N EWSLETTER Equine and Small Animal Veterinary Specialty Practice A new paradigm veterinary practice! [email protected]Cell: 360-348-0285 www.quantumvet.com May / June / July 2008 volume 4 "As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives." Henry David Thoreau (1817‐1862) American author, naturalist, and philosopher Heal Your Horse, Discover Yourself…the series Future Clinics Equine Veterinary Dentistry What’s In a Name – Past, Present or Future? Archetypes – The Five Constitutional Types of Animals Evaluate Your Vaccination Program Book Review Product Highlight Glossary I started the morning reading about Molly, the grey speckled pony that was abandoned during hurricane Katrina, had her leg severely injured by a dog attack and went on to have amputation of her lower fore leg. She now wears a prosthetic with a smiley face on the bottom, leaving footprints of smiles behind her. This is a story of a survivor, true grit and a will to survive; a being that is joyful to just be alive and enjoy the beauty of what each new day brings. She now visits different groups, teaching what it means to never give up. Web sites where you can read about this wonderful story of perseverance: http://www.greatpetnet.com/443/molly‐the‐fantastic‐pony/ http://www.goodnewsdaily.com/show_story.php?ID=8625 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkeLgXocwas http://www.lsu.edu/highlights/2006/10/molly.html
Transcript
NEWSLETTER
Equine and Small Animal Veterinary Specialty Practice A new paradigm veterinary practice!
"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."
Henry David Thoreau (1817‐1862) American author, naturalist, and philosopher
Heal Your Horse, Discover Yourself…the series
Future Clinics
Equine Veterinary Dentistry
What’s In a Name – Past, Present or Future?
Archetypes – The Five Constitutional Types of Animals
Evaluate Your Vaccination Program
Book Review
Product Highlight
Glossary
I started the morning reading about Molly, the grey speckled pony that was abandoned during hurricane Katrina, had her leg severely injured by a dog attack and went on to have amputation of her lower fore leg. She now wears a prosthetic with a smiley face on the bottom, leaving footprints of smiles behind her. This is a story of a survivor, true grit and a will to survive; a being that is joyful to just be alive and enjoy the beauty of what each new day brings. She now visits different groups, teaching what it means to never give up. Web sites where you can read about this wonderful story of perseverance: http://www.greatpetnet.com/443/molly‐the‐fantastic‐pony/ http://www.goodnewsdaily.com/show_story.php?ID=8625 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkeLgXocwas http://www.lsu.edu/highlights/2006/10/molly.html
My morning also involved a phone conversation with an animal communicator. We discussed the concept of honoring what the animal wants; a novel concept to many. I must admit I certainly have not always done this and even recently almost put my agenda and desires above what direction my horse wanted to go. Lessoning with a talented dressage instructor who saw that this horse could move up the levels of dressage and maybe even be Grand Prix someday brought visions of grandeur. After giving my horse the winter off due to my chaotic schedule, I was ready to continue on this path. I knew deep inside that this was really not the direction he wanted to go and it brought back way too many memories for him of his not very pleasant past. Luckily, circumstance intervened and my encounter with a very talented animal communicator
confirmed what I knew to be true but was suppressing in place of my own agenda. To honor what the horse (or other animal) wants and to receive input from them, to really listen, all of you have the ability to receive from your animal companion. All it takes is a true desire to listen. You say, “But how do I start?” Intent is everything. Approach them as if this is the first time you have had contact with them. Be quiet, aware and receptive. Watch their body language. Stand back and observe for a bit, rather than just walking right up to them. What happens? Do they want to be in your company? Do they ignore you? Do they come up to you and not for the purpose that they know you have food for them? Send them a thought in pictures and be receptive to receiving pictures or impressions back. You may not immediately get anything, but be patient with yourself. In this hurry‐up world of ours, make the decision to have this time with your animal companion be a time of mutual respect and trust with an equal being. What is meant by mutual respect and trust? It doesn’t mean letting them always have their way or treating you in a dangerous fashion. Neither does it mean you are the boss and it’s your way or the hi‐way, as the expression goes. Opening up for change can be a little scary but the adventure, I can tell you from my own experience, is well worth it. Listen with your heart, it will never steer you wrong. I would like to thank the very knowledgeable, talented equine dentist Dr. Katherine Burnett for being a guest contributor to this newsletter. Dentistry is so important in preventive care and overall health of the horse. It maybe should be said no mouth, no horse. I would also like to thank Chris Alderman who compiled the wonderful article on the clinic series, adds her artistic abilities to putting together this newsletter along with attempting to get me to meet the deadline, so all of you can learn new knowledge, which isn’t an easy task! Enjoy the information. As always, suggestions and comments welcome. My teachers are teaching me how to dance to the beat that my heart beats to, not someone else’s idea of how to dance. We can take instruction and learn from many along the way but ultimately we will not find harmony with our equine partner unless we dance to the tune that our heart strums. This will be as different and
unique to each partnership as there are partners. My teachers, Teddy, Breeze & Wizard
HEAL YOUR HORSE, DISCOVER YOURSELF…the series March 16th, 2008 was the launch of the “Heal Your Horse, Discover Yourself” Quantum mini clinic series at FromtheMother Farm, Snohomish, WA, hosted by owner Lynn Elston. Other clinic sessions thus far were April 6th and April 27th. The intent of the monthly clinic series is to teach the tools for the person to advance the horse in their healing and health while gaining knowledge to make the best choices for the horse in their healthcare and preventive
maintenance. This will evolve us in our work with our horses towards a partnership of mutual respect and trust and riding in true harmony and freedom.
