Tag Archives: KAM Animal Services

Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Healing Horses with Glandulars

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When treating chronic diseases my goal is to cure the disease. You may laugh at this point, because everyone knows certain conditions are listed as chronic diseases and there is no cure but only control of the problem with drugs/medications.

Since 1995 I have not utilized drugs in the treatment of chronic animal diseases, but only homeopathics, herbs and nutrition.

With Homeopathy, when I discovered the healing process and though I had success, the rate of cure was slow and spotty. Then I happened upon Dr. Royal Lee’s unique method of deriving extracts containing cells from specific organs and glands and I began using them in a clinical setting.  Dr. Lee believed that these cellular organ extracts supported cell regulation, maintenance and the interaction between other body tissues that support the healing process.

The three glandular type products include Protomorphogens, Cytosols and Glandular Extracts. Of the three the Protomorphens (made from the nucleus and nucleic acids) are used most successfully in chronic conditions. The Cytosols (derived from the cytoplasm of cells) are glandulars used in acute conditions when the body needs a quick boost.  The Glandular extracts (the easiest to produce and most widely used but most ineffective of the 3) are the desiccated remains of the organs.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Why Do Horses Trip?

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There isn’t enough room in a short tip to go into all the possible causes of tripping in any detail.  Suffice it to say, any physical and neurological conditions that affect motion can contribute to tripping.

If your horse is tripping “more than normal” a thorough veterinary physical exam focusing on lameness and the horse’s neurological state is warranted.

All lameness issues will change how a horse moves his entire body, not just the affected leg(s).  While navicular syndrome and caudal heel pain will often increase tripping, so can arthritis in the leg or even in the horse’s neck.

Muscle, tendon, and/or ligament injuries should also be considered a possible cause.  A poor fitting saddle could be impinging the shoulders or crushing the withers (which is part of the spine).  Dental issues that affect the TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) can interfere with the horse’s proprioception (nervous system’s knowledge of where the body and limbs are in 3 dimensional space) and can contribute to tripping and other subtle neurological deficits.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa, Webinars

Healthy Horse Tip – KAM’s NEXT FREE WEBINARS: Electrolytes, Detoxing, Equine First Aid, Inflammation

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May 22, 2011, 2011 — KAM’s Equine Learning Circle FREE webinars have covered numerous topics such as worming, trailering, stall rest, fungus and so much more.  The response has been extremely positive with lots more to come.  The next two webinars on June 13 and July 18 will focus on some of the main issues that every horse owner faces, such as electrolytes, detoxing, equine first aid and inflammation.  So, take a moment now and sign up for their next free webinars by going to www.kamanimalservices.com.

Title: Electrolytes in summer, Detoxing from our toxic world, & Equine First Aid

Date: Monday, June 13, 2011

Time for both Webinars: 5:30 PM PST, 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM CDT, 8:30 PM EST

Electrolytes: When it’s time to sweat, Electrolytes must come to the rescue!
With record temperatures and high humidity plaguing our horses, care must be taken to keep your horse hydrated and healthy. That is when giving your horse Electrolytes is essential.  Sodium, chloride, potassium and magnesium are the primary electrolytes (ions) needed by a working horse. When ions are balanced, they promote water consumption and retention, which can eliminate dehydration and other health problems. Electrolytes will keep your horse well on those super hot days.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Nosodes and Horses

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Nosodes are homeopathic preparations prepared from the discharges from disease material much like vaccines, but without the toxic effects. A homeopathic preparation is made by serial dilution and succusion.  Okay, sounds confusing, but give me a moment to explain!

Let’s suppose we want to make a homeopathic prep or nosode.  We would start by taking some of the substance (possibly a leaf, bark, root, salt, or in the case of a nosode, a sample of pus, diarrhea, spinal fluid, nasal discharge etc.) and add it to pure alcohol.  Next we take 1 part of the alcohol mixture and add it to 99 parts of water.  After this dilution process we then succuss the mix 100 times.  Succussing is taking the test tube into which we’ve added the mix and if holding it in the right hand, striking the left hand sharply 100 times. The dilution and succussing process is called potentization.  The dilution is now called a 1C-1 for the first dilution and C for the 1:100 ratio.

