How to Treat Separation Anxiety in Horses

No matter what words you use to define it, separation anxiety, buddy sour, or herd bound, it's a difficult problem for a lot of horse owners to remedy.

Depending on the type and severity of the problem, here are some recommendations to consider.

Equine Separation Anxiety (relating to emotional grief)

There are two periods where a foal is particularly susceptible to developing a dependence on other horses: the imprinting period and the weaning period.

Symptoms

Weaning. Having to separate a foal from its mother.

Note: If you do put your foal in direct contact with other horses during the weaning process try to ensure he isn’t paired with just one horse for an extended period of time. This will help prevent an unhealthy dependence on another horse that would put him at high risk for future emotional problems.

A horse that has difficulty being separated from the horse, or horses, he is attached to. Example: Two mares are closely bonded. The distress begins when you take one away from the other. Most mares that have a special buddy generally will bond to a substitute, or at least calm a bit by having a surrogate companion.

Natural Remedies, using the drug free approach to help the horse balance emotions and more easily adjust to the situation are:

Bach Flower Remedies

Centaury (Centaurium erythraca or C. umbellatum)

Personality Type

The Centuary horse is quiet, willing and usually calm. He is dominated by all other horses and does not defend himself very well. When ridden in a group situation he becomes tired more quickly than the other horses. As a foal, this type of horse is slow to wean and does not want to leave his mother even when the mare tries to push him away. He may protest the weaning process for a long time and, even when he accepts it, he will stay close to his mother if allowed to rejoin her. Because he is content to follow other horses this type of horse makes a great school horse.

Key Characteristics

Dominated by other horses, he works best with a group

When To Use Centuary

During a foal's weaning process.

Separating a horse from one group of horses and introducing him to a new group.

Red Chestnut

Personality Type

The horse will remain calm and unaffected by surroundings in all situations except when separated from his companions. He becomes very agitated and suffers from severe separation anxiety.

Clinical Uses

Weaning. Having to separate a foal from its mother. It will decrease the anxiety in both foal and dam.

A horse that has difficulty being separated from another horse, or horses, they have become attached to.

Homeopathic Remedy for Separation Anxiety (relating to emotional grief)

Ignatia amara 30c potency

Ignatia is indicated for acute grief events and emotional shocks, mainly related to relationships. Any broken heart situation should be remedied by Ignatia.

The Ignatia picture is one of changeable moods! Homeopaths frequently refer to it as the "homeopathic Valium" (without the side effects of course) as it is also used in any event where the patient is upset from: bad news, disappointment (especially in relationships with friends, family, children, etc.), apprehension and jealousy.

It is also called the rehearsal remedy as the mental state is one of replaying old and painful memories, over and over again so that they remain full of disappointment and unfulfilled expectations.

Training Method to Cure Buddy Sour or Herd Bound Horses

Most horses become herd bound during their earliest months of life. This is due to a bonding of trust not having been established between the animal and humans. A foal should experience human interaction and contact early on and often so that the bonding can take place.

Horses penned together can easily become dependent, or buddy sour, and suffer from separation anxiety while being ridden individually or involved in separated activities. Instead of letting the horse reach a of anxiety which may cause them to injure themselves, become ill, or prone to an accident, you need to cure the horse of their co-dependency. Learn how to cure a buddy sour horse by watching this training, video tutorial from an expert horse trainer.

Homeopathy to the Rescue for Buddy Sour Horses

Stramonium 30c

Stramonium is a remedy for extreme fear leading to violent behaviour.

This can stem from an intense fear of being hurt or from being left behind - these animals dread abandonment.

Specific fears for the Stramonium horse are reflections in still water or the sight and sound of running water.

Also, claustrophobia or a fear of tunnels can be seen. They sometimes have twitches or ticks.

At worst this can manifest as epilepsy or fits. They are better for being in company and being warm. One bizarre feature of a Stramonium patient is that conditions, which are usually very painful, appear painless in these individuals.

Homeopathic Dosing Instructions for Horses Complete guidelines using Pet Remedy Charts.

You can order Bach Flower Essences and homeopathic remedies online or find them at your local Health Food Store. Some local pharmacies might even carry them (call ahead to make sure).