Dr. Seelye constructed the clinics with classroom instruction and discussion in the morning, a short break for a communal lunch and hands‐on participation in the afternoon, reconvening afterwards for follow‐up discussions. Each clinic session is progressive, with new knowledge and techniques to put to use on the horses. Newcomers are always welcome to be swept up in the energy! In the morning sessions, participants are guided through exercises, such as yoga and Qigong techniques, to increase their body awareness and maximize health. In the April clinics, Dr. Seelye asked Nancy Kittleson* to lead participants through a series of centered riding exercises to bring our bodies into balance, which transfers to when we’re riding. She even brought in a pair of scales to demonstrate how uneven we weight our own bodies. The concept here is if we’re lopsided guess what we’re doing to our horse? Dr. Seelye always invites a few participants to bring their horse so that all of the clinic participants have the opportunity to observe a variety of horses and develop a different eye for looking at confirmation. Participants then collectively work on the horses to evolve their own bodywork skills to take home to effectively evolve their own horse(s) with some quantum ground work (in‐hand) and riding techniques that help progress the restructuring work of their horse’s body and mind.
← Dr. Seelye demonstrating the Mo‐fa technique. The language of touch. The hand manipulation should be natural, soft and fluent. Rigid, hard and cold hands must be avoided. Best if you don’t wear gloves. The
hand is soft without floating and forceful without being stiff.
Dr. Seelye demonstrating the Pai‐fa technique. →
← Dr. Seelye demonstrating Dou‐fa technique for distal extremities.
Clinic participants practicing Tui‐na techniques on each other to be
aware of the application and effect on the horse. →
“Be present – check‐in with yourself, awareness of when your focus drifts. Be aware of your thoughts. Intently put those
you want your horse receiving in your mind.” …Dr. Suzan Seelye, DVM, CVT
← Dr. Seelye demonstrating “squaring up”.
Dr. Seelye demonstrating lowering the head to relax the horse. →
← Dr. Seelye demonstrating raising the back.
Best if you use bare hands – healing is an art and the artist’s tools are their hands.
Participants practice Mo‐fa and Pai‐fa therapy. →
← Dr. Seelye demonstrating the pelvic tilt.
Pelvic tilt instruction. →
← Dr. Seelye demonstrating leg/shoulder rotations.
Participant practicing the leg/shoulder rotations. →
← Dr. Seelye demonstrating leg extension and Dou‐fa (shaking) technique.
Participant practicing Dou‐fa on a fore leg. →
“Associative memory and how it affects your work with the horses. The routine is no routine.”
…Dr. Suzan Seelye, DVM, CVT
← Participant practicing hind leg rotations.
Participant practicing Dou‐fa on a hind leg. →
“Allow the horses to ‘speak’. Simply stand back and observe without putting judgment or attaching your emotion to it. Be the tree. Listen and make changes accordingly. Difference between judgment and interpretation – pawing. Make
sure you aren’t filtering your observation through your judgments or your ‘reality’.” …Dr. Suzan Seelye, DVM, CVT
Participants work on advancing their skills in how to move from mechanical bodywork to understanding what is appropriate in the moment.
Now, let’s dance! Interact, move with the horse, be a partner – enjoy the dance!
Dr. Seelye and an equine partner dancing! →
It is all about change, evolution, health, and healing!
