Medical Alternatives for Senior Horses

How do you feel about alternative medicine for your senior horses? Keep an open mind says this excerpt from the book Hands-On Senior Horse Care.

By Karen E.N. Hayes, DVM. MS & Sue M. Copeland

Many horse owners feel caught in the middle--between by-the-book veterinarians who scorn any therapy not backed by science, and those who embrace anything alternative while rejecting skills and precepts learned in veterinary school. Each side has compelling arguments. Who's the better guardian of your horse's health?

Neither. Anyone who shuns alternative medicine may shun a therapy that could help your horse. Anyone who hangs all his or her hopes on alternative medicine may overlook a proven conventional therapy. Keep an open mind, and use this rule of thumb: If, based on your veterinarian's opinion, an alternative treatment won't hurt your horse, there may be nothing to lose in trying it. And your horse could benefit.

Caveat: By law, anyone who administers treatment to your horse for a fee must be a licensed veterinarian. Alternative treatments-including acupuncture, herbology, homeopathy, physical therapy, chiropractic, magnet therapy, cold laser therapy, and so on-aren't standardized, centralized, or even recognized in many regions, though some have certification programs. It may be up to you to decide whether someone offering such services has the experience and insight to advise you and safely treat your horse. For these reasons, we recommend that you choose veterinarians with specialty training and experience in your chosen alternative treatment, rather than a layperson. For information on alternative veterinary medicine associations, see page 394.

Following are examples of alternative therapies that have earned acclaim from certified conventional veterinarians in practice and in veterinary schools. If you feel your senior horse may benefit from these or other alternative therapies in conjunction with conventional treatment, talk to your veterinarian, and/or ask for a referral to an equine practitioner who has experience and success in using alternative methods.

Acupuncture
What it is: The stimulation of certain key points on energy channels running through your horse's body, known as "meridians."

How it works: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), living organisms are a road map of energy conduits, called meridians. These carry life-giving energy to and from every body system. Any interference or interruption in that energy flow can disrupt normal function, leading to disease.

Acupuncture in the treatment of disease reopens "blocked" energy flow in targeted meridians and reestablishes normal function. Diagnostic acupuncture uses these same meridians to detect an energy blockage. Precision in selecting the proper points, inserting needles (if used) to the proper depth, and maintaining treatment for the proper length of time are critical for successful acupuncture. Experience and expertise are key.

There are several types of acupuncture commonly used in equine medicine:

• Simple needling (AP): This involves the insertion of fine, solid-metal needles, leaving them in place while occasionally twirling them, for a total of about 20 to 30 minutes. Most horses are tolerant of AP; some even seem to look forward to the relief it provides.
• Electroacupuncture (EAP): After insertion, acupuncture needles are connected to an electrical stimulator that delivers electrical impulses to the points for 20 to 30 minutes. Most horses tolerate EAP well.
• Moxibustion (moxa): A smoldering, punklike "cigar" of rolled herb is held above the acupuncture point until the heat becomes uncomfortable; the heat is withdrawn for a few seconds, then reapplied. This cycle is repeated 15 to 20 times for each point. Alternatively, the moxa is used to heat an inserted acupuncture needle.
• Laser stimulation: A painless beam of laser light is used to stimulate acupuncture points. Reports indicate that the more powerful the laser, the more effective the treatment (approaching the effectiveness of simple AP).
• Point injection: A liquid (vitamin B12 is commonly used) is injected into the acupuncture point for prolonged stimulation that lasts as much as an hour after injection.

When it might help:

• Chronic pain, as in founder, arthritis, or back pain. Scientific studies are being conducted by the Morris Animal Foundation on the effects of acupuncture on equine pain.
• Anhidrosis (inability to sweat)
• Peripheral nerve paralysis
• Navicular disease

Rules of thumb:

• Seek conventional treatment first. Where appropriate, augment it with acupuncture, or;
• Try acupuncture after conventional treatment has produced less-than-satisfying results.
• If your horse has a condition for which lapsed time means more tissue damage and a worsening prognosis (such as laminitis, severe colic, bowed tendon, navicular disease), seek proven conventional care immediately as his primary treatment. You can then use acupuncture to augment that protocol.

How to find an equine acupuncturist:
To find a certified veterinary acupuncturist near you, contact the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS): P.O. Box 271395, Fort Collins, CO 80527; 970-266-0666 phone; 970-266-0777 fax; or e-mail at IVASoffice@aol.com; www.ivas.org. They'll provide you with the closest IVAS-certified veterinarian in your area.

Note: You may find, via word of mouth, a non-IVAS-certified vet who's had more hands-on equine acupuncture experience than some IVAS acupuncturists. A veterinarian can become certified by IVAS after 4 weekends of class work and a 3-month internship. Relatively speaking, this is not much training. Legally, IVAS certification isn't required for a veterinarian to perform acupuncture on your horse. However, anyone who treats your horse with acupuncture must be a licensed veterinarian.

Once you locate an acupuncturist, ask him or her for references. If possible, find an acupuncturist-certified or not-who's recommended by other equine veterinarians.

Chiropractic
What it is: A system of therapy whose premise is that disease results from a lack of normal nerve function, which is rooted in misalignment of bones in the spine. The practice of manipulating and/or adjusting the spinal column is therefore employed, to maintain nerve health, and thus that of organs and connective tissues.