Recommended Reading: For professionals or serious students - This is the gold standard in books for Veterinary Homeopathy. 'Fast Forward to the Cure', is a digital publication in PDF format that you can download and start using now. Learn advanced veterinary homeopathy, LM dosing techniques and the methods of 'Dynamic Dosing' for animals which can speed a pets healing time by 1/4 to 1/2 or more! Veterinary Medica, Therapeutic Repertories, printable Case Taking Forms, Observation Sheets for dogs, cats horses and birds are included in 13 Chapters and 1,000 plux pages. To see complete details and excerpts from the book CLICK HERE.

Muscle Testing Your Horse

Equine Muscle Testing

One of the methods being widely used by holistic veterinarians that has been proven to be quite useful in diagnosis and prescribing for horses is Applied Kinesiology - equine muscle testing. Horse owners can use muscle testing in a number of ways, including determining the specific Bach Flower remedy (or combination of remedies) to use, ascertaining the best homeopathic remedy (and specific potency), or making sure a new herb, supplement or food will not cause an allergic reaction.

Muscle testing utilizes "muscle resistance" to determine whether a substance strengthens or weakens the body. When you are testing for an animal, a second person must stand in for the animal as an intermediate or surrogate.

The following is a step-by-step method that you can use for your horse. You will need a partner to do the procedure with you. Before you begin the actual muscle testing, you must test the normal level of resistance of your partner's arm muscles. If this method of testing is new to you, it will become clear as I proceed.

Finding Normal Resistance

Step 1: Face your partner.

Step 2: Your partner should raise one arm up from the side of the body so it is at a right angle to the body and level with the shoulder, with the thumb pointing toward the floor. Imagine a bird with a wing outstretched and you'll have the correct arm position. The other arm should remain at the side of the body.

Step 3: Now place one of your hands on your partner's extended arm, just above the wrist. Place your other hand on your partner's opposite shoulder.

Step 4: Instruct your partner to resist as you push down, firmly and steadily with a hard pressure, on the extended arm. Say out loud "Ready--Resist," as you are about to push down on your partner's arm. You are not trying to force his/her arm down, their arm should stay fairly level during the pressure, however, you want to place a hard steady pressure on the arm in order to measure their normal level of resistance. You should press firmly for several seconds, and then release.

When doing this testing method, do not , look directly at your partner's face, because facial expressions can affect the outcome of what you feel. Also, remember that this will work only if you both understand that you are looking for a level of resistance in the arm muscles.

This is not in any way like arm wrestling, you are not trying to over come your partner, and, similarly, your partner should not try so hard to resist the pressure that he/she recruits other muscles to "fight back." When their arm muscle starts to fade, your partner should allow it to do so. This is very important.

Muscle testing is being used more and more by veterinarians and horse owners. As I mentioned above, it is not infallible as a method of prescribing but, when you must choose between two or more viable alternative, I find muscle testing and invaluable tool. If two alternative remedies both check strong, I know that either will be effective. However, if one checks weak and the other checks strong, I know which one is best. I use muscle testing frequently and find it quite reliable.

Now you are ready to involve the animal in the equation. Your partner becomes the intermediary who will touch your horse while he is being tested.

Muscle Test Using Intermediary

Step: 1 Face your partner.

Step 2: Ask the intermediary to place one hand on the horse and to hold the substance you are checking in the same hand. If the substance being checked is in a container, take the lid off of the container. Your partner should not know what substance he/she is holding. Ask them to stretch out their arm as they did in Step 2 above.

Step 3: Place your hand on your partner's outstretched arm, just above the wrist, and your other hand on his/her opposite shoulder.

Step 4: As in Step 4 above, ask your partner to resist as you push firmly and steadily down on his/her arm. Press firmly for several seconds, and then release.

If the resistance of the arm is made stronger while you are pushing down, the substance your partner is holding is a good choice. If the resistance is weaker, and the arm is easily pushed down, this substance is a poor choice, ineffective, or not agreeing with the animal's body. If more than one item gives a positive response, it is sometimes possible to discern that one feels even stronger than the others and is therefore the best choice.

In addition to using muscle testing to check medications, I have found a remarkable degree of accuracy when testing for food allergies. It almost always agrees with skin tests for allergies. Since skin tests are expensive, painful, and can take many efforts until the allergen is identified, I recommend muscle testing first. I have also used it to identify supplements that contained ingredients an animal is allergic to. Without the muscle testing, the animal would have been given the supplements, and we would not have known there was a problem with them until the animal's health was affected.