FUTURE CLINICS • The June 1st clinic has morphed into a 2‐day dynamo June 14‐15 – clinic location: FromtheMother Farm,
Snohomish, WA. It will be a 2‐day power‐packed extravaganza! Dr. Seelye and Nancy Kittleson*, Centered Riding Instructor and soooo much more, will team up to offer an advancement through a comprehensive 2‐day clinic. This will be an opportunity to join with like‐minded people to evolve, to empower yourself through knowledge and experience. The clinic will be a combination of classroom knowledge and then putting it into personal wisdom through the experience. We really look forward to this opportunity to continue as your tour guide in the evolution of you and your horse in a relationship of mutual trust and respect. The culmination of this journey is the joy of a true partnership in freedom of both horse and human.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: THERE ARE STILL SPACES AVAILABLE IN THIS 2‐DAY JUNE CLINIC (JUNE 14‐15, 2008). THIS CLINIC IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – NEW PARTICIPANTS ARE WELCOME!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 10TH, 2008. CALL OR EMAIL DR. SEELYE
TEL. 360‐348‐0285 EMAIL – healingheartvet.aol.com
• July 6, 2008 – clinic location: FromtheMother Farm, Snohomish, WA • August 3, 2008 – clinic location: FromtheMother Farm, Snohomish, WA
Do you want to get your barn mates and friends empowered with the knowledge to partner with your equine companions? You can contact Dr. Seelye for a clinic at your barn!
Katherine Burnett, D.V.M. Spokane, WA 99223 Tel ‐ 509.443.7186 [email protected] Dr. Burnett has been an equine veterinarian for 22 years. For the past 8 years she has devoted her practice solely to dentistry in horses. Her practice techniques have been published in major horsemanship journals, including Western Horseman. She has published articles for major veterinary journals, and taught and mentored veterinarians and veterinary students at the state and national level. Based in Spokane, she is licensed in multiple states, and practices in Washington, Idaho, Montana and California. She is a former eventer, and currently trains her Morgan mare in dressage.
Why horses need dentistry. For the same reason that dogs, cats and humans do genetics and an unnatural diet (in the case of the horse, dry hay and grain that are hard to chew and alter the bite).
How common is dental disease? Studies prove that 80 percent of randomly selected domestic horses have dental disease that, if corrected, could resolve the problem and/or prevent worsening of the problem. Common problems include:
• Sharp points on edges of teeth can cause pain, reduce chewing stroke severely, ulcerate soft tissues, and even fracture teeth.
• Malocclusions – abnormally shaped surface of one or more teeth that cause abnormal chewing and jaw function, leading to pain, periodontal (gum) disease, and in some cases fractured teeth. Eruption of teeth in the wrong part of the mouth is another common cause of malocclusion, and can cause periodontal disease and mouth ulcers.
• Periodontal disease ‐ an infection of the tissue around the tooth that causes pain, dissemination of the bacteria to all organs and in many cases infection of the tooth, causing pain and necessitating extraction. This is very common, and hard to treat when in advanced stages.
• Cavities, which can cause pain and/or fracture of a tooth.
Difference between “floating” and modern dentistry. This is easiest to understand if you compare modern human dentistry with dentistry 75 years ago. Back then, the approach was not to perform thorough examinations or x‐rays. It was reactive – the dentist did very little to prevent disease or stop it in its early stages. Instead, patients had teeth extracted (“pulled”) once the teeth got infected and painful. By the time the tooth needed extraction, the patient had suffered considerably and endured
systemic health problems. Afterward, the remaining teeth often got infected after shifting around near the space left by the extracted tooth.
Twenty years ago, this was the approach to dentistry in horses as well. Veterinarians did not have modern medications to keep horses quiet and comfortable for adequate dentistry. They had rudimentary instruments. So the vets did the best they could with what they had. They had no way to safely do a thorough examination and dentistry in the horse, so they could only file off as many sharp points and uneven teeth as they could, leaving a lot of horses with worsening problems that never got treated. The result of doing “a float” is that in a very large percentage of horses, this was not enough to prevent disease. As a result, many suffered silently for years. Just like the human dentist 75 years ago, the vets could only “react” to serious disease that developed, putting painful horses on soft feed and extracting teeth, an invasive and painful procedure. What equine dentistry, properly performed, looks like today It is a medical procedure that should be as thorough as a lameness, medical, reproductive, or other procedure. In medicine, it is universally understood that performing a treatment without a thorough physical examination is not an acceptable standard of care. Simply filing down teeth without a thorough examination is no longer the “gold standard” in equine practice, since we now have the medication and instruments to make a full medical examination of the mouth before treating.
A complete and proper dental examination always includes a thorough examination of every tooth in the mouth, as well as the soft tissues (entire head, lips, cheeks, tongue, bars of mouth, etc.). A horse is commonly sedated for the procedure. Once sedate, the veterinarian opens the horse’s mouth with a speculum. It is held is held in place by a strap that goes over the poll. The mouth is gently opened via the bite plates.
