FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What is MBRT?
MBRT stands for Micro Biome Restorative Therapy. MBRT works to restore balance to the entire system. With special donors who not only have the proper bacteria for restoring and balancing the gut bacteria, but can also transfer other benefits such as healthy skin, coat, gums and teeth. HOW DOES FMT DIFFER FROM MBRT?
FMT (Fecal Microbiota Transplantation) is a practice of restoring the gut bacteria through a single or many fecal transplants. MBRT works to restore balance to the whole-body system. With special donors who not only have the proper bacteria for restoring and balancing the gut bacteria, but can also transfer other benefits such as healthy skin, coat, gums and teeth. HOW DOES MBRT WORK?
WHAT BENEFITS CAN A PET GET FROM AN MBRT?
MBRT has shown to be beneficial in treating gastrointestinal infections, bacteria depletion from antibiotics, and other conditions such as chronic constipation or diarrhea, IBD inflammatory bowel disease, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), HGE (hemorrhagic gastroenteritis), as well as pancreatitis, renal and liver disease, allergies, autoimmune issues, cancer and behavior. CAN I GIVE TOO MUCH AND MBRT FOR TOO LONG?
We have several patients that have been taking oral MBRT products daily for over 4 ½ years. Due to many factors (food, environmental exposure to chemicals, flea products, glyphosate in their food), the microbiome can be damaged, and another MBRT may be necessary. Some animals need to have a periodic several day course of MBRT to reset the gut. WHAT IF MY FROZEN SAMPLES THAW? ARE THEY STILL GOOD IF I REFREEZE THEM?
We ship all of our orders on dry ice to ensure they stay frozen during their journey to you. It is imperative that the products, especially the capsules, are immediately put into the freezer upon arrival. If your product arrives slightly thawed, put them in the freezer immediately. Moisture will make the capsules stick together, so after refreezing they may have to broken apart. If thawed enough, fecal material may be visible. HOW LONG DO THEY LAST IN THE FREEZER?
The GI tract is made up of trillions of microbes, which makes it nearly impossible to gauge the number of microbes left over time. Scientists have found viable microbes that have survived 24,000 years frozen in Siberian permafrost.* The consensus in the scientific community is that the treatment yields better results when the freshest sample is used, and when it is kept in a quality-controlled environment. We prefer the products to be used within a year, but that does not mean that the product won’t be beneficial if given beyond that timeframe. * https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/07/science/frozen-rotifers-siberia.html |
ORDERING/SHIPPING
Can my clients order it for their animals directly?
Your clients can order freeze dried samples from Animalbiome.com. For international shipping, visit Legacybiome.com. Not at this time. MBRT has the best success when it is supported by a veterinarian with knowledge of nutrition, ozone, and specific lab tests. If you are not familiar with these recommendations, I would be happy to guide you through a phone consult. My goal is for you and your patient to get the most success out of the treatment. Why does the shipping cost so much?
We are still a very small operation and are currently unable to get the benefits of ordering our supplies in bulk. We are hoping that as our business grows, we will be able to reduce this cost. Are there less expensive ways to get your product?
We offer “unprocessed” samples that are straight from the donor at a lower rate. This would require you to do the work of filtering out any foreign matter (pine needles, bones, the occasional paper tissue) and process how you would like. This will still be shipped overnight on dry ice. You can also order freeze dried samples from us, or Animalbiome.com. For international shipping, visit Legacybiome.com. |
PROCEDURE
Is there a need for the ozone to be part of the MBRT success?
Medical ozone (rectally, subcutaneous, and ultraviolet blood therapy) enhances the immune system and will allow the microbiota to work more efficiently. These techniques and treatments are something that you can learn within a short period of time, and it will enhance so many aspects of the medical care in your practice. Do I need to give rectal ozone before giving a transplant?
Giving ozone gas rectally prior to giving the transplant is significantly important. Not only does it help to bring down inflammation, but it also breaks down the biofilm in the colon, allowing the transplant to work better. It will also help to stimulate your patient to defecate prior to the procedure, decreasing their urge to go after the transplant. How long does the transplant have to stay in before my patient defecates?
Ideally your patient would keep the transplant in overnight. The longer the transplant stays in, the better the chance for the biome to integrate. If this is not possible, then minimum 6 hours. What is the dosage for the slurries?
How do I defrost the slurries?
