Thursday night I released the news of an EHV-1 outbreak and if it something you have missed up to now, I included the info below later in this email along with a posting of an answer to a question I had received almost at this same very time a year ago in regards to last years EHV-1 outbreak- don't miss it.





Let me say, For horses, pets, and people nutrition and preventative health have never been more important than today. Imagine 100 horses in a herd exposed to NHV-1, some will get sick and some won’t-why? Imagine 100 people exposed to influenza, some will get sick, some won’t-why? I know it is scary to think about either situation, but similar scenarios are actually occurring right now in each of our bodies. The battle is health versus sickness and battle never stops. It is constantly raging and we are the effect of it. Or could we really be the cause of it?

If everything were well and wonderful everyday then I imagine we would be well and wonderful, but I think that it goes without saying that that is impossible!

Stress is a major cause of illness but how does this relate to our horses? First let’s define a working definition of stress. My way to describe stress, right or wrong, is “being the effect of something or someone you feel you have no control over”. Anybody stressed?





Unfortunately for our equine friends stress is a part of life.





Showing, trailering, training, breeding, it seems there is always stress in horses’ lives. But, since they ARE at the effect of us it is our responsibility to keep them “less stressed” lest they will get sick. Let’s face it, though, we can’t quit showing , performing, trailing and breeding etc. etc. I guess some of us could just be professional petters, myself included, but these guys really prefer to work, right? Probably just keeping them in a stall and not letting them perform or work is the most major stress of all. So with reason, let’s assume we keep going about our normal business, but consider that there other ways we stress our horses though without knowing it.





Personally, I absolutely think that we inadvertently stress our animals everyday, and the bad thing is we do so with the best of intentions. Take vaccinations for instance, are they really that important? Most folks in the “real world” would argue YES, but I have to ask myself, could the cure be worse than the disease, especially if the disease is very, very rare? And what if the disease were treatable anyway and what if I could prevent it with good nutrition including antioxidants? What longterm effects could these vaccinations have? I ask these seemingly ridiculous questions because I think our horses have changed for the worse since my 21 years in practice. I believe they are weaker today, less resistant than in the early 80’s and just seem to have much more cancer, colic, founder, pulmonary disease, allergies etc. So I question: WHAT HAS CHANGED? A good example of this change is EPM. Why after million of years does the horse suddenly have a problem with possum manure? I don’t claim to have the answers to this but I have some theories… and yes, real-life experiences.





Certainly we do vaccinate much more then when I first started my practice. We didn’t even vaccinate for rabies then, but then one or two horse came down with it and whammo … millions vaccinated. The same was true for Encephalitis and Strangles, West Nile and even EPM… with provisional vaccines, no less, that may or may not even work when all the facts are gathered. Have you ever vaccinated a horse for influenza and it later came down with it? How about vaccinated for Strangles and in a few short weeks it was leaking pus all over the barn? How about, heaven forbid, Rhino and the mares later aborted. I have – plenty of times. In fact, so much so that now I don’t vaccinate at all. We have several Rocky Mountain Horses and we are vaccine free for close to a decade now – and we very seldom get sick horses. No more abortions after horse show exposure. No more strangles (knock on wood). Our horses are just healthier and their immune system less comprimised.





Another thing I don’t do is deworm every 2-3 months. (see: WormCheck.com) Foreign substances like deworming chemicals and vaccinations just confuse the bodies’ healing mechanisms to the point where it has no clue what is supposed to be part of the body and what is not. It seems to just start reacting to everything.





Take for instance the allergy tests on those horses with hives. Every one of them I have seen the results on seem to come back allergic to everything. Like hay, grass, dust etc. – you know, those things you can’t keep horses away from anyway. The best you can do in most of these cases is wet the hay right? Anyone have a horse sensitive to flies? Come on, horses are supposed to live with flies not break out in sores and hives. What has changed? The answer to deworming, by the way, is to simply check to see if they even have worms before deworming. All horse don’t have worms – we check hundreds of samples in our office. TRUE all horses are exposed to worms but guess what? SOME ARE RESISTANT, or so it seems! In my early years of practice we used to always check first with a fecal sample because we had to pass that nose tube and that was potentially risky business. That was a “known” risk, I believe an unknown risk is even worse. Could it be that overzealous use of pastes could be just as risky? Worse yet are daily dewormers! I have no doubt that some day we will have super worms that are resistant to everything! Daily dewormers are not helping. Paying for a colic surgery is a great marketing stategy, especially if it keeps you using drugs and chemicals, isn’t it?