How it works: According to chiropractic theory, when bones in the spine aren't moving correctly relative to each other, they interfere with nerves, which are thought to be the body's master controller. This neural interference, in turn, can affect bones, muscles, or nerves elsewhere in the body. Manipulation of the misaligned bones helps restore the body to health.

Specific to horses, here's the deal. Your horse's spine is naturally quite flexible. (You've likely seen him reach his nose back to his hip to scratch an itch.) However, when injury, a poor-fitting saddle, or other occurrence restricts spinal-column mobility, it triggers a cascade of events. Joints between vertebrae become inflamed; muscles spasm; nerve signals can be blocked; and the health of those joints begins to decline due to lack of nourishment to their cartilage. (For more information on degenerative joint disease, see "The Age Event: Arthritis," page 227.)

Chiropractic appears to restore normal range of motion (or as much as possible), which helps prevent further damage and might even help reverse minor damage. It also can help your horse feel better if he's in pain.

What it doesn't appear to do is cure infectious neurological conditions, including EPM, and degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis, although some equine chiropractors claim to benefit internal medical problems as well as musculoskeletal ones. While treatment can improve nerve supply to organs (and perhaps make your horse feel better), in general it's not a replacement for traditional therapy.

When it might help:

• Problems of the neck, back, and pelvis. (For signs that your horse might have back pain, see "Senior Back Check," page 314.)
• A horse on stall rest, who will stiffen from lack of exercise. Chiropractic may be able to help him stay limber.
• Some chiropractors help restore range of motion to leg joints, particularly hips, shoulders, and knees.

Caveats: Avoid chiropractic treatment if:

• There's any chance of a fracture. Movement will exacerbate the injury.
• Your horse has suffered a fresh injury, especially one with a wound. Bruising and muscle/tissue damage can make it too painful.

How to find an equine chiropractor:
Not all equine chiropractors are equally qualified. With the increased popularity and acceptance of this treatment, many practitioners have entered the field. Choose one that's certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, 442154 E. 140 Rd., Bluejacket, OK 74333; 918-784-2231 phone; e-mail AmVetChiro@aol.com; www.animalchiropractic.org. Also select someone licensed to practice in your state and recommended by people who have used him or her. Ask your vet, trainer, and respected friends for recommendations. To be safe, always consult your regular veterinarian first and ask for his/her input regarding the use of chiropractic on a particular condition in your senior horse. That way, you can take a team approach to maximizing benefit-and avoiding risk.

Herbology
What it is: The use of herbs to help treat and/or prevent equine health problems.

How it works: As with conventional medications, herbs have the potential to create powerful effects in your senior horse's body, both to prevent illness and to promote healing. They're similar to conventional medications in that they can have side effects and interactions (some dangerous) with other medications. In some instances, they may be better than modern medicines in that they might be gentler, have fewer side effects, not require a prescription, and possibly cost less.

What makes them different from modern medicines-and potentially more dangerous-is that most herbal remedies used on horses haven't been tested for safety and efficacy. That means a particular herb may not work on your horse-or could make his condition worse. And natural therapies, which in this country cannot be sold with medical information or label warnings, are often administered without professional advice. This increases the risk you might give your horse the wrong herb or one that interacts with medicines he's already taking.

When it might help:

• Respiratory problems
• Anhidrosis
• Anxiety/stress reduction
• To improve energy
• Minor digestive disorders
• Minor skin conditions
• Pain relief and wound healing
• Minor arthritis
• Some reproductive problems

Caveat: Natural therapies can be inconsistent in quality, purity, and potency. This gives them a greater potential for not only producing less than the desired effect, but also a host of untoward side effects, including allergic and toxic reactions. When in doubt, consult your veterinarian.

How to find an equine herbologist:
First, ask your veterinarian for a referral, if he/she knows of a reputable veterinary herbologist. Failing that, contact: The Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association, Susan G. Wynn DVM, Executive Director, Bells Ferry Veterinary Hospital, 6410 Hwy 92, Acworth, GA 30102; s.wynn@vbma.org; www.vbma.org.

Homeopathy
What it is: A system of medicine developed by German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in the early 19th Century. Its theory is that medicines causing symptoms in healthy patients will cure those same symptoms in sick patients. Hence Dr. Hahnemann's central observation, "like cures like."

How it works. It's said to stimulate your horse's own healing abilities, thus strengthen him. Symptoms, as signposts of a treatable internal imbalance, are important guides to proper treatment. That said, homeopathic therapies aren't necessarily harmless, though they are said to generally have no side effects and a wide safety margin. The active ingredients in these therapies can be toxic (such as poison ivy and arsenic). They're generally diluted to such an extent that the toxins are said to be harmless.

While treatments often can be purchased at your local health-food store, homeopathy is not a substitute for conventional veterinary care, and could actually hinder it (and your horse's functioning) through drug interactions. That's why it's important to work with your veterinarian on this and any alternative therapy.

When it might help:

• Bruising and soreness
• Fever and inflammation
• Respiratory problems
• Digestive problems
• Abscesses
• As a calming agent
• Wound care

How to find an equine homeopathic veterinarian:
First, ask your veterinarian for a referral, if he/she knows of a reputable vet who practices homeopathy. Failing that, contact: Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (AVH), P.O. Box 9280, Wilmington, DE 19809; 866-652-1590 phone; office@theAVH.org; www.theavh.org.

This article is a book excerpt from Hands-On Senior Horse Care, published by PRIMEDIA Enthusiast Publications.