thyroid hormones restore order to immune regulation through adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary hypothalamic axis resulting in normalization in animal. October 8, 2015

15. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Long-term replacement therapy with physiologic doses of cortisone (and thyroid hormone, as needed) restores order to the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and immune system. October 8, 2015

16. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 In clinical studies, the guide to hormonal replacement therapy lies with normalizing adrenal estrogen and IgA, IgG & IgM levels through cortisol thyroid replacement. In dogs a combination of hydrocortisone and thyroid supplements will be used. In cats, 90% of the EI cases, hydrocortisone will be used. October 8, 2015

17. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Remember, in animals, too little or too much steroid thyroid replacement may lead to deregulation of the immune system. In animals, usually the sooner the EI imbalance occurs, the sooner the disease begins. October 8, 2015

18. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 What are the diseases that we see in animals? Allergy, auto immunities, chronic bacterial, fungal and viral diseases, retroviral diseases and cancer. Retrovirus are seen mainly in cats. October 8, 2015

19. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 What are these retrovirus? Feline Leukemia Feline Aids Feline Infectious Peritonitis. October 8, 2015

20. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Does not occur in cats with normal EI balance. Only occurs in cats with hormonal imbalances which have led to a deregulated immune system. When the deregulated immune cells recognize the virus, they kill the virus and the host. October 8, 2015

21. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Success rate with retroviral diseases. Felv – 85% Fiv - 75% Fip - 70% October 8, 2015

22. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 In a multiple cat household, if one cat has developed a retrovirus, test the others. If negative, watch carefully. However, if any of the cats test positive, then the EI test is done. If EI test is normal for example, FIV will not develop into feline Aids. If EI test abnormal, then you correct the imbalance to stop the development of feline aids. October 8, 2015

23. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 Inflammatory bowel disease patients all have EI imbalances with abnormal IgA levels. IgA imbalances relate to most diseases of the mucous membranes in the body. Research has shown the secretory and circulatory IgA levels are the same in animals. October 8, 2015

24. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 What are some of the IgA imbalanced diseases: Periodontal disease Food sensitivities Inflammatory bowel disease Chronic respiratory disease Chronic kidney and bladder disease Stinging insect sensitivity Vaccine reactions Anaphylaxis October 8, 2015

25. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 To re-regulate the EI imbalance, if IgA level is below 60g/dL, injectable steroid will be given at 3-week intervals with thyroid hormone twice daily. Due to steroid malabsorption, injectable steroids are more effective. October 8, 2015

26. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 When adrenal estrogen approaches normal, so will IgA. Oral steroid is indicated now. In a dog & cat, normal range for IgA = 70 – 170mg/dL. Again remember in an animal, too little or too much steroid or thyroid will lead to an EI imbalance. These animal models are easier to work with because most female patients have had an ovario- hysterectomies. Further studies have indicated that hormone levels may be normal but without comparative test, no one knows if they actually work. October 8, 2015

27. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 A sluggish metabolism can lead to a hormone being present in the blood stream at a 36 hour level as opposed to a 24 hour measurement level which appear to be normal. Hemoconcentration may raise hormone levels and give false normals. These animal studies indicate that a patient’s window for hormone replacement relates to normalizing the immune system. October 8, 2015

28. Dr. Plechner DVM Copyright 2008 In closing, the hormone replacement protocol used to treat an EI imbalance is simple and effective: Establish initial levels of total estrogen, T3& T4, IgG, IgM and IgA. (Depending on the patient’s symptons, other blood tests may be indicated.) Fund the patients deficiencies with either injectable or oral steroid and a thyroid supplement. Re-test hormone and antibody levels and adjust medication accordingly. At least annual testing should be done after the patient has been normalized. October 8, 2015