Horses acquire West Nile virus infection after being bitten by mosquitoes that carry the virus. Clinical signs include loss of appetite and depression, along with any three of the following: fever, weakness of hind limbs, flaccid paralysis of lower limb, impaired vision, ataxia, head pressing, aimless wandering, convulsions, inability to swallow, circling, hyperexcitability, paresis, or coma.
Although no specific anti-viral agents have been recommended for treating West Nile encephalitis and there is currently no vaccine available against West Nile virus, there is some hope and help through homeopathy.
Dr. Gerald A. Wessner of Summerfield, Florida, has developed a West Nile nosode and is administering it to all of his holistic clients' horses. So far, according to Dr. Wessner, it has been very effective.
The nosode is given orally for three days, then weekly for four weeks, then monthly. Wessner relates that "only a few horses protected with this nosode have come down with the disease, and with homeopathic treatment, they are over it in just a few days. The treatment I use to cure West Nile is Aconite 30c at the first signs of onset (give a dose of aconite every 15 minutes for an hour, then once per hour until improvement).
"Once improvement occurs, I wait and see how they do," Wessner continues, explaining that improvement could mean the temperature drops a little or the horse is eating better. "If no more weakness or lying down, they are fine, but if they continue to lie down, I switch to Arsenicum Album 30C and treat as with the Aconite. This has been very successful. Most horses are over West Nile in two days. One horse who was down for nine days responded in four days.
"I have also used Ozone Therapy and had overnight success. To date, no horse has died when treated in this manner," Wessner concludes.
Gerald A. Wessner VMD
The Holistic Veterinary Clinic
14402 S. Hwy 475
Summerfield, FL 34491
352-245-2025