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[RC] Vaccinations - Karen StandeferI don't know where this was originally published because it's been passed around a lot. The link at the bottom does not work. However, I did a search for Dr. Ward and came up with this website if anyone is interested in checking this out further: http://www.holistichorsekeeping.com/ Karen -------------------------------------------------- Problems with Vaccinations by Madalyn Ward, DVM June 1997 I was taught in Veterinary school that vaccinations could do no harm and were very effective in preventing disease. For the first ten years of my practice, I encouraged owners to vaccinate for encephalomyelitis, tetanus and rabies once a year and influenza and rhinopneumonitis twice a year. Pregnant mares were vaccinated for rhino at 5, 7, and 9 months of pregnancy. I never saw a case of encephalomyelitis, tetanus or rabies and I believe the incidence of full blown cases of flu and rhino were decreased in vaccinated horses. However, I was kept very busy treating colic, laminitis, sick foals and chronic respiratory infections. Around 1990 I read my first article suggesting vaccinations could have some negative effects on horse's health. My initial reaction was one of disbelief and anger at even the suggestion. Once this seed was planted, however, I could no longer deny that vaccinations often did aggravate symptoms in some chronically ill horses. At this time my roommate and I had 20 horses and after some soul searching, we elected to skip their annual boosters. To our amazement not only did the horses stay healthy, but their health actually improved. Several of these horses had a tendency to colic and they colicked less frequently or not at all. Two horses had chronic laminitis and both of these improved steadily and one was even able to go back into training. Several of the horses did contract a respiratory infection at a local show, but other vaccinated horses at other barns in the area were also affected. Hair coat, hooves and feed efficiency also improved. About one year after our decision to skip vaccinations, we had an encephalomyelitis scare so we boostered all horses with eastern and western encephalomyelitis and tetanus. Within 30 days, both foundered horses relapsed and our colic incidence was back up. This experience made a believer out of me and from that point on, I advised my clients to tailor their vaccination programs to individual needs and to cease vaccinating any horse with a chronic illness. After 4 years of less vaccination and drug use I noticed fewer laminitis cases, milder and fewer colics and overall healthier patients. Vaccinations can overwhelm the immune system especially if it is weakened already by chronic disease. In healthy individuals excessive vaccination can actually create a disease state called vaccinosis. Symptoms of vaccinosis can vary greatly but include dry hair coat, weak hooves, skin eruptions, sarcoids and warts. There is much we need to learn about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. Drug companies do not test vaccines to see how long they are effective. so checking titers on horses may be a way to avoid annual vaccinations. Vaccination programs should be geared to fit each individual situation. Thuja Occidentalis - Arbor Vitae This remedy is most often prescribed for the ill effects of vaccination. Its main action is on the skin and genito-urinary organs. Symptoms include warts, polyps, lameness in tendons and muscles which is worse in damp weather, rapid exhaustion and emaciation, chronic nasal discharge, chronic diarrhea, distended abdomen, colic, inflamed ovaries, chronic uterine infection, poor quality hooves and swollen glands. Case Report Amy - 28 Year Old Arab Mare Amy was obtained by her owner in February 1996. She was in very bad shape but had been gradually nursed back to health. Her weight, appetite, and hair coat were good, but in May of this year she received a puncture wound and needed a tetanus booster. She was accidentally given a combination vaccine containing encephalomyelitis, tetanus, influenza and rhinopneumonitis. The next day she was very depressed and would not eat. Over the next 10 days, she remained depressed with a poor appetite. She was given one dose of the Homeopathic remedy, Thuja 200c which often matches the symptoms caused by the ill effects of vaccination. Within 24 hours her attitude and appetite were greatly improved, but she has still not fully recovered. Case Report Karisle -5 Year Old Warmblood Gelding Karisle had a history of skin eruptions and warts. He has been vaccinated each year with encephalomyelitis, tetanus, influenza and rhinopneumonitis. After his shots this spring, he developed painful papilloma warts in his left