I know I am stepping on toes here but it may be time to reevaluate. This is tough when one has blinders on and just follows the norm without question. I understand and I could be completely wrong, BUT….Understand too, that I used to make my living as a “conventional” veterinarian using vaccinations, steroids, antibiotics and other such routine stuff. How could I have made such a drastic change?





Thank goodness I have seen changes in the mainstream since I've been on my soapbox! For example, small animal practitioners are being advised to no longer vaccinate just by the “calendar”, (i.e yearly), but to consider the individual needs and actual likelihood of exposure. True, this is very controversial, but a real step in the right direction. Such recommendations will be forthcoming for equines as well, but my concern is that all the fear about the “new diseases” will greatly hinder this coming. A major equine publication not so long ago proclaimed, “Looming Disaster with Our Current Deworming Practices”… citing such concerns as chemical toxicity and the resistance factor I already mentioned. But then another major equine magazine said Garlic was potentially toxic because they didn’t know the difference between an onion and garlic! So go figure!





Bottom line is, it is our responsibility, not the industry’s in general, to do what is right for our horse. Everybody has their own agenda. In the Garlic article, by the way, if you questioned it, you were referred you to a major university toxicology hotline. It cost $ 45 for a consultation. While you waited for the veterinarian, the recording attempted to sell you a book on Natural Toxins in horses. I paid the $45 for a search on garlic toxicity – never had they had a reported case, plus, with ALL their research material at hand, they could not find one substantiated reference to garlic toxicity –Onions yes (5 pounds), Garlic NO! I did have quite a conversation so the $45 was worth it for me to get to the bottom of the agenda and it did go to a good cause I am sure, but I didn’t buy the book. I apologize for being so sarcastic here but Horse and Rider just blew that one in my opinion back in the day. At the time it was such a shame for such a good magazine.





So we have talked about vaccinations and deworming – what about these “non toxic” chemicals?





You know the kind for flies and such, that you, too, breathe each time you spray them or spot them on. Sure these substances are “nontoxic” but what about sub-toxic? After all, “toxic” is the amount of the chemical or substance that is needed to kill an animal or person. What about the subtoxic effects that might increase viral and bacterial infections by weakening the immune system “function”, (i.e. lowering the white blood cell count, slowing white blood cell movement, destroying the mechanisms the white blood cells use to locate and destroy virus and bacterial cells, etc.). What about lowering production of the essential immune system regulator interferon or weakening or damaging antibody production? One such chemical on the market today is 65% permethrin. You can’t use any amount on you and you sure can’t use malathion, lindane or even furacin – that yellow stuff for wounds – but it is OK for equines!





By the way, PLEASE read the label on furacin – it has carcinogenic warnings all over it. Again, I used to use it by the gallons. So please understand I am not being critical, I guess I am just trying desperately to spread the message that “if there is an alternative, find it and use it”. And if you can’t find it …. Keep looking!





Please… we as practitioners don’t heal anything, none of us do, the best we can do is trigger the body to heal itself. It is as simple as that! The problem with so many drugs and chemicals is that they so badly confuse the bodies’ healing by taking over, leaving only another problem to deal with from the compounding effect of NEVER having been healed in the first place. I hope this makes sense and I hope you will help me on this mission.





Diets that we feed our horses are another major factor in preventative health. Our horses did not eat grain in the wild, especially so much corn. Why do we have to add so much molasses to their feeds? Perhaps because they don’t like the feed? Or is it because it is really not good for them?





Corn, for instance, has the same glycemic index as sugar. In other words, a tablespoon of corn has the same effect as a tablespoon of sugar. Molasses essentially is a sugar. Just imagine the blood glucose rising after the first meal of the day. Now imagine the blood sugar crashing to a low level. Herein lies the problem- a sugar low equals “starving” to the horses’ metabolism. The metabolic system does all it can to get the blood glucose back up. The pancreas, adrenals, thyroid, all kick in. These glands literally are worn out by the vicious cycle day after day of high and low sugar levels. Imagine asking your horse to act while on a sugar low. This is probably the number one cause of moody and hyper horses.





