Holistic Horse Care

Out of all the pets available for people to care for horses, due in large part to their size and stature, often present the most challenges when providing health care and treatment. Colts and fillies may get on their feet quick after birth but this independent and restless spirit also has its share of common health hazards and inherited genetics that may require special care for joints, muscles and hooves.

A strong, hale and hearty horse is one of the more beautiful sights in nature. Watching a stallion in full gait romping across a field is a picture perfect study in power and grace. But keeping a horses coat and body in shining shape and providing sound nutrition requires careful vigilance to the horse's well-being and using methods that are natural and non-toxic. Many common horse vaccines and injection shots contain potentially harmful toxins that can lead to debilitating conditions, illnesses and sometimes death.

One of the more alarming incidents in recent horse vaccine programs was a recurring problem with newborn foals from mare's that were injected with Equine West Nile Vaccine. The rapid spread of the disease and its fatal effects pushed pharmaceutical companies to manufacture a vaccine and in the rush to get the vaccine to market research stages were sped up or eliminated to increase the drug's development. Therefore the actual testing stages were done on horses that received the injection and though successful in treating against West Nile mare's that gave birth within a year had higher than usual stillborn births and surviving offspring with a variety of deformities. Tracing the occurrences to the vaccine wasn't hard to do.

This drug-related accident simply highlights the overall risk of vaccinations in horses and the need to research further into holistic and naturopathic remedies and treatments for a variety of horse health concerns. Simply injecting multiple toxic agents into a horse's body is not an answer to long-term health and well-being and even if vaccines do prevent some viruses the overall practice weakens the immune system in a horse and leaves it crippled and arthritic in later stages of life. If you own or care for a horse consider alternative therapies and treatments before deciding on a vaccine or drug program in order to provide the most well-balanced and informative decision regarding the horse's health.

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