Webquest 3: Horses and Duck

A) About horses: What are the 5 most common pathologies of horses? COLIC: The word colic literally describes abdominal pain. In the horse, this can be quite dramatic and distressful, for many species-specific reasons. It can arise most commonly from impaction of ingesta or from accumulation and entrapment of gas (impaction colic, spasmodic colic, gassy colic). These types will usually resolve, especially with the help of first-aid homeopathic remedies, like Nux vomica or Colocynth (homeopathy). Bach Rescue Remedy may also be helpful. While awaiting the vet, these medicines should be given and may resolve the case prior to his or her arrival. LAMINITIS: Laminitis is a formidable disease and it appears that, once affected, ponies become more susceptible thereafter. Treatment of these cases using conventional NSAID drugs can relieve pain (which might be very welcome) but one has to be aware that this can be at the cost of suppression of healing mechanisms and responses. NSAIDs certainly do nothing beneficial for the disease itself. They may also impede homeopathic responses to an extent. However, if a patient is on NSAID treatment at the time we become involved, we do not suggest stopping it unless of course it is failing to help the pain. AZOTURIA: Azoturia is an acute condition in which by-products of working metabolism accumulate in muscles, during exercise, reaching levels that cause the muscles to go into sudden and very painful spasm. The unfortunate horse becomes ‘planted’, appearing totally unable to move. The condition is predisposed by dietary factors and by inappropriate exercise patterns. DERMATITIS OR SKIN PROBLEMS: We are called to attend a great many different skin problems, varying from urticarial reactions to sores and scabs. The huge majority of these stem from an immune problem, possibly from conventional vaccination, since so many start within three months of a vaccine injection. Aggravating causes may be fly bites, reaction to bedding, unsuitable diets, buttercups in the pasture etc. Skin problems represent a real constitutional problem, with a need for expert homeopathic prescribing, according to the individual signs shown and the patient's constitution. Remedies that have proved useful in many cases are: Antimonium crudum, Apis, Arsenicum, Bacillinum, Graphites, Lachesis, Ledum, Lycopodium, Mezereum, Natrum muriaticum, Psorinum, Pulsatilla, Ranunculus, Rhus toxicodendron, Sulphur, Thuja, Tuberculinum and Urtica. INFLUENZA: Equine Influenza is a viral disease, which appears to be specific to equine animals (i.e. it is not known to cross the 'species barrier'). It is much-feared, giving rise to compulsory vaccination regimes for various forms of sporting competition and for some yards. It is highly infectious but, usually, not too severe. British Dressage dropped the requirement for its competitions, without any apparent welfare cost. Homeopathic constitutional prescribing will usually help a horse to throw off the infection and prevent the worst symptoms from developing. There is a vaccine available, commonly considered compulsory. In common with all forms of conventional vaccination, there are dangers associated with the administration. Some horses react locally, with very painful and inflamed muscles or abscess. Some react more systemically, becoming ill. Others can become chronically ill or have an underlying health problem exacerbated. There is a homeopathic nosode to offer protection to those horses for whom vaccination is considered unsuitable or is not wanted. It is however without full proof of efficacy. The nosode does not satisfy legal or sporting regulations. Conventional vaccinations should not be given to horses suffering an illness, especially if there is an immune component to that illness (this is in fact an exclusion on the Data Sheet of vaccine products).

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