I also believe this daily metabolic stress is the reason we have so much founder and colic today. Even when a minor stress comes along they have no reserves left, because of the weekened adrenals and thyroid. The weak links are the gut and the feet, hence colic or founder.

This same scenario even happens to dogs and cats. Have you seen the amount of corn in pet foods lately? Based on the number of doughnut shops, bagel shops and high fructose soda pop machines around, a lot of people are destroying their “stess resistance” with carbohydrates and sugar, too. The answer for people is 25 grams of protein first thing in the morning of quality flax oil or virgin olive oil (two tablespoons).

The answer for horses is a good oil top dressed on the grain which slows the absorption on the grain and prevents the high spiking sugar levels in the first place. I don’t use flax oil in horses only because I find it difficult to maintain the freshness. Rancid or spoiled oil is worse. And heaven forbid if you know anyone using corn oil, alias syrup, please suggest they stop! For horses I prefer a quality GMO-FREE soybean oil. Ours is called Weight Check Oil and I believe what I was able to put together is un-comparable! My favorite grain to top dress it on is oats. And I prefer whole oats.





What else can we do to tip the scale to the side of wellness?





Use antioxidants! They are the scavengers of sickness, the buzzards that clean up all the messes in our bodies; the rustoleum that prevents the rust in the first place, or better yet that which stops the rust dead in its tracks! The rust, or oxidation, is what turns the apple brown when you cut it in half. It is oxygen gone bad, free radicals bombarding everything it finds. Bottom line, if you want your animal friends to live longer and healthier lives, give antioxidants daily and take them yourself. It’s already been proven that antioxidants are beneficial. It has been since the 60’s.





Every day our animal friends, as well as ourselves, are bombarded with pollutants. We eat them. We drink them. We breathe them. Even horse feed (not to mention our food) has pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, hormones, etc. in it! Water has chlorine, trihalomethanes, alum, lime, and potassium permanganates just to name a few! My goodness, just smell the air as you travel down the polluted highway. I believe you get my “drift”!





If I only had one thing that I could do to help tip the scale to wellness it would have to be to use the antioxidant and natural “antibiotic” Garlic. It is an awesome antioxidant, a tremendous source of sulfur for the body and a tremendous bug powder when mixed with the a few other ingredients. Sulfur is one of the most basic substances needed to rejuvenate tissue. Do you know that at one time garlic was used successfully to prevent polio? It was also found to be a more potent antibiotic than penicillin, ampicillin, doxycyline, streptomycin, and cephalexin- some of the very same drugs used to treat Anthrax. It was even effective against some strains of E. coli, staph and other micro organisms. [Fitoterapia Vol 5, 1984] Other sulfur-bearing antioxidants, Alpha lipoic acid, N-acetyl Cysteine, Taurine, and Vitamin C have been shown to elevate levels of Glutathione. This, too, is a potent antioxidant and also has been shown to counter the toxicity produced by antrax.[Molecular Medicine, November 1994; Immunopharmacology, January2000; Applied Environmental Microbiology, August 1979; Bill Sardi, Knowledge of Health]. And don’t forget Grapeseed Extract, one of the most potent antioxidants known to man… and I was the first to provide in supplements for the equine industry.





Well, I guess if you are still reading this you are either ready to shoot me, you are saying, “yea”, or maybe “boy, that guy is nuts!” Regardless, I ask you one more thing… if you are not familiar with homeopathy, I suggest you please check it out. It, in it’s truest form, is the answer to our situation today. And yes, there are even remedies for symptoms of anthrax, smallpox, radiation exposure, plague, etc. Though there are new strains now the symptoms these diseases produce are nothing new. They were here last century and often treated successfully with homeopathic remedies, even then. I for one won’t be lining up for vaccination – but I will be doing everything I can to help my body help itself. The correctly chosen homeopathic remedy simply triggers the body to do just that – heal itself. But it goes without saying that all healing depends upon good nutrition. If the body doesn’t have the nutrition it needs, it is like a car without the gas, it simply won’t run.





Today, as we honor Mothers and Caregivers everywhere, I hope the above was helpful to provide the reassurance to know that you are on the right track or helpful as you consider being more naturally proactive with the wellness regimen you have in place for yourself, your pets and your horses.