In my practice I use nosodes for both prophylaxis and treatment.  Nosodes are available for horses, dogs and cats and for all major diseases and also for diseases that animals are not usually vaccinated for.  In horses the following nosodes are available: Flu, Rhino, Eastern & Western Encephalitis, Tetanus, Strangles, EPM (Equine Protozoan Myelitis), Potomac Horse Fever, Botulism, Anthrax, Pigeon Fever, West Nile and Equine Sarcoid.  I have used nosodes in my veterinary practice for over 15 years, with amazing results.  Although some animals have come down with the disease despite the use of the nosodes, the percentage is extremely low compared to the number of breaks seen with the vaccines.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Equine Love Potion!

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Spring is an exciting time of year with all the new foals, warmer weather, and more daylight.  It’s also the time of year we breed our mares for next year’s foal crop.

Have you ever wondered why we breed mares in the springtime?  As many of us know, mares are classified as seasonal breeders.  Most of us have heard that mares need the increasing period of daylight (longer photoperiod) associated with spring before they will come into heat known as estrous.  As the length of daylight increases, it stimulates the pineal gland within the brain.  This stimulation results in a decreased production of melatonin which allows for the secretion of hormones that lead to estrous.

The photoperiod is a primary factor initiating estrous in the mare and consequently it gains most of the focus.  Also very important in influencing estrous in mares is nutrition and climate.  In my experience, conception rates are always highest in those mares with a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 5 or 6 on a scale of 1-10.  This means the ribs are invisible, but readily palpable.  Also noted, conception rates are lower when there are cold spring storms throughout the breeding season.  Working in the Northern climate, this is also seen when using artificial lights to manipulate or “trick” the endocrine system of the mare in order to stimulate estrous.  Increasing the photoperiod on a mare that is too thin or too heavy may or may not stimulate estrous.  Inconsistent results also occur without the use of heated barns or blankets in the colder northern climates.  However, if I am able to increase the photoperiod in a climate controlled barn with mares having a BCS of 5 or 6, I consistently produce estrous behavior greater than 90% of the time.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

In the Heat and Humidity, Electrolytes to the Rescue!

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When it’s time to sweat, Electrolytes must come to the rescue!

With record temperatures and high humidity plaguing our horses, care must be taken to keep your horse hydrated and healthy.  That is when giving your horse Electrolytes is essential.

Sodium, chloride, potassium and magnesium are the primary electrolytes (ions) needed by a working horse. When ions are balanced, they promote water consumption and retention, which can eliminate dehydration and other health problems. Electrolytes will keep your horse well on those super hot days.

A good sugar free electrolyte ensures a balanced blood chemistry level and does not burn or cause hind-gut discomfort. Watch out for electrolytes containing sodium chloride which immediately oxidizes in the hind-gut and creates sodium ions, which the horse cannot stop from being absorbed into the blood. If this should happen, then the sodium would replace potassium at the cellular level and hinder nutrient transfer.

KAM Daily Electrolytes were created with the idea of making all the ingredients available to the horse immediately.  So, when looking for electrolytes make sure this is one of the things you look for.  You also want to ensure a balanced blood chemistry level, by addressing potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium blood levels.  Some signs of times you might want to use electrolytes are when tying-up, muscle cramping, anhydrous, synchronous diaphragmatic flutter or diarrhea present themselves.

This tip was brought to you by KAM Animal Services, home of KAM’s “Equine Learning Circle” FREE webinars, which will take place twice a month.  Go to www.kamanimalservices.com to sign up for the next webinar. Upcoming webinars include “Get It in Writing” on May 16 and “Electrolytes, Detoxing and First Aid” on June 13.  These webinars will conclude with a question and answer session, so be ready with your questions!

Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Building a Horse Barn with the Elements: Earth, Wind, Energy and Water

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What do earth, wind, energy and water have to do with barn building?  Everything!  From an ideal equestrian estate to an ammonia problem in your run-in, balancing the elements is the key. Creating a healthy environment for our beloved horses is an exciting challenge.