To learn more about holistic treatments and natural healing strategies for horses, be sure to visit Pet Remedy Charts for Horses the equine guide to using herbs, homeopathy, flower remedies and acupressure in natural home health care.

Veterinary Homeopathy - Remedy of the Week

Argentum Nitricum

In its crude form it is silver nitrate. In conventional medicine it has long been used in styptic pencils to control bleeding from small wounds. But once it has been made into a homeopathic medicine, Argentum nitricum has a different sphere of uses and acts on the nervous system. In homeopathy it is nicknamed the "OMG, what if..." remedy: because the person or animal who needs it experiences feelings of anxiety before an event takes place. The anxiousness can be to such a degree that they fear the worst will happen.

Veterinary Uses:

Anticipatory Fears

Consider this remedy for anxious, nervous, highly strung animals before they have to enter a show ring or 'perform' in events - for example, obedience trials, dog shows, horse shows, training, etc.

These animals/people are insecure, hyper and in a state of worry, which easily can lead to panic, nervous stomach, dizziness, diarrhea, trembling, palpitations, faintness, weakness, fear of failure and poor performance.

Human Uses:

This remedy is greatly indicated for fear and anxiety from excitement. It is used for fears and phobias such as, fear of flying, stage fright, anxiety over an upcoming job interview, examination funk, fear of public speaking, fear of crowds, fear of poor performance and insecurities about meeting new people. If your new to internet dating -- you'll definitely want to have this one hand!

People who need this remedy are often enthusiastic and suggestible, with a tendency toward peculiar thoughts and impulses. They often crave sweets and salt (which usually make their symptoms worse). They usually feel better in cool open air.

We invite you to visit our website for more detailed information on Pet Remedy Charts.

Recommended Reading: For professionals or serious students - This is the gold standard in books for Veterinary Homeopathy. 'Fast Forward to the Cure Pro-Version, 2.0', is a digital publication in PDF format that you can download and start using now. Learn advanced veterinary homeopathy, LM dosing techniques and the methods of 'Dynamic Dosing' for animals which can speed a pets healing time by 1/4 to 1/2 or more! Veterinary Medica, Therapeutic Repertories, printable Case Taking Forms, Observation Sheets for dogs, cats horses and birds are included in 13 Chapters and 1,000 plus pages. To see complete details and excerpts from the book CLICK HERE.

Juicing Recipes for Birds

Click here > Holistic Healthcare for Birds a complete wellness and healing guide to using herbs, homeopathy, and flower remedies for birds.

How to Supplement Your Bird's Diet Naturally

The most powerful way to provide immune boosting nutrients to your bird's diet is by juicing fresh fruits and vegetables. Juicing will help to heal many bird diseases plus strengthen the immune system. Juicing provides a concentrated store-house of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients (complex healing compounds), bioflavonoids (protects the capillaries, keeps them strong), antioxidants (slows or prevents damage to cells) and other complex nutrients that are extremely valuable to your bird's health. Juicing concentrates all these wonderful benefits into a readily digestible liquid.

You can offer juice to a bird in many ways. You can soak dry foods in the juice. Try bird bread, monkey biscuits, dry cereals such as mini shredded wheat squares.

For breeders and baby bird feeders: feed the juice to the parents as part of their diet, don't feed directly to baby birds.

Ideally, fresh juice should be eaten right after juicing, but leftovers can be stored for a short period in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid in the refrigerator. Individual portions can also be frozen in ice cube trays for later use. Some of the nutrients may be lost in freezing, but it still will provide a healthy addition to the diet.

As you experiment with juicing, you will discover the combinations of fruits and vegetables that are most favored by your bird. A good combo to introduce juicing to your bird would be four carrots, one 1/2 apple (seeds removed), and a quarter-inch slice of raw ginger.

Only your imagination will limit you to what you can run through the juicer. But here are a few ideas to help you get a shopping list started. Carrots, apples, dark leafy greens, beets, garlic, dark skinned grapes, parsley, celery stalk, oranges, thyme, dandelion, broccoli, pear, cucumber, shiitake mushroom (soaked), apricot

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported "Carrot juice pulls heavy metals from tissues, binds them and helps eliminate them from the body's system." Parrots are subject to heavy metal toxicity from a variety of sources, from metal cookware, drinking water, air pollution, and pesticides used in farming food crops, so adding carrot juice to their diet as a detox agent could be very important to their health.