I appreciate you!

"I'd Rather Be A Health Nut Then A Sick Fool"

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Diana asks about EHV-1; equine herpes virus (wants to boost immune system)

http://askdrdan.com/2011/05/23/diana-asks-about-ehv-1-equine-herpes-virus-wants-to-boost-immune-system/

Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association

Equine Herpes Cases Reported in MISSISSIPPI

May 10, 2012

The State Veterinarian’s Office was notified on May 9th of two confirmed cases of Equine Herpes Myelitis (EHV).  In addition, four other cases of suspected EHV-1 have also been reported. To date, three of these horses have died or been euthanized and three are ill with neurological disease.  All of the horses recently returned from the Bucksnort Trail Ride held April 23–30 in Humphreys County, Tennessee.  This event drew approximately 100 horses from multiple states.   The Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture have also reported cases in their state related to this same trail ride.

The ill horses in Mississippi have been isolated and are being treated by their attending veterinarian.   All Mississippi Bucksnort Trail Ride participants are being notified about the situation and the necessity for isolation and monitoring horses taken to the event.  The potential for exposure to other horses is also being evaluated.  At this time, there has been no spread to other horses in Mississippi.

Equine Herpes Virus is highly contagious among horses but poses no threat to humans. The symptoms in horses may include fever, nasal discharge, wobbly gait, hind-end weakness, dribbling of urine and diminished tail tone. The virus is easily spread by airborne transmission, horse-to-horse contact and by contact with nasal secretions on equipment, tack, feed and other surfaces. Caretakers can spread the virus to horses if their hands, clothing, shoes or vehicles are contaminated. The virus can cause aborted foals and can be fatal. 

Horse owners should practice good biosecurity such as using their own trailer and equipment, not letting horses touch other people’s horses, disinfecting shoes and equipment, washing hands after helping others with their horses and limiting access to the farm. A downloadable brochure about horse biosecurity is available from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdf.

EHV-1 and Neurological disease in horses are reportable conditions to the State Veterinarian’s office.

Check our website for updates and additional information:      http://www.mbah.state.ms.us/index.html

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

BTW, I've never seen a tick on my horse and was very skeptical about
the diagnosis but…..the symptoms she was experiencing (very
lethargic, new onset of spookiness and lameness alternating in hinds)
do seem to be improving. Any information you can provide would be
greatly appreciated!

Hello Mary.

Our Bug Check has been doing this (and more) economically for over a decade! Just follow this link: BuyBugCheck.com to check it out. Keep in mind it is much more than just a "bug" product and that page will present that info/ingredients. Nothing else like it! It is that reason I prefer that folks provide year-round at least at the smallest dosage. Bug Check is also available for cats/dogs.

With that said, being proactive as much as possible especially to support the immune system so as to it not become "compromised" and better prepared for the challenges that might be faced. So I hope you will also consider at some time our feeding program (FeedForSuccess.com) as well as targeted support products (esp Health Check and Aller Check). There is a new 4 page flyer that is shown in the Library at the main TheNaturalVet.net website that offers a great at-a-glance look at all. (DrDanLibrary.com)

Thanks for asking and considering Mary.

Dr. Dan

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Click Here To Open/Download Standard PDF File

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

like the Hokey Pokey… You can turn-it-all-around!

Then You Can Turn It All Around!!!

Most often, our challenges are caused “within”…

Today, unlike when I graduated from Vet School in 1980, just 25 years ago, things seem worse. Our horses appear to be weaker today as opposed to yesteryears?

It is similar for humans. Can you imagine a Native American Indian stalking up on his prey, crawling through bushes full of pollen and all of a sudden, sneezing?! In man, allergies were never even heard of until the industrial revolution.

In fact, the first mention of allergies was in highly polluted industrial areas of England. At first they were called Rose Fever, later simply allergies.

It's Time To Turn-It-All-Around!

Man and horse are worse today because we have bombarded them with so many vaccines, chemicals, pollutants and toxins. The consequence for man and beast, is an immune system that is critically out of balance. It simply is in “hyper” mode – not really knowing anymore to what it should react … so it simply starts reacting to everything – all those things you couldn’t possibly keep a horse away from!