Place the closed slurry container in a bowl of room temperature water and let it float around until it’s thawed. We prefer you to use the sample up within a few hours of thawing, or keep it in the fridge for no more than 24 hours. If using one bottle for several patients, it is best to have your patients lined up to receive the transplant one after another. Do not refreeze after thawing. |
ORAL
Why is the cost of each capsule high?
We carefully fill each capsule by hand with fresh samples, and freeze them immediately to prevent the capsules from degrading. This is a time sensitive and intricate process. We are hoping to have our product freeze-dried which should help to cut the costs. How many days should I give the oral treatment?
If only the oral treatment is being used, then at least 14 days. For more difficult cases, we suggest giving a rectal transplant first, then follow up with an oral treatment as well. Depending on the severity of the case, we suggest giving for 10, 14, or 30 days. How often should I repeat the oral treatment?
The treatment should be based on your patient, and their response. Some patients need 1 course, and others need it more often. We will often let our clients use their discretion, as they know their pet the best and can usually tell when they need a boost. Should it be given with meals?
We prefer them to be given on an empty stomach, or close to empty. If needed, you can give it in a little food or wrap it up in something yummy to give it. We want the treatment to pass through the stomach as quickly as possible. Our hope is that the capsules open up into the small intestines. If there is food in the stomach, this may interfere with that process. We recommend waiting 1 ½ to 3 ½ hours before feeding. Reducing their next meal may be helpful as well. How do I give the pills?
The capsules can be given directly in the mouth. You may give it by wrapping it in something yummy, like a little cheese or meat, if needed. What is the dosage of the capsules, nuggets, and whole raw?
CAPSULES
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OTHER SUPPLEMENTS AND TREATMENTS
What nutraceuticals should I give to help support the restorative response?
I use ION* Gut Support, Rx Vitamins Nutrigest and Ultra EFA, Colostrum by Imutek, and Standard Process Canine Enteric Support. There are other things that will be added for each specific case. What other support methods or treatments do you do to enhance the success?
There are several treatments that we like to do in conjunction with the MBRT.
Can you get the same success without all the additional supportive methods?
Although you may get positive results from the transplant on its own, we see the best results when the treatment is supported by the vitamins, nutraceuticals, and ozone treatments. |
TESTING
Should I run any tests to help me navigate the need for frequency of the delivery?
It is not necessary to run labwork prior to the transplant, but it may be helpful for you track the progression of your case. There are several tests that may helpful to you.
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DONORS
Are your donors tested?
Our donors are screened with fecal exams for ova and antigens every 2 to 3 weeks and periodic DNA sampling. Who are the donors?
Our donors are beautiful Standard Poodles, that have been raised by Dr. Roman. In fact, this is her 6th generation over 29 years. They live in a chemical-free home and eat organic fresh food. They have never had antibiotics, NSAIDs, have had limited vaccines and are titered regularly. They have not been exposed to pesticides, fluoride, or chlorine. Her donors are all intact and were all vaginally birthed. The last 3 generations have been predominantly raised on a plant-based diet. Her cats have also been raised organically, not exposed to chemicals, and are fed a raw diet. What do you feed your donors? If my animal is allergic to your pet’s food, will that affect the treatment?
Our donors get an organic, whole food diet, which consists of about 92% plant-based mixture, and 8% raw, organic animal protein. This protein may vary from venison to organ meats of chickens and beef. They also may get raw organic goat milk and fresh free range back yard eggs. Although we have not seen any recipients have an allergic reaction to our product, that does not mean that it can’t happen. Our hope is that because our donors have a diverse microbiome, that it will contribute to our recipient’s ability to tolerate any allergens. If an allergic response is a concern for your patient, do not use the product. |
CASE STUDIES
Do you need more cases to help us educate other pet owners and veterinarians?
We always encourage practitioners to document their cases and share them with us. We love to see the changes in your patients and want to hear if the product did not work well. Document the patient’s diet, supplements, medications, and home lifestyle. This helps us to track if anything interferes with the treatment. The more cases we receive, the more we can help pet owners and veterinarians. What type of cases have you seen success with when using the MBRT?
We treat an array of different medical conditions using MBRT. This includes GI Issues, chronic kidney and liver issues, pancreatitis, allergies, behavior, autoimmune issues, and cancer. We also treat prolonged and frequent use of antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and flea/tick medications. We have used the biome of intact donors to help support spayed and neutered animals. With this method, we experienced spayed patients mimic heat-cycle symptoms after receiving a transplant from a donor that was in-heat. |