Diet And Copper Storage Disease

By Michael Daly, CHPHC, CCMT, CESMP.

I started working in Veterinary Clinics in 2000. It wasn’t until the past 2 years that I started hearing about Copper Storage Disease. Copper who? Copper what? Chester Copperpot from The Goonies? Unfortunately, it is a disease that has is becoming more and more common in Dogs.

What is Copper Storage Disease? This disease occurs when too much copper accumulates in the liver and the liver cannot detox it properly. This, in turn, can lead to liver inflammation or chronic hepatitis. It is a disease that is known to be more breed specific. Breeds like Bedlington Terriers, Dobermans, and West Highland White Terriers. Unfortunately, it is now being seen in many breeds. Signs of this disease are shown in elevated liver enzymes, as well as lethargy, poor appetite and even jaundice. Sadly, the life expectancy is about 18 months.

Why am I writing about this? Well, I’m concerned. You see, I recently had a client named Sophie. Sophie is a doodle mix who was just diagnosed with Copper Storage Disease. Ok, so yes that’s awful, but why concerned? Well, Sophie’s Mom lost her last Dog to the same disease. Before you say anything, yes, all her water and soil was tested and there were no environmental things causing the issue. Twenty years in the Vet field and I cannot even count on one hand the number of times I saw Copper Storage Disease. Now, I have a client that not only has one Dog with it, but her other Dog passed away from it?! Not only that, but she had told me that just 8 years ago when her other pet was diagnosed, the medication to help with the disease was so hard to find that she had to order it from another country! Now, it is available everywhere in the US and easy to get. Interesting and very scary thing to hear.

What could be causing this increase? Well, fun fact, there is no regulation of how much copper is added to commercial Dog food. The reason there is no regulation has to do with the fact that there is not enough evidence to say how much excess copper a Dog can have. So, there are many commercial Dog foods that are heavy in copper. Is this the reason we are seeing such a rise in cases? Maybe so, maybe not, but it sure makes me get that “Erin Brockovich drinking the water in Hinkley, California is safe..” feeling.

Soooo, what can we do? We can take back control of our pet’s health and start home cooking for them! We have the power to regulate, ourselves, how much of anything goes into our pet’s diet. If your pet is a breed that this prone to this disease or if you have a pet that has been diagnosed with Copper Storage Disease, you can tailor an at home diet that is low in copper. There are proteins like Turkey, Lean cuts of beef, or chicken that are low in copper. There are also vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and cabbage that are not only low in copper, but help the liver detoxify, and are high in zinc to help the body push copper out!

I don’t know about y’all, but I’ve been around long enough to see corporations tell me something is safe for me or my pets and then have it not be just a few years later. I had to start taking action in educating myself and making the right choices for my body. It’s time for us to start doing that for our pets. As a Holistic Pet Health Coach that is my job and why I chose to do it. To help educate people to make the best decisions for their pets, so that they no longer must guess and hope for the best. So, AGAIN, take back control of your pet’s health and be the advocate they need and deserve!

Michael Daly is a Holistic Pet Health Coach, who has been working in the animal field for over 20 years. Reach out for a consult to help him guide you on learning more about your pets condition, diet, supplements and Chinese herbs. Mention this article and get $50 off your initial consult. https://pawsitive-wellness.com/