You may get a funny look if you say “my earth element is out of balance,” but builders and designers use these principles every day.  It’s important to talk about orienting your building where there will be a minimum of cut and fill.  Plan dry lots, pasture, arenas and drives from the beginning, even if you are building in phases.

Take advantage of the prevailing wind to ventilate naturally.  Place windows and doors to aid in circulation. Full mesh stall doors help with low-lying fumes.  Four air exchanges per hour are recommended.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa, Products/Services

KAM DTX- Formula – A New Detox Product from KAM Animal Services

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With Spring already here, protecting horses against environmental toxins is an important goal for KAM Animal Services.  So many things that surround our horses result in their bodies becoming toxic, from man-made pollutants, contaminated feeds and water, and natural stress, such as storms or draught.  KAM DTX-Formula, a new advanced environmental body detoxification product recently created by KAM Animal Services, was developed for just this purpose.

KAM Animal Services has been working on producing this product for awhile now but never finalized the ingredients.  However, recently when more and more clients approached the company about creating a product that would protect horses against environmental toxins the staff began the necessary research.  They wanted to find the right combination of ingredients that would work well together to detoxify toxic horses.  KAM DTX-Formula is the result of that research.

“As a horse owner myself, I was also concerned with giving my horses a product that would be a complete environmental body detoxification solution,” explained Gabriele Sutton, owner of KAM Animal Services.  “I worked closely with the researchers to ensure KAM DTX-Formula had all the right ingredients to get the best results.  KAM DTX-Formula has turned out to be everything I was hoping for.”

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Poultice for Horses – Always Works!

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The term poultice is derived from a Latin word for porridge. In the equine world, poultices are applied for the relief of localized pain, when caused by inflammation.

It is predominantly used on the lower legs of horses to benefit tendons, joints and ligaments.  A hoof may be poulticed if there has been a traumatic injury, bruising and if abscesses arise.  When utilizing a poultice for therapy, the goal is to reduce heat, inflammation and to aid in the healing process.  The least amount of time an area is stressed by these elements the less damage there will be and the more it will aid in the longevity of your horse’s career.

The most prevalent type of poulticing is termed “cold” therapy and is composed of clays and bentonites.  This application would minimize the inflammatory response to an early injury or overworked legs, and act as a pain reliever. For application, wet your hands and splash cold water on the injured site.  Spread ¼ to ½ inch of poultice onto anywhere you feel heat or swelling.  If wounds are present alternative care may be needed.  Cover the poulticed area with wet brown paper.  Follow up by wrapping with wet cotton or bandages.  The longer the poultice remains cool and wet the better it will draw heat and inflammation.  Overnight application or longer is an option, maybe for that trailer ride home.  Once you are ready to remove the wraps let the poultice dry fully.  As it dries it will continue to pull excess fluid and heat.  Brush the leg and follow with a cold water flush or bath.  Cold water is an excellent tool for reducing heat and inflammation.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – A Look at the Effects of EPM on the Horse’s Nervous System

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EPM is an equine protozoal disease caused by a one-celled organism which affects the nervous system. Lesions on the spinal cord cause degeneration of nerves resulting in Ataxia (lack of coordination in movement), muscle atrophy and weight loss. The symptom first noticed by most owners is “wobbling” in the hind end. Under saddle, it seems like you are riding two different horses, as the hind end is out of sync with the front.

Opossums, raccoons, armadillos and skunks have been shown to be intermediate hosts of these protozoa. Feces from these animals gets into feed sources (usually forages like hay) and is ingested. A horse cannot contract the disease from another infected horse.

A presumptive diagnosis of EPM can be made by evaluating the horse’s health history combined with a failed neurologic exam performed by a veterinarian. A conclusive diagnosis usually includes blood testing and a spinal tap which are expensive, invasive and often include false positive and false negative results.

Drug therapy usually includes treatment with one of two antiprotozoal drugs, Marquis or Navigator. Both are 28 day protocols and only available through veterinary prescription. It is common to see relapses with these drugs; so many veterinarians recommend two consecutive treatments.

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