The entire mouth, including the insides of the cheeks, palate, bars of the mouth, gums and teeth, are evaluated with a bright surgical lamp and a special equine intraoral mirror. In order to do a thorough exam, the mirror must be used. The front teeth must also be examined, since disease in this part of the mouth is common and can be very painful.
After the examination, the vet points out any problems and shares the treatment plan with the owner. In most cases, the treatment is fairly straightforward and affordable, requiring removal of sharp points and reduction of overly tall teeth, thus “balancing” the mouth to return it to a normal chewing pattern. Several instruments, most motorized, are required in order to do a thorough job. Balancing, also called equilibration, prevents pain and excessive pressure on teeth that can cause damage and periodontal (gum) disease. It also prevents jaw pain. Periodontal disease, if present, is treated. Sometimes radiographs are ordered to better define the treatment plan. A dental procedure is never complete until the veterinarian checks his/or her work. This requires retracting the cheek with a retractor and making sure that the pressure on any one tooth is not excessive. Failure to do this can cause TMJ (temporomandibular) joint pain, limited side‐to‐side grinding motion (up to 50 percent or more), periodontal disease, and tooth breakage. It is important to recognize that since this is a comprehensive medical procedure, requiring many expensive instruments (that must be meticulously maintained), a considerable amount of time, and expensive continuing education on the part of the veterinarians in this newer and rapidly changing field. For these reasons, comprehensive dental care will cost more than the “float” fees that owners are used to. Veterinarians have different levels of expertise in dentistry, and many still only provide the simple float, so if you expect a more thorough exam and procedure then it is important to ask for referrals from those you trust. Teeth can be damaged if instruments are used improperly or the practitioner is not greatly skilled in dentistry. If early problems are missed by an incomplete examination, they will slowly worsen. It is commonplace for clients to have one or more different veterinarians with expertise in different areas.
It may be tempting to hire the services of non‐veterinarians who call themselves “dentists”. Many of them claim that they are the qualified “dentists” and we are just veterinarians, giving the false impression that they have expertise that is part of a licensed, regulated profession, when in fact only veterinarians can make that claim. Despite this self‐proclaimed title, they have no formal medical or dental training. The entire tooth in the horse is living tissue, and can be damaged permanently by someone who does not understand anatomy, physiology and medicine. They can easily injure or kill your horse with sedatives, which they can only obtain illegally, and in fact it is illegal for these “dentists” to sedate of perform dental work on horses in Washington. There are plenty of competent veterinary dental practitioners in Washington, so it is unnecessary to employ these dishonest individuals. In this age of inflation, it can be tempting to delay or forego dentistry, or settle for a “float” without a thorough exam and balancing. I often hear owners say that their horse has not developed any problems yet, so they are going to wait. This reactive intervention, which can cause pain and permanent oral disease, which causes suffering and costs more – horses with bad teeth can require extractions or deep treatment of periodontal disease, colic more, choke, lose weight, and require more feed, since many leave their stems (wastage) and require more feed to keep their weight up. If you take the cost of the average comprehensive dental procedure, and subtract the typical fee for traditional floating, the difference in cost is approximately 4 lattes a month, a subscription to Showtime, or the amount you could shave off your electricity bill if everyone was dedicated to turning of lights and computers when they are not being used. It costs less than the farrier, vitamin supplements, and proper de‐worming. It is one of the best values in preventive care out there. For more information on dentistry, including photographs and illustrations, visit www.thehorse.com.
WHAT’S IN A NAME – PAST, PRESENT OR FUTURE? I had a horse once by the name of Tuffy. Every day I reaffirmed to him he was ‘tough’ by calling him his given name without any awareness of what I was doing, and, oh yes, did he ever live up to that name! If only I knew then what I do now. Names carry frequency, intent and classification; your animals will live up to what you call them. As I have undertaken this restructuring work in horses, changing their bodies and neuronets where they are neurologically processing information, often times a name change is very appropriate. In order to allow the part of the brain with associative memory of the past to become inactive and to reinforce the new connections in the brain, calling them by a past name can continue to hook up all the old “baggage” of a negative association. My definition of ‘baggage” is associative memory of what the human expects from their horse. Working with your horse in the now, without the past associative memory of what you expect, will break patterns of past behaviors. In my clinics people mention over and over how much easier it is to work with other horses than their own. Why is that? No expectation, no baggage! Try working with your horse each day as if this is your first encounter with this being and see how this changes things; it is very challenging. Animals are mirrors and what you project out to them they become. A new name can be part of the healing process to “rid” the past and evolve to the future. Two of my horses are in the middle of a name change as we speak, having reached a true evolution in their bodies and minds. In honoring the relationship of mutual trust and respect I allow them to choose what they want to be called. Sometimes it takes me a while to “get it” but that is a lesson in patience for me. For example Windy (oh yes he is as fast and strong as a VERY strong wind) has changed to Breeze. My other horse Teddy is in transition and the new name is evolving just as our relationship is. I will report back in my next newsletter.