We recommend that you take the pulp from the juicer and feed that to your birds as well, adding it to the "soft foods" you feed in the evening meal. just mix it together in the same bowl. You can even offer it to wild birds outside.

Below are juice recipes for birds that are beneficial to specific conditions that affect our avian companions. Note: Always use spinach, dandelion, garlic and parsley sparingly because they are very concentrated and need only be used in small amounts.

Juicing Recipes for Birds

Arthritis

Broccoli and kale, sources of pantothenic acid

Kale, parsley and spinach, sources of vitamin C

Spinach and carrot, sources of vitamin E

Carrot, ginger root, apple, sources of copper

Cherry and blueberry, sources of bioflavonoids

Pineapple, source of bromelain (anti-inflammatory)

Calcium Deficiency

Kale, mustard greens, carrots, kohlrabi, watercress, cabbage, turnip and beet tops, good sources of organic calcium.

Candida

Kale, spinach and turnip greens, sources of vitamin B-6

Red Swiss chard, turnip, garlic, and radish, sources of selenium

Parsley, beet greens, dandelion greens, and broccoli, good sources of organic iron

Cancer Prevention

Beet juice, contains the sulphur amino acids

Cataracts

Carrot, kale, parsley and spinach, high in beta-carotene

Garlic, a source of sulfur and vitamin B1

Spinach, currant, asparagus, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, contains vitamin B2

Kale, parsley, green pepper and broccoli, high in vitamin C

Spinach asparagus and carrot, good sources of natural vitamin E

Red Swiss chard, turnip, garlic, and orange, sources of selenium

Carrot, garlic, and ginger root, sources of copper

Spinach, turnip greens, beet greens, and carrot, sources of manganese

Ginger root, parsley, garlic and carrot, sources of zinc

Healthy Feathers, Skin and Nails

Parsnips - To improve the taste, mix it with apple and carrot juice, source of silica

Fungal Infections

Garlic - contains potassium and sulfur, kills fungus and bacteria. Very concentrated, only use a small amount and dilute with other juices (apples and carrots will help mask the flavor.)

Gout

Kale, beet greens, and broccoli, sources of folic acid

Kale, parsley, sweet pepper, and strawberry, sources of vitamin C

Pineapple, source of bromelain (anti-inflammatory)

Green vegetables, sources of omega-3 fatty acids

Cherry and strawberry, help to neutralize uric acid (remove pits)

Infections

Blueberry and black currant, antibacterial properties

Grape, apple, and cabbage, antiviral and antibacterial compounds

Garlic, a natural antibiotic

Pineapple, the fresh juice contains bromelain an anti-inflammatory

Celery, carrot, and Swiss chard are high in potassium and sodium

Ginger, parsley, and carrot are sources of zinc

Kale, red pepper, and collard greens contain vitamin C

Tomato, cabbage, and sweet pepper contain bioflavonoids

Carrot, kale, and spinach are sources of beta-carotene

Liver Rejuvenator

1 carrot, calcium, high in beta-carotene

1/3 of a beet, blood purifying properties

2 sprigs of dandelion, diuretic, a bitter, good source of minerals

2 sprigs of parsley, diuretic, source of zinc

1/4 of a celery stalk, high potassium and sodium

Intestinal Support

1/2 apple (with skin) Pectin, helps firm loose droppings

2 Tablespoons of yogurt (with live cultures) supports friendly intestinal flora

1 teaspoon aloe vera juice, cleansing and healing to the intestinal system

2 leaves of spinach

1 Tablespoon of cooked rice (mixed with 1 tablespoon of water. Let soak overnight in the refrigerator before using.)

1 teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar

Click here > Holistic Healthcare for Birds for a complete wellness and healing guide to using herbs, homeopathy, and flower remedies for birds.

Non-Toxic Homemade Fly and Mosquito Spray

Mosquito is spanish for "little fly" both of which are nasty little buggers in any language. Despite their fragile appearance, mosquitoes are aggravating pests of humans and other animals. Bites from mosquitoes can cause severe discomfort. The resulting intense itching is due to an immune response to mosquito saliva injected into the bite wound. In addition to the itchy reaction of the bite they are down right annoying.

The real danger, however, is that mosquitoes may carry disease organisms. Mosquitoes can transmit disease-causing viruses and protozoans. The most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the United States are caused by viral pathogens and include West Nile fever, eastern equine encephalomyelitis, St. Louis encephalitis, western equine encephalomyelitis, La Crosse encephalitis and canine heartworm.

