Celiac Service Dog ‘Herald’ is Life-changing for Veterinary Student

Jess Benson is a third-year student at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She is getting ready to start clinical rotations, pondering residency, looking for internships, and is well on her way to fulfilling her dreams of becoming an equine practitioner on the East Coast. The dream of veterinary school, however, almost never came to fruition because of celiac disease. “I’ve been sick most of my life, but I never received a definitive diagnosis,” says Jess. “The summer before vet school, I was getting sicker and sicker to the point where I was getting ready to defer my first year because I could barely get out of bed. I could barely move.” An endoscopy exam showed the disease had caused her intestinal lining to be completely destroyed. There was no absorptive surface for nutrients. Jess was eating six meals a day and continuing to lose weight. She was finally diagnosed with celiac disease on the second day of her first year of veterinary school.

Celiac disease, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disorder characterized by an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. The classic symptoms include gastrointestinal problems such as chronic diarrhea, malabsorption of nutrients, anemia, loss of appetite, weight loss, and, among children, failure to grow normally. When exposed to gluten, an abnormal immune response may lead to the production of several different autoantibodies that can affect a number of different organs. Under a microscope, celiac disease manifests by blunting the villi of the small intestine. The villi are small fingerlike projections that line the intestinal tract and promote nutrient absorption. When attacked and damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly in the body. Another sign of the disease is the infiltration of lymphocyte white blood cells into the intestinal lining. These immune cells, which would not normally be present, respond to the autoimmune signals from celiac disease. A strict, lifelong gluten-free diet is the only way to manage celiac disease, as there is currently no known cure. The gluten-free diet allows a break in the inflammatory cycle and gives the intestinal mucosa a chance to rest and heal. This improves symptoms and reduces the risk of complications.

After she was diagnosed, Jess immediately began to adhere to a strict, gluten-free diet, washed her hands frequently and was very careful to avoid cross-contamination. Even with these stringent precautions, she continued to get sick at weekly intervals and nearly ended up in the hospital several times from dehydration. She recalls, “It was to the point where I wasn’t able to eat out at restaurants anymore. I didn’t feel comfortable eating outside of my house. I’m young, in my 20s. Socializing, being out and eating out are the things that I did with people, and I kept thinking, ‘I can’t go through life like this.’ ”

The job of keeping Jess healthy each and every day may seem daunting, but Herald knows his job through and through. He also knows when he’s off duty. He is a fun-loving, young, enthusiastic dog in general, but when his service vest comes out, Herald is all business. Jess says that at home, “Even if he’s upstairs sleeping and I say, ‘Herald, do you want to work?’ he’ll come running down to where his vest is and just dance until I put it on him.” Interestingly, Herald also maintains a gluten-free diet with Jess. He cannot consume gluten, then lick her or something she touches or she could be made vulnerable to the effects of gluten by proxy.

Herald is the fifth celiac service dog ever trained, with only about 30 total worldwide at this point. In addition to celiac service dogs, there are other scent service dogs that are trained to smell additional allergens, including red dye 40, dairy, cashews and peanuts. These dogs have all had as much impact on their owners’ lives as Herald has had on Jess’s. Trainer Dawn notes, “He and Jess are so dedicated and loyal to each other that they make a true team. Not a dog and a handler, but a team, working together to meet each others’ needs. Always putting the other first. This is rare and such a special gift. I still think of Jess in my mind as that skinny little college girl. When Jess posts a rare photo of herself on Facebook I have to smile. It's so nice to see shining bright eyes, color in her face and healthy cheek bones. I know Herald is working.” Having gained 40 much-needed pounds, Jess says that she feels so much healthier. She has more energy, more overall color in her appearance, and, most importantly, is not getting sick anymore. “This is only the second Thanksgiving in my life that I haven’t gotten sick. Because of Herald. Because he was able to check everything.” In case there was any doubt left as to the importance Herald has had on her life, Jess emphasizes with deep gratitude, “There is no way I could have continued going to vet school without Herald. He is my life saver. Literally.”

Jess Benson is finally thriving after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, thanks to her celiac service dog, Herald. Herald knows his job through and through. When he’s off duty, he is a fun-loving, young, enthusiastic dog, but when his service vest comes out, Herald is all business, keeping Jess healthy each and every day.
PHOTO BY KATIE LANDIS