ARCHETYPES – The five constitutional types of animals
This is based on the five element theory in Traditional Veterinary Chinese Medicine (TVCM). “The five elements, also known as Wu Xing, the five activities, or the five principles in action, refer to the five categories in the natural world: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. These are the indispensable and fundamental elements that constitute the universe. Enhancing, inhibiting and restraining relationships exist between them. Also, these elements are in constant motion and change. In TCVM, the properties and the mutual relationships of the Five Elements are used to explore and illustrate the basis of medical problems. The principles of the Five Element Theory can be applied to the personal characteristics of individuals. This is a way of categorizing the personality and disease tendencies of an animal. By comparing an animal to its most dominant elemental personality type, a TCVM practitioner can understand the patient as a whole and can better address the imbalances associated with that constitutional type.”
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Volume I, Fundamental Principles Huisheng Xie & Vanessa Preast
Identifying Constitution Types of Horses in the Barn:
Metal Water Wood Fire Earth • clean hair coat • quiet • organized • prepared for
EVALULATE YOUR VACCINATION PROGRAM Developing a vaccination schedule is not as straightforward as it sounds. What you choose to vaccinate for might depend upon where you live, age, vaccination history, and what infectious diseases might be encountered. How do you decide what to vaccinate your animals for? When I ask clients that question, “what my vet told me to do” is the most frequent response. I find that after educating owners about the benefits versus the side effects of the vaccines and the prevalence of disease associated with them, that they often make a different decision. Recently, clients with horses in their 20’s, asked me to administer their “yearly” vaccinations. These horses had been vaccinated every year for their entire lives. But is the money best spent on putting pharmaceuticals with side effects of that include death (the incidence of this may be higher than you think!) into their horse? Does the immunity of vaccines all of a sudden go poof after 365 days? Vaccination does not mean immunization. After I gave these clients some facts and figures they made a different choice. Instead of vaccines, they chose to add nutrients to their horse’s diet, something these particular horses were sorely in need of.
I have made the personal choice not to vaccinate myself, my horses, dogs or cats for many years. I choose to support my animal’s immune system so that if an infectious disease comes their way they don’t contract it. People say to me “you must be against vaccination?” No. I am for education and wise decision making, not fear based decision making. There is an appropriate time to vaccinate, especially in the young. When I graduated from veterinary school 26 years ago, and the ‘pharmaceutical rep” came calling, I asked them how long the immunization effect of the vaccines were. To me, this seemed a simple question. The vaccine companies recommended vaccination every year. Surely there must be a logical reason for this interval. The answer I got, and continued to get for the next few decades, was there was no research showing how long duration of immunity lasted. It finally dawned on me that this was probably due to a lack of funding for research. Certainly pharmaceutical companies are not interested in finding out the answer then they stand to make more money if people need to buy their vaccines every year instead of every five or ten years. In more recent years, independently funded research has been conducted, much by veterinarian Jean Dobbs. One such study showed the immunity of one distemper vaccine in dogs lasted 8 years. The duration of immunity from vaccination is now accepted to be at least 5 or more years for the clinically important diseases of dogs and cats. Recently, the AVMA’s (American Veterinary Medical Association) recommendation for vaccines changed in the first time from yearly to every 3 years. I would like to note that in the wording of their statements that this was a “compromise” with the vaccine companies who still recommend yearly vaccines. Now, let’s take a look specifically at horse vaccinations. The AVMA defines ‘core’ vaccination as those that “protect from diseases that are endemic to a region, those with potential public health significance, required by law, virulent/highly infectious, and/or those posing a risk of severe disease.” Tetanus, Eastern/Western Encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus, and Rabies fall into this category of ‘core’ vaccines. Rabies was just added this year. Let’s examine these one at a time. Eastern Encephalomyelitis (EEE) – Thus far, there have not been any reported cases of EEE in the state of WA.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/us/nahss/equine/ee/index.htm Influenza and rhinopheumonitis; commonly called flu/rhino – Research a few years back showed the duration of immunity to be 6 to 8 weeks (although I see more recent studies show up to 16 to 24 weeks). I recall when this vaccination was recommended to be given every 6 to 8 weeks. Rabies Equine Rabies ‐ Added this year to the AVMA’s ‘core’ list, rabies certainly falls under the category of “potential public health significance”. What is the prevalence in your area? Many states have never had a case of horse rabies, ever! Horses are not primary carriers of rabies. I am unable to locate any information regarding equine rabies vaccination research.