Another example of an over-reactive immune system is “Heaves”, or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Essentially this is an allergy in the lungs.

Autoimmune diseases (where the body reacts to itself) are also related. The bottom line is that the immune system is being overworked!

What a mess we have!

We have ruined our soils with salt fertilizers, over-vaccinated, over-medicated, over or incorrectly supplemented, and over-sugared so much, that a horse’s body does not know which way to turn. When was the last time YOU were vaccinated? Probably long ago! When was the last time you vaccinated your horse? Probably last week! For instance, vaccinations are often filled with preservatives like mercury and foreign protein. Ask yourself, “Are all of these vaccinations really needed year after year”? Let me assure you, everything, including vaccinations, has a consequence. If you have an allergy horse, please look at this issue carefully. Continually “sensitizing” with foreign tissue via vaccines, is a big part of the allergy syndrome. Copious vaccinations are not natural! The vaccines that your state requires are the only ones your horse should have.

***By the way, most will agree that allergies start in the spring. Nearly all horses are vaccinated every spring. Let me know if you see a relationship between allergies and vaccinations. I would appreciate the email!

Nutrition is critical!

The best way to prevent or treat any disease, not just allergies, is to look at what the horse’s body is getting too much or not enough of! We have discussed vaccines and chemicals already. Vitamins, minerals and salt are equally important. Minerals are often full of heavy metals like aluminum and lead. Studies at the University of Kentucky show that Lead and Cadmium are often contaminants in minerals. Even salt is chemically made for other industries, not for horses. The horse’s body has to handle all of this extra “junk” in one way or other.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t try their very best to get their horses what they need. BUT it can be so confusing! What do you feed? What do you supplement? The list of questions goes on. Do you feel that you need a PhD in Nutrition? Are you considering going to vet school just so you will know how to take care of your horse’s needs properly? You don’t need either degree. Truly it is not that difficult! Keep in mind the basics… and leave the rest to Nature!

For instance, horses, in general, don’t get enough fat, and get far too much sugar from sweet feed and corn. The essential fatty acids are a must in allergy horses. In order to deliver these, along with more fat, the best source, in my opinion, is coconut oil. We add crude, unrefined soybean oil to this to keep it liquid so you can pour it because coconut is a solid at room temperature. Also coconut oil is stable, and much less likely to go rancid, than flax or rice bran sources. Vegetable oil and corn oil are practically useless except for calories, of which most horses get way too much of, anyway.

While I get questions often about "allergies", this time of year brings an increase of such. Too often folks are concentrating on the triggers of the allergies rather than again, addressing from within…

Then, at that point, desensitization with allergy shots is usually recommended. However, allergy shots are expensive. What’s worse is they only work about 50% of the time! Other alternatives, such as steroids and antihistamines are becoming less and less popular, too; it appears they only make matters worse. Yes, allergy problems in horses are a nightmare! Allergies are becoming more and more prevalent. Yet hopefully, with the knowledge I am about to give you, you will never have to experience them with your horse!

What are the symptoms?

The obvious symptom of allergies is itching. This is often accompanied by hives, which are little raised bumps, similar to what a bee sting would make. In severe cases, hives are so numerous they gather together, causing what are called welts. In extremely severe cases, the horse itches so bad it rubs and bites its skin until it is raw and/or bleeding! Horse owners feel helpless! Fly sprays, lotions, etc. help somewhat. Yet, for the most part, these simply make the owner feel better — not necessarily their horse. flies, mosquitoes, and bug bites in general are “triggers” that make things worse, but they are NOT the cause of allergies.

OK, So here's my "Basic Five" for you to consider to being proactive and being ready ahead of time for what may come and of course to help support the "turnaround" you desire for your horses…

Basic #1:
More "Good" Fat, Less Sugar…
(See Weight Check Oil @ FeedForSuccess.com )

Basic #2:
NEVER rely on "complete" feeds
(See  FeedForSuccess.com )

A “complete feed” or even oats alone simply can not provide what an allergy horse needs. For example, take two 1000 lb. horses – one horse that eats ten (10) pounds per day of a complete feed, or oats, – the other eats only 3 pounds. The later will get far less vitamins and minerals than the horse that eats 10 pounds per day- right? These “easy keepers” often get far less of what they need with regards to vitamins and minerals.

This perpetuates the problem even more. The horses’ whole metabolism is adversely affected! They are stressed metabolically and they eventually wind up as insulin resistant, hypothyroid, laminitic, or cushinoid, and in some cases have such a messed up immune system they “develop” allergies – all because they were not getting enough vitamins or minerals.

Personally, I don’t think there is such a thing as a complete feed! There are just too many variables. Each horse should be supplemented individually – especially the allergy horse! Our soils and foods grown on them, simply can’t provide a balanced diet today. Remember though, many minerals and vitamins however are man made. Even worse, many of them are another industry’s “leftovers”.

Basic # 3:
Horses must be supplemented with vitamins and minerals.
(See Just Add Oats and Red Cal @ FeedForSuccess.com )

Some essential nutrients are required on a daily basis and balanced and not enough can be garnered through commercial feeds!

You get the idea… and our "Just Add Oats" in conjunction with Red Cal is a great approach!

Basic #4:
Horses need plenty of anti-oxidants!
(See Health Check / Joint Check / Aller Check )

It only makes sense to help the body in every way possible to get rid of the “junk” that it is exposed to day in and day out. Anti-oxidants do just that! The best analogy I’ve heard is that the foreign substances to which the body is exposed day in and day out cause the body to “rust” – and anti-oxidants prevent the rusting. The beneficial effects of antioxidants are not often seen immediately in a relatively healthy horse or person but are often immediate in allergy horses, especially when really good anti-oxidants are used.

No doubt about it – anti-oxidants add years to ones’ life; but when severe allergy cases can be reversed with their use – that impresses me. For instance, my first experience with anti-oxidants in horses overwhelmed me. I had a patient with Heaves that was really about ready to die, and because I had seen tremendous beneficial lung changes in people from using grape seed in such cases, I decided to try it.

I fed this horse $300 dollars worth of Grape Seed capsules in one month. I must have broken open 1000 capsules, but the horse improved – became well enough to go home! This showed me that anti-oxidants are a lot more than just a little vitamin A, C and E as so many products tout. Needless to say we used a lot more anti-oxidants in the future – in fact, today we have a specific antioxidant product for allergies – Much improved over our capsule experience! ALL of our horses, everyday, are supplemented with anti-oxidants.

Basic # 5:
Don’t short the Salt…. Horses are not lickers!
(See RED CAL @ FeedForSuccess.com )

THE major factor in allergies, or any illness of “unknown” cause, is the misuse of salt and mineral blocks. Free choice, natural sources of salt and minerals will help your horse’s allergies improve drastically.

(The most important thing you can do for your horse's health is to provide a natural source of salt and minerals and there is nothing like our RED CAL fed "free-choice"!)

Horses are not lickers: they can’t get what they need from salt or mineral blocks quickly enough to get what they need! Horses need change whenever the barometer changes because the grasses that they eat have changed.

The chemical composition of grass actually change with the weather. Also our “salt based” fertilizers used today often confuse the horse. The potassium contained within them literally tricks the horse into thinking he has plenty of salt already because the potassium ion is so similar to sodium. When this happens, they quit eating salt or if they only have access to blocks, they can’t even get as much of what they need.

This situation is a major metabolic stress on the system. Many problems can result.

The obvious ones are” tying up” and what we generally think are electrolyte problems. The least obvious, but the most dangerous, is the massive change in gut bacteria, which sometimes can be life threatening. Examples are laminitis, abortion, and allergies. Even free choice minerals can be a problem! That’s because man only has a vague idea of what our horses need. Every year new minerals and vitamins are being discovered – so how can we put them in a bag?

When man makes a mineral mix, he is simply guessing. Even with a free choice mix that just has massive amounts of this and that, horses simply over-consume what they don’t need, while trying to get what they do need and quite honestly what they do need might not even be in the mix to begin with! I assure you; man-made blocks and mixes are missing critical elements!

Many of the tiny micronutrients, or elements, like rubidium, molybdenum, palladium, cesium, and strontium, are critical for problems like allergies, COPD and even cancer. When I take away typical “man-made” salt and mineral blocks, and replace them with natural sources, many allergies and other problems go away! It is amazing what nature provides! I really hope you have stuck with me long enough to read this single point. The most important thing you can do for your horse’s health is to provide a natural source of salt and minerals.

