Churchill to test scratch horses

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by justindew

Not one of those links contradicts what I said.

And I come from a family of doctors.

Yes, overuse of antibiotics can have negative results, such as resistance to the drug. But taking antibiotics while fighting a viral infection is common.

thankfully less common, as no one should ever take antibiotics unless they have a bacterial infection to fight.

overuse, overprescription, and improper use, is what causes these superbugs.

of course there are docs who will write a scrip to allow a nervous mother to feel she's doing something. he's doing her and her kid no favors.

[Danzig]

http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID...v/1/router.asp

[justindew]

Originally Posted by Danzig

thankfully less common, as no one should ever take antibiotics unless they have a bacterial infection to fight.

overuse, overprescription, and improper use, is what causes these superbugs.

of course there are docs who will write a scrip to allow a nervous mother to feel she's doing something. he's doing her and her kid no favors.

I know federal air marshals who take antibiotics everyday. They switch it up, and take one drug one week, and another drug the next so they don't develop a resistance to any one drug.

Again, no one is saying that antibiotics will help fight a virus, so I don't know why you keep posting links like that. But when your body is run down from fighting a virus, your immune system is weakened. Thus, you are vulnerable to bacterial infections that you otherwise would not be vulnerable to. This is why antibiotics are prescribed.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Then owners should insist that their trainers only enter if they intend to run.

Many owners are the ones who insist that you scratch

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by justindew

And I come from a family of doctors.

There's always another rabbit in the hat.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Storm Cadet

Agree...plus increased owners cost of the vet injection and medication bills for a BS scratch!

You're going to have an impossible time convincing me to give a horse a shot of antibiotic or Banamine if I don't think he needs it.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by justindew

I know federal air marshals who take antibiotics everyday. They switch it up, and take one drug one week, and another drug the next so they don't develop a resistance to any one drug.

Again, no one is saying that antibiotics will help fight a virus, so I don't know why you keep posting links like that. But when your body is run down from fighting a virus, your immune system is weakened. Thus, you are vulnerable to bacterial infections that you otherwise would not be vulnerable to. This is why antibiotics are prescribed.

i have never, after raising three kids, heard bs like this in my life. altho we both know that they do nothing for viruses, everything in those links indicated that you don't take an antibiotic unless absolutely 100% necessary, for a diagnosed bacterial infection. not for a weak immune system, for a cold, etc. your mistaken thinking is one reason why there are superbugs out there.

you will not convince me otherwise, regardless of air marshal/doctor ties.

[Riot]

I have given some animals with certain viral upper respiratory infections an antibiotic.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i have never heard bs like this in my life.

Compared to his prediction that NoBiz would prove the best of his generation this stuff is pure genius.

On a slightly related note, I have never liked flying, but now I may never get in a plane again.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by justindew

I know federal air marshals who take antibiotics everyday. They switch it up, and take one drug one week, and another drug the next so they don't develop a resistance to any one drug.

Again, no one is saying that antibiotics will help fight a virus, so I don't know why you keep posting links like that. But when your body is run down from fighting a virus, your immune system is weakened. Thus, you are vulnerable to bacterial infections that you otherwise would not be vulnerable to. This is why antibiotics are prescribed.

They are scrambling to replace ineffective antibiotics with probiotics like spirulina that strengthen immune systems and prevent disease.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Riot

I have given some animals with certain viral upper respiratory infections an antibiotic.

virus is something we have to fight off on our own, antibiotics do nothing for them.

[Danzig]

healthy acquired immune system works like this: When you are exposed to a virus, for instance, you feel discomfort as the immune system’s T and B cells recognize the viral enemy and begin to fight it. The good news is that the clever Pac-Man cells now are tipped off to this enemy and will preemptively fight it (with no discomfort for you) for the rest of your life – which, of course, is the theory behind vaccinations.

You need to be exposed to the invading agent and experience the uncomfortable symptoms only once. During subsequent exposure, you will not feel the “fight” process which, like exercising a muscle, actually strengthens your immunity. Unfortunately, the immune system does not recognize and kill cancer cells, because cancer is not actually a foreign object, but a cluster of one’s own specific cells reverted to a primitive state.

Take Caution With Antibiotics

Caution: Taking antibiotics indiscriminately destroys the immune system’s ability to function normally. Only take antibiotics for serious illnesses!

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Storm Cadet

Cannon...do trainers/vets just shotgun administer anti biotics without lab work on a ill horse?

I thought that trainers do blood lab work, check the white cell count and maybe culture before administering meds. So how does the scratch blood test program help if a trainer is waiting the results before administering?

Seems like they are not helping the health care of the horse in question if they are going to fine the trainer if NO antibiotics/anti inflammatory meds are found in the blood test by the track vet?

Instead of checking for med in the horses system...let the track vet draw blood and see what really is the sickness the horse has to see if it's a legit scratch. Elevated white count...good.....no elevated white count...fine of $250.00. That will stop the indiscriminate administering of medication. Crap...we keep giving the equine set antibiotics..we'll see superbug MRSA that doesn't respond to usual antibiotics in our stables soon!!!!!

just to add to what chuck said on this.....if a horse actually has a fever and maintains it for any length of time one would want to treat it with banamine and or bute (usually before test results have time to come back) because of the potential for other problems associated with high fever.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Danzig

virus is something we have to fight off on our own, antibiotics do nothing for them.

Yes, I did learn that in medical school (exception: the antiviral drugs I've used in patients)

Perhaps you might consider another reason for giving an antibiotic?

[whodey17]

I wish they would go back to the days when a trainer entered the horse the day before the race. I think they are just wasting money in this case. The are going to spend far more than they will recoup in fines. Why not take that money spent to test the horse and put it towards better living conditions on the backside.

[Riot]

I'd like to know what precipitated this - scratches so rampant at Churchill as to be compromising the card multiple times a week?

[Storm Cadet]

Originally Posted by justindew

Antibiotics are prescribed for viral infections so the body can fight off other bacterial infections while the body is weakened from fighting the viral infection.

Again, not in my medical practice are antibiotics prescribed for viral illnesses.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Storm Cadet

Again, not in my medical practice are antibiotics prescribed for viral illnesses.

Justin said, "Antibiotics are prescribed for viral infections so the body can fight off other bacterial infections while the body is weakened from fighting the viral infection. Yes, overuse of antibiotics can have negative results, such as resistance to the drug. But taking antibiotics while fighting a viral infection is common."

He's right (although I would amend that to say, not common, but essential in those cases where antibiotics are needed to prevent predictable and anticipated secondary bacterial infection; not because the body is "weakened").

'Zig said, Antibiotics don't kill viruses, they kill bacteria. And that is absolutely true. Few kids with viral upper respiratory infection should get an antibiotic. Quite a few 80-year-old chronic bronchitis patients with influenza should.

You are both right.