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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2009 : 9:35:38 PM
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As many of you know Dennis recently had an abscess in his bottom. Twice now I have seen a sweaty patch directly in the area (today being the second time). You can manipulate the area without reaction but the physio has found really deep tenderness. He has been treated with a H wave machine and is booked to have some more but a friend has suggested acupuncture.
I have absolutely no experience of acupuncture so would like to ask what your experiences are please?
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Hampshire |
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BeckyBoodle
Gold Member
Australia
795 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2009 : 11:29:22 PM
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Very interesting. I practice equine shiatsu, which works on exactly the same principles as accupuncture, but uses pressure rather than needles, and also works the whole body rather than specific points. As accupuncture penetrates deeper into the body than external pressure, it is supposed to have a quicker result, but as it works specific points it tends to address particular conditions. You have to be a vet to practice animal accupuncture, and I am told the challenge can be to find a vet that knows the theory behind accupuncture in depth, rather than specific points that achieve specific results.
I know a number of people who have had accupuncture and are very happy with the results.
What I find interesting is that abscesses are to do with a particular energy channel/meridian, which actually also shows an imbalance in it by unusual or patchy sweat patterns. If off balance, it would also results in, amongst other things, a weakened immune system.
If you want more detail I would be happy to provide.
Would be interested to know if any of the following also apply:- seems lethargic, isolates himself or is isolated by other horses, sensitive and or dry skin prone to urticaria/eczma, any respiratory tract issues. I am definitely NOT saying that any of these will be present, just interested to see if any other areas of the theory might apply.
B
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2009 : 11:56:25 PM
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I put him on liquid echinacea about 3 weeks ago, also SS Total Eclipse which is, in case you don't know, Linseed, Seaweed and Brewers yeast.
Definitely not lethargic, nor isolates himself, my girls stand with him while they all have a snooze so not isolated, no respiratory issues either. But he does have sensitive skin. The reason for the abscess was a steroid injection to reduce the mysterious itch he's been suffering from. The itch is a continuing saga, he is no better, nor no worse with steroids and antihistamines. He's currently not having any medication.
His feed is speedibeet and readigrass, he's also getting about 20 stalks of nettles a day. |
Hampshire |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2009 : 07:54:12 AM
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Hi Vera
I have read a lot about Roger Hatch on here and so many people swear by him, might be worth giving him a ring to see what he says. I am sure the nettles will be good for him, I always feed dried nettles to mine. An old horseman told me that years ago, he was in his eighties and that was thirty years ago now!
I do hope poor Dennis isn't goung to go through any more traumas. You both deserve some time to relax and recouperate. I hope you are feeling better now.
Barbara xxx |
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BeckyBoodle
Gold Member
Australia
795 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2009 : 09:16:47 AM
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Given that it was a reaction to the steroid and for sweet itch, it would hit into a different energetic area, and dried netttles are a fab way forward as they not only help detox from steriods etc but also would boost the relevant energies that chinese medicine would believe to be involved.
I have heard great success stories from homeopathy, and if you do go the accupuncture route, would be interested in the findings.
All the best. B
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Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2009 : 09:21:00 AM
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Acupuncture seems to work better for some things than others, and better for some individuals than others. If you can find a good practitioner I think it would be worth a go.My old dog Harry had it regularly over the last couple of years of his life and it did help him.
I also tried it myself years ago and it did nothing for the original problem I wanted it to help, but coincidentally had a raging headache one day as I arrived at the practice and one needle put that headache away as if by magic...... and completely away---non of the spaced out feeling I sometimes get after a bad one. |
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Edited by - Zan on 30 May 2009 09:21:32 AM |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2009 : 12:20:22 PM
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He does not have sweet itch, not even a hint of it. He's been allergy tested too and shown that he is not allergic to midges etc. He is allergic to dogs, maize, wheat, horse chestnut tree's, dust mites and flour mites.
He has had a whole course of homeopathy, which did nothing. He is not responsive to steroids or antihistamines.
His itching is centered about his anus and underside of his tail. If one more person asks me if he's been wormed I will deck them!!!! Of course he's been wormed, with Equest, Equimax and 5 day Panacur. His worm count is zero. He's even had a Dectomax injection even though his skin scrape was negative for mites.
He's had a camera up his bottom which showed nothing abnormal.
He's had copious baths in Malaseb, an anti bacterial and antifungal shampoo.
His coat is gleaming, not at all dry nor scurfy.
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Hampshire |
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munchie
Silver Member
284 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2009 : 2:51:35 PM
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I use acupuncture for ezcema for myself and it certainly helps to reduce a bad flair up and take the worse of the vicious itch out of the skin. I also take aloe vera daily for it, I can clear my ezcema completely in the summer with just aloe vera and it reduces the intensity of it in the winter too. Although I've never had to try it on any animals it could be worth a try? |
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kofihorse
Bronze Member
241 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2009 : 08:54:10 AM
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Vera, this is completely out of left field here..........I was thinking about the abscess and wondering if it might have been a tiny sliver of wood that got in while he was scratching. That led me to wonder if he might be persuaded to scratch on one of those big rubber pimple mats fixed to the wall/fence instead? Does he scratch as much if he's wearing a rug? |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2009 : 10:42:23 AM
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Rosemary, I can't think where a sliver of wood would come from. The only thing he could rub on was my brick built stables. They do have wooden door frames but he always rubbed on the much rougher brick work, the wood is smooth. My paddocks are completely surrounded with electric fencing.
He most likely would rub on one of those rubber mat things but I'd have to line the whole stable!
He rubs whether he is rugged or not, he wore a patch through one of his 1200D Amigo lightweights.
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Hampshire |
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BeckyBoodle
Gold Member
Australia
795 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2009 : 10:47:45 AM
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I could give you some of the accupuncture points to try if you wanted - you can just use finger pressure on them. It wouldn't be like a proper shiatsu or accupuncture session as when assessing a horse in the flesh there are many things you take into account and things you might add in that are associated or have associated effects. Anything to help really.
If you are interested, then if you PM me an email address I can send a document with images over.
B
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
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kofihorse
Bronze Member
241 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2009 : 08:34:19 AM
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.............thinking cap back on........! |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2009 : 2:30:09 PM
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Someone has suggested rinsing him off with Apple Cider Vinegar to help the PH of his skin. At this stage I am willing to give anything a go so covered him last night. Too soon to tell if it will help or not.......... |
Hampshire |
Edited by - Vera on 01 Jun 2009 2:33:55 PM |
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Delyth
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1425 Posts |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jun 2009 : 5:55:17 PM
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Excellent link - Thank you Delyth. |
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