Although we are still learning about allergies, a few things are very important. Certainly keeping flies and pests away is critical, but don’t overuse the chemicals or you could be adding fuel to the fire. The cause of an allergy must be addressed, rather than just treating the symptoms. Nutrition is critical. Vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and essential fatty acids should not be overlooked as part of the treatment.

Less sugar in the diet is always best. Feeding oats rather than “complete” feed, supplemented with NATURAL sources of vitamins and minerals – top dressed and based on the needs of each individual horse is also best. And instead of salt and mineral blocks, natural “free choice” supplements are better and may even contain beneficial ingredients we don’t even know about yet.

Finally, in my humble opinion, you should only vaccinate for what you absolutely think is necessary. If we provide the body what it needs, it will heal itself!!

I appreciate your support!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

What Makes Me Sick!
 
As we all get older its only NATURAL for people and animals to have more negative health issues.

What's NOT NATURAL and makes me sick, is to see sick or even heaven forbid, already healthy animals and people made "sicker" by PRESCRIBED drugs and medications.
 
"Do No Harm" is first priority for any health professional that takes an oath, but seems to me it is NOT  the "norm" today. Just seems to me that prescribed drugs and medications are more than often making healthy people sick and sick people sicker! Animals not excluded!
 
Doubt this truth? Just look over your own family situation. The typical family member, especially if they are middle-aged or older is on high blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds, not to mention anti-depressant meds and/or medications for osteoperosis. Some are even getting perscribed "heavy duty" pain relief meds which are perhaps even worse than street drugs.

Not long ago I myself was prescribed one such pain drug for a tooth ache by my dentist- my dentist! If you can believe it?? I refused it and changed my dentist immediately…BUT… Almost everyone takes some sort of "over the counter" pain relief! Right? Almost every day!  Pets are typically on allergy and pain medication too and it seems there is a vaccine for anything new that comes along. One estimate I read, presented that anyone over 50 years of age is on eleven medications daily. I've seen other estimates are even higher!
 
My question is- are these medications prescribed by those prescribing (and usually with good intentions) actually causing more harm than good?

Could the tail be wagging the dog?

If you know someone taking such meds also ask yourself this… Are they really healthier since beginning such? Did taking one med possibly lead to the need for another? Are they having to take higher and higher doses of meds just to cover the symptoms. Are they more sleepy, less active etc. Do you get the picture? A typical scenario is one medication leads to another and then another and so on until they have a whole shoe box full of medications that they take daily! Worse yet, they typically get sicker and sicker in the process.
 
So who's to blame. As much as I hate to tell you… we are! That's right.. you and me are to blame!  Why?

Hey, we were warned! Remember that long piece of paper you threw away with all the very fine print that came in the original package?

It had all the side effects, but did you read it? I am almost positive you didn't and neither did I. People laugh about 2/3rds of a TV commercial for a med being about the side effects. Not really funny though.

It would have be nice for the doctor to warn you of side effects, but what doctor has time these days? Doctors just see so many sick people these days! You know they couldn't possibly have time!

In line at the pharmacy, they want you to quickly read the all the label/paper(s), hold up the usual long line and sign here. Do you?

Oh well, if there is a serious potential threat, of course the FDA will let me know…. Maybe, Maybe NOT.  Afterall, have you seen attorney ads for such on TV lately? Yep, Thought so.
 
My advise…. PLEASE, PLEASE take a proactive approach to your family and your pet's health care. And please, please don't always just rely on what the "good doctor" might have to offer. So……Stop what you are doing right now! Go to the Internet and search for side effects of all the medications you are taking.  Perhaps the symptoms you are having may be from a medication prescribed earlier. Maybe the first medication you took started the whole chain of negative health events. You may not even need any medication. Unless you check for yourself you will never know!

Side effects are more common than you think and they make me sick!
 
Stay healthy!
Dr Dan

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The New TheNaturalVet.net has launched  and so has our new New Wellness Rewards Program. Rewards that grow into FREE product for you!

With our new Rewards Program the possibilities are both exciting and limitless and I look forward to you being rewarded for your support!

Thank you

Bookmark It

Hide Sites