• 1999 – Of equine rabies cases, 35 of 65 cases were reported from New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas. The numbers of cases reported here are the minimum number of cases in 1999; not all neurologic horses are necropsied and tested for rabies.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/q/2001/july01/comment.htm • 1998 – In 1998, there were 82 cases of rabies in horses, a 74.5% increase over 1997, and the highest number
of cases reported for any single year since 1981. Positive cases were documented in Texas (12), North Dakota (11), Iowa (7), South Dakota (7), Oklahoma (7), Pennsylvania (5), Kentucky (4), New York (4), Kansas, (3), Minnesota (3), Virginia (3), and two cases in Florida, Missouri, Montana and Puerto Rico, and single cases in Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/q/2000/apr00/q_apr00.htm • 1981 – Rabies in the horse is a relatively uncommon disease. In 1981, the number of rabies cases peaked in
the horse industry at 88 and has leveled off to about 40 cases for the past few years. http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/pubs/asc125.pdf
Canine rabies ‐ One of the most important vaccine research studies in veterinary medicine is underway at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison. Dr. Ronald Schultz, a leading authority on veterinary vaccines and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, has begun concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies to determine the long‐term duration of immunity of the canine rabies vaccine, with the goal of extending the state‐
mandated interval for boosters. These will be the first long‐term challenge studies on the canine rabies vaccine to be published in the United States. Dr. Schultz comments that: "We are all very excited to start this study that will hopefully demonstrate that rabies vaccines can provide a minimum of 7 years of immunity." This research is being financed by The Rabies Challenge Fund, a charitable trust founded by pet vaccine disclosure advocate Kris L. Christine of Maine, who serves as Co‐Trustee with world‐renowned veterinary research scientist and practicing clinician, Dr. W. Jean Dodds of Hemopet in California. Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM states: "This is the first time in my 43 years of involvement in veterinary issues that what started as a grass‐roots effort to change an outmoded regulation affecting animals will be addressed scientifically by an acknowledged expert to benefit all canines in the future." Scientific data published in 1992 by Michel Aubert and his research team demonstrated that dogs were immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination, while Dr. Schultz’s serological studies documented antibody titer counts at levels known to confer immunity to rabies 7 years post‐vaccination. This data strongly suggests that state laws requiring annual or triennial rabies boosters for dogs are redundant. Because the rabies vaccine is the most potent of the veterinary vaccines and associated with significant adverse reactions, it should not be given more often than is necessary to maintain immunity. Adverse reactions such autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites are linked to rabies vaccination.” “Researchers believe the rabies vaccine can cause adverse reactions in animals and concur that it should not be given more often than is necessary to maintain immunity. Adverse reactions to rabies vaccination can include autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites.”
www.fleetfiretimbers.com/FFT/Veterinary%20care.htm Tetanus – In people, recommended administration of tetanus vaccinations jumped from every 5 years to every 10 years. A tetanus vaccination is recommended yearly for horses. Tetanus is a disease contracted from bacteria entering deep wounds. Keep in mind, a very effective antitoxin can always be given at the time of injury where tetanus may pose a potential threat. I personally have never seen a case of tetanus and would be interested to know what the incidence is nationwide. Western Encephalomyelitis (WEE) – Thus far, there have not been any reported cases of WEE in the state of WA.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/ee/index.htm West Nile Virus (WNV) – WNV is a disease we have all heard about in recent years. WNV is not common in the state of WA, yet most veterinarians recommend the vaccination of all horses for this disease.
2008 – Thus far, there are ‐0‐ reported cases of WNV in the state of WA. 2007 – There were 8 reported cases of WNV in the state of WA, all in Yakima County 2006 – There were 6 reported cases of WNV in the state of WA; 1 in King County and 5 in Yakima County
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/wnv/2007_equine_west_nile_virus_final.pdf Closing Remarks Vaccinations have helped reduce the incidence of disease. The mounting evidence implicating vaccines in triggering immune‐mediated and other chronic disorders is disturbing. Vaccine antibody titer testing is available in most areas. This measures antibodies to diseases to determine whether an animal’s immune system has responded to previous vaccinations. The next time your vet makes vaccination recommendations, ask questions to see if this is what is appropriate for your animal companion. Make wise choices based on facts. View the following websites for additional information on vaccines, both human and animal. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/disease_status.htm – This is a USDA website for animal health monitoring and surveillance. www.thedoctorwithin.com – This website is dedicated to providing referenced, scientific data on a variety of holistic and alternative medicine topics, focusing on universal principles, sound physiology, and the undiluted healing powers of the body itself.
www.fleetfiretimbers.com/FFT/Veterinary%20Care.htm – This website discusses canine vaccination programs. www.doglogic.com/vaccination.htm – This website focuses on canine vaccination programs. www.dogsadversereactions.com/vDrDodds – This website offers information on adverse drug reactions in dogs.
