WATERBURY - When the Quiz the Experts lecture series convened on Friday, May 18, at Teikyo Post University in Waterbury, the subject was Lyme disease. Nearly 60 area horse enthusiasts attended.
WATERBURY â When the Quiz the Experts lecture series convened on Friday, May 18, at Teikyo Post University in Waterbury, the subject was Lyme disease. Nearly 60 area horse enthusiasts attended.
The evening focused on diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease from two viewpoints. Dr. Mark Baus, a well-known veterinarian from Fairfield Equine Associates in Newtown covered the conventional veterinary medical aspects of laboratory tests and antibiotic treatment, highlighting what the newest recommendations are and detailing what the tests mean.
Dr. Allen Schoen, widely respected holistic veterinarian, lecturer and author, addressed Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment from a complementary approach. While he utilizes his Diagnostic Acupuncture Palpation Exam (DAPE) based on acupuncture points to help diagnose Lyme, he is in agreement with Dr. Baus as to the use of Doxycycline as the treatment of choice. In addition to the use of antibiotics, Dr. Schoen also advocates the use of nutritional supplements to help boost the horseâs immune system, and in some cases also uses homeopathic remedies.
Both veterinarians agreed that many times the dosage given is too low, with the result that the horse does not fully recover or appears to recover for a short period of time only. They recommended 45-50 (100 mg) tablets to be given twice per day for around 4 weeks and both agreed that this treatment is always successful for Lyme Disease in horses â there could be other causes for any problems the horse is having.
Dr. Baus stressed that it is often only when a horse is being used competitively or in regular work, that the Lyme disease becomes apparent. Dr. Schoen showed a video of the obvious and often violent reaction of a horse to the touch when Lymes is present. Obvious signs of crankiness, some lameness and unwillingness to work were also cited as some of the many signs of the disease.
It is very important for owners or care gives to be very alert for these signs because the sooner the Lyme disease is treated, the sooner the horse will be back in full work and be a much happier âcamperâ. There were a lot of questions from the audience and everyone learned a great deal more about the disease that pops up every summer.
The event, a fundraiser for the universityâs Equine Scholarship Fund, also served as a fundraiser for Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP), a large animal rescue organization here in Connecticut. Members of CAP provided the home-baked munchies and were pleased to receive donations from the attendees.