ear. He became very headshy and could not be bridled in the normal way. One dose of Thuja 30c was given because it matched his symptom picture. Within two weeks the warts were less obvious and he was not as painful around his ear. Karisle's tendency toward skin problems and warts suggest his immune system is weak. Treatment from this point on should focus on strengthening his immune system. More on Vaccinations by Madalyn Ward, DVM September 1997 My experience has been I see more chronic disease in heavily vaccinated horses. I would like to explain why I think this occurs. First, one must understand how vaccinations work. The 1 to 2 cc of vaccine injected into the horse does not provide protection from disease. This is very important to understand. It is the response of the horse's immune system to the vaccine that determines whether or not the horse will be protected. The vaccine is an antigen designed to trigger a specific antibody reaction so the next time the immune system sees this antigen it will react quickly to combat it. This sounds like a great plan and has the potential to work with a good quality vaccine and a strong healthy immune system. The problem is many diseases don't produce good antigens and toxic substances called adjutants must be added to trigger reaction by the immune system. Also, the immunity following many vaccines is very short requiring injections to be given as often as every 2 months. Would you allow yourself to be vaccinated every 2 months? I would like to make an analogy of the havoc multiple vaccines can cause. Consider the body as a country and the immune system as the army and local police in charge of protecting it. The nervous system acts as the communication network and the circulatory system makes up the highways. The army regularly protects the borders and the police keep internal peace. Everything goes well until without warning there is a huge invasion of enemy paratroopers. (Say you vaccinate your horse for VEW-T, Flu, Rhino, Rabies, Strangles, and Potomic Horse Fever on the same day) These invaders use our established highway system to infiltrate all areas of our country. Now if we have a very strong army and police force, the invasion will be thwarted. However, border patrol and local peace keeping efforts may suffer temporally. This is why it is important to give your horse several days vacation after any vaccine. If, however, your horse has a marginal or weak immune system, a whole different scenario may occur. Because there are no reserve soldiers all forces are withdrawn from their regular duties to fight the invasion. Communications may break down as chaos develops. (Chronic Herpes) In the confusion orders may be given to attack friendly forces (Auto Immune Disease such as Periodic Ophthalmia) Stressed soldiers may become trigger happy and shoot at anything they see (Allergies) or roads may be blocked in a attempt to pin down the enemy, but at the same time cutting off vital supplies to the country side. (Laminitis) Even if the war is won, it is often at great expense as criminals have taken over many cities while the police were preoccupied. (Cancer) Remember, even though this is just a vaccine, it is designed to trick the immune system into thinking it is the real disease. With natural infection there would never be more than one disease at a time. It is critical that the status of the immune system and the risk of exposure be considered before any vaccines are given. Typical Vaccination History * Apr 1989 Potomic Horse Fever * May 1989 Potomic Horse Fever * Aug 1989 Flu,Rhino * Nov 1989 VEW-T, Flu, Rhino, Rabies * Stangles * Dec 1989 Flu, Rhino * Apr 1989 Flu, Rhino * Aug 1990 Flu, Rhino * Dec 1990 VEW-T * Jan 1991 Flu, Rhino * Oct 1991 Flu, Rhino * Feb 1992 VEW-T, Rabies, Stangles, Potomic Horse Fever * Jul 1992 Flu, Rhino * Dec 1992 Flu, Rhino, Strangles * May 1993 VEW-T, Rabies, * Potomic Horse Fever * Jun 1993 Flu, Rhino, Strangles * Aug 1993 Remove Melanomas Surgically * Sep 1993 Flu, Rhino * Mar 1994 Flu, Rhino * May 1994 VEW-T, Rabies, * Potomic Horse Fever * Jul 1994 Laminitis * Sep 1994 Laminitis * Dec 1994 Flu, Rhino - Horse still under * treatment for Laminitis * Mar 1995 Flu, Rhino * May 1996 VEW-T, Flu, Rhino, Rabies, * Strangles, Potomic Horse Fever * Aug 1996 Colic * Jan 1997 VEW-T, Flu, Rhino, Rabies * Strangles, Potomic Horse * Fever * July 1997 Return of Melanomas * Severe Laminitis Dr. Ward wrote these artilcles in 1997. Since that time she's had great success by adding nutritional support to homeopathy, acupuncture, and chiropractic modalities. Visit http://Elinda to learn more about the nutritional products or to ask more questions. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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