BOOK REVIEW Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)d, Candace Pert
A book by a highly respected scientist that is fun, entertaining and easy to read – hard to believe? Following in the same light hearted writing style of her first book, Molecules of Emotion, written 10 years earlier, this book fills us with knowledge of how our (and of course the animals) bodies work. She takes us through her own personal and professional journey to embrace a new paradigm of healing that is scientifically based, addressing body and mind. This book describes in easy to understand language exactly how my work does work and why it is so effective in healing. I came away thinking she must have written this book just for my clients! For those of you that have wondered why, when I treat your horse or animal companion, emotions such as anger, fear, insecurity emerge this is a must read book. It shows you the biophysiology of how memories and emotions are chemically stored in the body and the importance of addressing this to effect healing.
Here is a taste of what you’ll get: “All systems of our physiology are connected and coordinated by emotion‐laden, information‐carrying molecules, engaged in constant cross talk, for example, between the nervous and immune systems. This network of communication that takes place throughout the body and brain involves intelligence and emotion …. In fact, the application of what I’ve found under the microscope is being used everywhere as a rationale in current, alternative modalities. I like to call these the ‘new paradigm medicine,’ instead of ‘alternative’ or ‘integrative’, terms that I believe are inadequate and reflect separation or even a hostile division that must be resolved. The truth is that the centrality of mind and emotions is a new paradigm that sweeps everything away (thus, all the angst!), much like the realization that the Earth revolves around the sun did five centuries ago.” I loaned this book to my daughter, a very scientific person, entering medical school next fall. She commented that this book allowed her to bridge the gap between science and consciousness. No longer do they need to be thought of as separate, the connection is explained simply and scientifically. Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)d gives you knowledge you can apply to enrich your everyday life. I found this to be one of those hard to put down books, and strongly recommend it.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT – PROSymbiotics® colostrum
PROSymbiotics™
ProSymbiotics – Bovine Colostrum, the forgotten miracle Approximately 8 years ago, I personally started using colostrum myself and prescribing it for patients. I recommend it for animals both large and small for prevention during stressful times as an alternative or in adjunct to antibiotic use and as a supplement for geriatric animals; any time an immune boost is needed it is warranted. This winter I gave colostrum to my horses to support them through the weather stress and for general immune support. Just the other day I was told that my 24 year old Breeze looked and acted like a 4 year old! I also found I could discontinue all joint supplements that I had been giving my horses for years, with no adverse affects. I could go on‐and‐on with story‐after‐story, but it is simply one of the few supplements that I feel is appropriate for almost all animals, especially that are middle aged and beyond. There are several brands of colostrum on the market to choose from. As in all supplements, it is wise to research their source and how they are processed. I use the Symbiotic brand and find it to be the highest quality on the
market based on the research I did on the company, from the processing to where the cows live and what they are fed. Following is additional information on the effects and benefits of colostrum compiled from research data. Colostrum is a nutritional supplement that contains many bioactive compounds. It has been clinically shown to have many beneficial health effects, not only supporting immune function, but helping enhance fat utilization for fuel and to optimize cellular reproduction. Bovine colostrum works wonderfully with cats, dogs and other mammals because it is not species‐specific. The colostrum powder can be sprinkled over their food or a small amount added to their water. Most pets love the taste of colostrum. Encourage them to drink water after they take colostrum. PROSymbiotics** Colostrum can be effective against: Anti‐Inflammatory ‐ Inflammatory conditions are a major source of pain, including arthritis, colitis and other similar conditions. PROSymbiotics Colostrum has anti‐inflammatory activity which can reduce inflammation, thus helping reduce the pain due to these conditions. Allergy Relief ‐ Allergies in humans are the result of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) production by the body in response to a foreign protein to which the body has become sensitized. Colostrum can help desensitize the body to allergens by helping to suppress IgE expression. PROSymbiotics Colostrum contains IgE binding factors which suppress IgE expression (IgE is the immunoglobulin involved in allergic reactions) and act to prevent or inhibit allergic reactions. Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Disorders – As the number of senior citizens increases with improved health care and longer life expectancy, the effects of Alzheimer’s disease will continue to take a toll on our health system and our senior citizens. Symbiotics colostrum contains components which have been shown to benefit those suffering from this debilitating condition. Antioxidants and Anti‐aging – It is known that oxidative stress and high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), byproducts of normal metabolism which build up in the body, can cause widespread damage and increase the aging process. PROSymbiotics Colostrum contains antioxidants and the precursors to glutathione (the most powerful antioxidant known) which help clean up these pollutants from the body and reverse the damage they do to the body. Arthritis – There are numerous forms of arthritis, from osteoarthritis to autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis which arise from many different causes. The common denominator between all the different forms of arthritis, however, is an inflammation of the joints which causes extreme pain and deformation of the joint structure. PROSymbiotics Colostrum is a powerful anti‐inflammatory compound which can significantly benefit arthritis sufferers, and it can help heal inflammation of the gut which has been linked to some forms of arthritis. Asthma – Colostrum has been shown to help asthma sufferers as it tones down the allergic response which brings on the asthma attacks. Athletic Performance – PROSymbiotics Colostrum is well‐known in the athletic community as a means to increase lean body mass without the dangerous side effects found in steroids. It also helps keep the athlete healthy by accelerating the healing of athletic injuries and boosting the immune system, which becomes depressed after extreme exercise. Autoimmune Diseases – Autoimmune diseases are the result of an overactive immune system which begins to produce antibodies to the body’s own proteins. Colostrinin, a unique substance found only in colostrum, has the ability to tone down the overactive immune system to normal levels. PROSymbiotics Colostrum also contains components which can alleviate the symptoms found in various autoimmune disorders, particularly those with inflammation of some body organ. Cancer – Animal studies have been suggestive that lactoferrin, one of the principal proteins found in colostrum, may help prevent or shrink cancers. PROSymbiotics Colostrum also contains milk fats which have been shown to be anticarcinogenic. Detoxification – PROSymbiotics Colostrum detoxifies the body beginning in the gastro‐intestinal tract in a much healthier and efficacious manner. Diabetes – IGF‐1, a growth factor which closely resembles insulin, has been shown to help prevent diabetes in those susceptible to developing it. IGF‐1 is present in colostrum in large quantities. Gastro‐intestinal Health ‐ PROSymbiotics Colostrum inhibits the growth of Helicobacter pylori, bacteria implicated in chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcers, and enhance the growth of beneficial intestinal flora through the prebiotic activity of the oligosaccharides present in colostrums. Heart Health – An increasingly large body of evidence shows that dairy products in general, and colostrum in particular, are excellent heart health foods, particularly for those with high blood pressure. Immune Support ‐ Colostrum also has the unique ability to modulate the immune system through the activity of colostrinin, a protein found only in colostrum, which can heat up or cool down the immune system depending upon
what is needed by the host. PROSymbiotics Colostrum provides passive immunity against bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoan parasites. Skin Health and Wound Healing – Colostrum is a natural for good skin health. It helps maintain skin health both from the inside, by healing leaky gut syndrome and through its antioxidant effect, and externally by healing skin inflammation and stimulating cell growth. ** References – Cited references are available online at www.prosymbiotics.com
GLOSSARY Dou‐fa (Pronounced zoe‐fah); continuous gentle shaking or trembling movement by holding the distal extremities with
the hands. Most limb disorders and joint disorders such as muscle atrophy and degenerative joint disease may be treated by Dou‐fa. The vibration and pressure should be gentle and mild. Frequency should be rapid and even.
Mo‐fa (Pronounced moo‐fah); Tui‐na technique consisting of a light rubbing movement spirally and rhythmically with
a slightly cupped hand. Stimulates the afferent nerves to prepare for deeper work. Can lighten the technique as necessary. A general rule is top‐to‐bottom, front‐to‐back. Moves the Qi. This should be your first technique after introducing yourself to the horse and asking permission.
Pai‐fa (Pronounced pie‐fah); Tui‐na technique consisting of rhythmic, smooth slapping on the body surface with a
concave (cupped) palm. The hand should be open with fingers pressed together. The slapping should be with soft pressure. This technique works well over large muscular areas. Do not use this technique over the bone. A general rule is work top‐to‐bottom, front‐to‐back. Be sure to cup your hand slightly; do not use a flat hand.
Tui‐na (Pronounced twee‐nah); One of the 5 branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as Chinese medical
manipulation. The first documentation of the successful use of these techniques in treating and preventing disease dates back to 1600 BC. It is important to note that Tui‐na is an empirical art and science that has been developed, like most of modern medicine, through practitioner experience.
