Coping with AHS - Possible treatments against AHS

by Andrea van Rijswijk

The recent AHS crisis caused many horse owners to look at alternative ways of treating and preventing the disease. This series of articles aims to inform readers of some of these treatments.

We do not make any claims concerning the success or risk accompanying the use of any treatment.

Horse owners, vets and homeopaths, in desperation to save horses from the African horse sickness virus, have been doing intensive research in all available fields to gather statistics of any possible treatments available. As a result, several different treatment possibilities are used. These range from conventional veterinary treatments with registered medicines, to homeopathic, holistic and even distanced body-talk treatments.

Several treatments are not registered for medicinal use, which have resulted in some controversy in their use for treatment, especially since there is no guaranteed treatment and much research has to be done on the virus and treatments used.

Eye ointment helps keep eyes and exposed membranes moist and alleviates pain. A fly mask helps to keep flies away

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Horse owners need to make sure that their desperation to save horses does not cloud their judgement and that they do extensive research into treatments before using them. However, some treatments seem to have had some success in helping horses fight the disease, although clinical research statistics are still being compiled.

One thing is for certain, all possible treatments need to be used with caution, with the advice of vets and AHSV authorities, without overdosage or combining all of them, and ensuring that the horse is not harmed physically or mentally, short term or long term, by any treatments. Stick to one particular line of treatments that makes sense to you and your vet. Remember, first do no harm. All treatments should be done under consultation of a qualified vet.

Symptomatic treatment

Some symptomatic treatments have shown to help horses fight the disease in general:

• Horses showing any signs of the virus must be treated symptomatically without delay, as the disease develops extremely fast once symptoms begin to show.
• Rest is extremely important. Do not move the horse to a different place or upset its routine. If the horse lies down a lot to sleep, turn it quietly every two to four hours, to aid breathing and blood circulation. A recumbent horse should rather be lying on its chest than flat on its side.
• The horse must not be stressed in any way, including transport, tubing, exercising and the injection process.
• A recovered horses must not receive light work for six weeks. Ideally, an ill horse should have a week of rest for every day it was ill.
• Horses respond well to lots of attention and TLC.
• Eye ointment helps keep eyes and exposed membranes moist and alleviates pain. A fly mask helps keep flies away.
• Vitamin C (6 g daily) is an antioxidant shown to be helpful in combating viruses and boosting the immune system.
• Red Cell, Blud and similar iron-inclusive supplements are said to be very effective in helping the body to replace red blood cells to horses that have lost them to AHSV and biliary, a regular secondary illness of AHSV.
  There are also several herbal and alternative treatment methods that may help the horse combat AHSV.

Rooibos

Rooibos tea has been used both as a preventative measure and as a treatment, owing to its antioxidant properties. It is also thought to have insect repellent qualities and has been added to natural insect spray recipes. These recipes also include black tea, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil, apple cider vinegar, neem oil and some garlic, for the same reason.

Honey

Honey is a very effective natural antibiotic and helps against secondary bacterial infections such as biliary. Colloidal Silver (60 ml) is commonly used in conjunction with many of the other remedies, as it is considered to be a natural antibiotic and is used effectively in healing burns and infections. There is some concern about long-term metal deposit poisoning, however, so it is not advised for long-term use and overdosage can occur.

Marijuana

Marijuana, while not registered for veterinary use, has been used as a pain and stress reliever. It is believed to aid breathing, calm the horse and reduce pain, thus enabling the body to fight the disease while minimising the cytokine storm or excessive immune response (similar to an allergic reaction) which can cause a systemic reaction like anaphylactic shock.

Herbal treatments

Several herbal experts, such as Royalynne Herbs, The Herbal Horse and Promix, have developed herbal, mineral and vitamin remedies to help support immune systems and help the body combat the virus. Vitamin C is well known in combating disease. Herbal medicine treats the body and vitalises its own defences.

Artemisia afra (wildeals or wild wormwood) and Artemisia absinthium are said to be effective as preventatives and treatments as they have antibacterial properties. They are useful for inflamed internal tissue and they aid in digestion as they promote circulation of nutrients to the cells. They also help to relieve stomach cramps. In addition, they have been said to be able to counteract poisons in the body. They can also be used for fevers and to fight infection in the body. Externally, Artemisia absinthium can be applied as a liniment for pain, sore muscles and inflammation. It heals wounds, skin ulcers and helps to relieve insect bites. It is also used as an organic insect repellent.

According to Medicinal Plants of South Africa, "decongestant and antibacterial effects of volatile oils are well known. In addition, narcotic, analgesic and antihistamine activity have been demonstrated in preliminary tests."
It should not be overdosed or used long term, as it may have a hallucinogenic or narcotic effect. It can stimulate the uterus and regulate irregular menstrual cycles, which is why it is not recommended for pregnant horses.

Homeopathic treatments

Homeopaths, such as Dr Alex Niven of Ecovet, and Keith Day with Geoff Morley of Winning Performance, have put together support solutions to help the body fight AHSV.

Ecovet advises Eco-Heal 5 ml orally hourly for ten doses followed two-hourly for 10 doses, and Eco-Epilep where the central nervous system is affected.

Winning Performance has designed treatment packs called PC1 and PC2. These are formulated to heighten the immune system so that it is ready to respond to a viral invasion. There are no known side effects and no preservatives or toxic substances in the homeopathic formulation.

PC1 stimulates antigens (key proteins) to recognise and produce appropriate antibodies so that the immune system can identify the viruses. PC2 is a booster to PC1. They do not totally eliminate the possibility of infection, but symptoms are claimed to be mild and horses seem to respond quicker to treatment. It is suggested that PC1 is given between November and December. PC2 (booster to PC1) is given three months later.

In the next issue, we will concentrate on various chemical alternative treatments.