Horses Magazine Feature Dr. Dan Moore The Hokey Pokey Clinic By Dr. Dan Moore
This is “our” version that would be adjusted to re- move the “extra” links and make a couple of things more generic and then add the bio... the image is one I made that you would probably want to include for kicks! :-) But this will give you the basic idea.
It sort of goes like this… Like the Hokey Pokey… You can turn-it-all-around! You Put The Right Stuff In …
Then You Get And Keep The Bad Stuff Out … Then You Can Turn It All Around!!!
So many of the daily answers I provide through my websites and other avenues that I connect with folks, is based on my recommendations and the products I have developed that will support “from within”. Products that are not only designed to work with one another whether it be for you, your pets and of course, your horses. And designed for optimum benefits when combined with the foundational support of my “Feed For Success” feeding program for horses. That’s putting the goodie in! (which is all great for donkeys and others by the way!) Most often, our challenges are caused “within”… What has changed through the years? Why are our horses more susceptible to illness such
as allergies from flies, and West Nile from mosquitoes? Aren’t mosquitoes and flies normal insects for horses to be exposed to while in the wild? 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 Na-
tive American Indian stalking up on his prey, crawling through bushes full of pollen and all of a sudden, sneez- ing?! 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, pol- lutants 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 it- self) 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 supple-
mented, 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, includ- ing vaccinations, has a consequence. If you have an al- lergy horse, please look at this issue carefully. Continu- ally “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 met- als like aluminum and lead. Studies at the University of Kentucky show that Lead and Cadmium are often con- taminants 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 con- fusing! 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, un- refined 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 ran- cid, 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… The allergies, the itchy skin, the other icky stuff that many come to me with questions about, soon learn from me that the cause is not what the horses are exposed to! Flies, mosquitoes, and bug bites in general are “triggers” that make things worse, but they are NOT the cause of allergies.
26 • Horses Magazine • July 2012 • Download and View FREE on-line at
www.horsesmagazine.com
But they rather soon learn that that the cause is from “within”! And when I say learn— I mean not just taking my word for it but by after apply my recommendations. Think about that for a moment. Why are some hors-
es allergic to flies, hay, dust, etc. – items that are normal for them to be around? Why do horses today have prob- lems when exposed to opossum manure (the source of the organism that causes EPM)? Horses have lived with opossums for millions of years!
Now, hold that thought about “the cause is from
within”, as I will return to it in a moment. In the mean- time, I’m sure you know that often hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, are spent doing blood tests on af- fected horses. These usually come back telling nothing can be done. And they frequently say that the horse is allergic to items that one could possibly keep them away from, like flies, certain hays, and dust! 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, al- lergy 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 se- vere 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 nec- essarily 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 “turn- around” you desire for your horses… Basic #1:
More “Good” Fat, Less Sugar…
And that fat needs to be good fat and especially not the bad fat that comes from commercial feed and other sources. Our WEIGHT CHECK OIL is the best source of these good fats available in my opinion. It took me years to find the GMO-Free source of the Essential Fatty Ac- ids (omegas) included and thousands have been pleased with the results!
Every cell in the body is surrounded by fat which al- lows nutrients into the cell and waste to get out. The hy- drogenated fats found in almost every commercial feed causes cell membranes to become like plastic, prevent- ing this exchange of nutrition and waste. It’s been proven in people that hydrogenated fats
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