Gut Zebras: When the Usual GI Treatments Don’t Work with Dr. Kim Bretz, ND


Course Description:

Our ability to treat many standard gut conditions is strong. But what happens when you’re doing 
the things that normally work and the results aren’t what you expect? 
We’re trained to think about horses when we hear hoofbeats (even if it might be a slightly exotic 
horse with SIBO) – but what about when it is actually a zebra? This session will review some of the 
gut-related zebras as well as some conditions that are not necessarily always considered a truly gut 
based but can be lost in digestive-based symptoms. Through research & cases, we’ll look at what we 
might want to consider when the hoofbeats aren’t coming from horses.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify symptoms that can indicate conditions you might be seeing a zebra (i.e. stop treating SIBO 
    4x in a row or doing an IgG test repeatedly if the condition is not improving and instead take a clear 
    look at whether we are missing something) – through the use of labs/physical/intake
  2. Review of gastrointestinal & extra-gastrointestinal conditions that are less commonly seen in clinical 
    practice but can be hidden causes of GI symptoms 
  3. Review of why it’s often not zebras – how to not hear zebras all the time when taking to patients

This session is approved for  1.5 Category A General credits with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO).  After completing the material, you will automatically receive your CE certificate.


 

 

Instructors

Dr. Kim Bretz, ND

Dr. Kim Bretz, ND is a Naturopathic Doctor working and living in Waterloo Region. She is a passionate international public speaker, having presented to multiple corporations and agencies, and is a guest lecturer for Canadian universities in the areas of health promotion, function foods and natural health care products. She has also run continuing education for healthcare professionals in the area of the microbiota, strain specific probiotics and gastrointestinal health and has worked in a consulting/advisory capacity for numerous companies including in the lab, supplements and pharmaceutical industry in gut health & the microbiota 

© Copyright 2026 |