Equine Influenza and vaccination

November 2007

The following is a Holistic or alternative view on the topic of vaccination. The information is not given as professional advice; it is based on my own personal o pinions and observations as a Holistic practitioner.

There seems to be quite a lot of confusion around the need to vaccinate our horses against E.I.
As you will see after reading the information kindly supplied by Dr. Glanville (below) here is no simple answer to vaccination or to "eradicating" this disease.

Vaccination generally has been a godsend in preventing many diseases throughout history. However if we approach disease holistically with new understandings of pathogens and see them as part of nature we view viruses, not as an enemy but then understand them as just another "vibration".

Only then with full knowledge of all the options can we discern the best course of action.

Horses under certain situations will need to be vaccinated especially if they are exposed to and interact with other large groups of horses.

However we must also be aware that every horse is an individual each horse having varying degrees of immune competence; therefore vaccination for this reason is not a black or white issue. Given more information and insight we can as horse owners make an informed choice as to what is right for our horse.

Holistic principals acknowledge each individual be it human or horse as a vibrating energy field and if the energy field of the individual is strong (healthy) enough it will not succumb to an opportunistic virus or bacteria.

"Like attracts like" is a Law of Nature therefore if the health (vibration) of the horse is above or superior to the vibration of the "disease" we can be sure our horse will remain untroubled by a marauding virus.

Horses are exposed to viruses, bacteria and cancer causing agents every day, and just like people some will fall victim to the particular disease caused by that agent while others will not.

Holistic or Natural medicine looks at a healthy model and strengthens the body accordingly and thereby be resilient against disease in a preventative manner.

General exposure to a pathogen can also induce Nature's form of vaccination; the body, in this instance is exposed to a virus but can adapt to the particular virus without getting ill.

The deciding factor as to whether a host will succumb and develop a disease (in this case E.I.) is the immune status or strength of the particular host.

A horse with a weakened, compromised or stressed immune system will fall ill while a healthy horse will not and, just like people some will show symptoms of the disease while others will not. Again, depending on the immune status some horses will only develop a mild set of symptoms as a result of coming into contact with E.I.

Whereas allopathic medicine, drugs, vaccines etc treat disease states the holistic approach focuses on preventative measures; by strengthening the "whole individual" at the level of body, mind and spirit.

The problem with vaccinating a healthy horse

We all live in a "soup" of viruses and Bacteria. These pathogens usually enter the host's body naturally through the mucus membrane; they enter through the mouth, nasal passages and the digestive tract; they do NOT (under normal circumstances) enter the body directly into the circulatory system (i.e. the blood stream).

The immune cells in the body's mucus membrane (digestive tract and nasal passages) are the first line of defence to handle any pathogen. If the "invader" gets past this defence line and arrives in the circulatory system then the "big guns" of the immune system come out to kill these invading cells.

If a vaccine consisting of live cells is injected into the body of a healthy horse it could cause more damage than good if that horse already has an optimum, fully functioning immune system.

Equine influenza virus is a leading cause of respiratory disease in the horse, and vaccines were first developed in the 1960s. Despite their intensive use, equine influenza outbreaks still continue to occur; this is because visus and bacteria are also continually modifying their behaviour therefore ongoing new strategies of vaccinations are necessary to improve vaccine efficacy.

A Holistic practitioner sees health as the vitality of the overall body, mind and spirit aspect or the beings whole energy field. To a Holistic practitioner a healthy horse like a healthy person should (from a vibratory sense) be able to keep one step ahead of any disease as long as any issue is addressed at the mind and spirit level as well as the physical level.

Whether a horse owner vaccinates their horse or not is a personal choice. A decision that should be arrived at after considering all the facts; a decision based on knowledge not made through fear. The following is a fact sheet issued by Qld Chief Veterinarian Dr Ron Glanville: