Madalyn Ward, DVM shares her answers to specific holistic horse care questions from clients. To see more questions and answers on real holistic horse care situations check out our Holistic Horsekeeping and Horse Harmony Facebook pages.

Q – Wondering if you have any articles or comments about Leptospirosis in horses, and also anything about cleaning kidneys in horses?

A – Here is a blog that may help – http://blog.horseharmony.com/holistic-horse-care-kidney-problems/. I also like to add this specific acidophilus when I have a horse with kidney issues. I start with 3 a day for a month. The acidophilus helps to balance the gut flora so digestion is improved and less toxins are produced that the kidney has to clear from the body.
I don’t have much experience with leptospirosis but I would think tetracycline antibiotics would be indicated along with kidney support.

Q – Many years ago you helped me immensely with my arab’s uveitis. He lived to the ripe old age of 30! Now it appears that my 12 yr old lipizzan gelding is developing it. I remember that you had me use oculotropin and euphrasia, but I can’t remember the amounts. Would you please refresh the instructions for me?

A – Euphrasia homeopathic would be good at 30c once a day for 3 days, then repeat as needed. Oculotrophin would be 6 tablets a day continued for 6 months past the clearing of all symptoms.

Q – This is regarding my 29yr old ottb gelding that recently had an injury, and developed a fever. The vet prescribed Receed 2 intramuscular antibiotic injections…had a bad reaction…was given a different antibiotic Gentermicin for 5 days. Now that the injury is healing.he’s developed Laminitis. Both front soles have dropped. Walking is very painful. I’m worried over all the conventional meds going into his body. Vet now gave him 1 gram bute each day, gastroguard 1/4 tube each day, glueonshoes and radiographs on Monday. He’s a Thrive Feed free eater and as of 7pm this evening before medicine was given he was eating, drinking, peeing, and pooping normally.

A – I suspect your horse has laminitis secondary to upset in his gut microflora. I would suggest a product called Probiotic Wise. This product contains a probiotic that will survive the antibiotics and allow your horses gut to rebalance and hopefully his laminitis will improve as his gut gets healthy. If you need to do a laminitis consult you can order one here,  but I hope you will see improvement with the Probiotic Wise.