• only the female bites to obtain a blood meal. The male feeds on plant juices

• only the female makes a buzzing sound the male is silent

• all mosquitoes must have water in which to complete their breeding and life cycle

Contrary to popular belief, bug zappers do little in controlling adult mosquitoes. Studies have shown that far more beneficial insects are killed by bug zappers than are pest species. There is evidence from backyard studies that electric bug zappers increased the number of female mosquitoes present in the yards as opposed to yards without the devices, and were not at all effective in lowering the number of female (females are the ones that do the biting) mosquitoes landing on people. Similar results were found with electronic mosquito repellers. Persons using the devices recovered more female mosquitoes landing on them when compared to those not using them. The repellers did not afford any protection against bites.

Recipe for Homemade Fly and Mosquito Spray

In a standard 1 quart or 1 liter spray bottle, mix the following ingredients:

2 cups or 400-ml Avon Skin-So-Soft

2 cups or 400ml of purified water

1/2 cup or 150-ml raw apple cider vinegar

Shake well before each use. Use as needed.

Most horses and dogs tolerate the ingredients in this formula very well, and it can be used by riders and owners as well to ward off flies and mosquitos.

Dietary Supplement

Another safe and natural alternative to toxic commercial insecticides is a dietary one. Some horses and dogs attract fewer flies and mosquitos when they are fed cider vinegar because the vinegar makes their skin less desirable to insects. Feeding cider vinegar not only changes the pH of the top layer of the skin, it also changes the pH on a deeper level. While effective, this method is slow and should be started a couple of months before fly season to take effect.

Not all horses or dogs like cider vinegar added to their feed at first, but if introduced in very small amounts they often learn to accept it. On average a 1,000 pound (about 450 kgs) horse will need about one cup of 'raw apple cider vinegar' daily to help to repel flies. Dogs would require 1 or two teaspoons added to their water bowl. Note: Do Not Give vinegar straight or undiluted!

To learn about all the natural treatments and healing strategies for pets, be sure to visit Pet Remedy Charts, the ultimate guide to using herbs, homeopathy, flower remedies and acupressure for dogs, cats, horses and birds. Developed to enable anyone to confidently treat their companion animal naturally at home.

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Is There a Natural way to Prevent Heartworms?

This is a serious disease that primarily affects dogs. It is rare in cats, despite claims by the preventive pharmaceutical manufacturers. It can be treated with homeopathy and herbs, but this should be under the care of an experienced veterinarian.

That being said, pharmaceutical heartworm preventives are generally very effective at protecting dogs against the disease. However, I would not recommend their use in cats, as the incidence does not warrant the drug use in most holistic veterinary opinions. In dogs, the "monthly" preventives are effective if given at six-week intervals, and possibly even at seven-or eight-week intervals. These drugs kill any larvae that have been injected within the previous six to eight weeks, so the drugs protect for the prior period, not the future period. Thus, it is correct to wait until about six weeks after the first mosquitoes appear and continue until you see no more mosquitoes, giving one dose after the end of mosquito season. The "daily" preventives are almost a thing of the past, but these are usually effective if given every other day.

Although the prescription preventive drugs are considered to be generally safe, they can initiate an autoimmune disease in susceptible animals. This includes thyroid diseases.

Natural Remedies to Prevent Heartworm

There is a homeopathic nosode that is made from heartworm larvae that is employed commonly by holistic veterinarians as a preventive to avoid the drug side effects. However, many question its effectiveness, though I have several clients who use the nosode (apparently successfully) with animals in heartworm endemic areas. Though most dogs given the nosode have no trouble with heartworms, I am aware of some cases where the nosode did not protect. I believe it does offer some protection, though it may be incomplete. It is likely that we simply just don't know yet how to give the nosode. As of this writing, I suggest using a 30C potency and dosing at two-week intervals. I have seen no problems with this schedule, and though I use it myself with success, I cannot say for sure that it is fool-proof protection for your dog. If you decide to try the nosode, you must understand that its effectiveness is currently unknown and it is not FDA or Veterinary approved.

I generally do not recommend vaccines and drugs for most animals, and when possible I try to avoid the conventional approach of using heartworm drugs because they are especially risky for animals with thyroid disease. Monthly heartworm preventives as well as "sulfa" drugs are known to occasionally trigger autoimmune thyroid disease.

Pet Remedy Charts