Stiefel Calcium

_{By Elena Gilg}

Unfortunately, my horse Domingo is one of the more susceptible breeds to various ailments and immune-related diseases. For example, nettle rash (technical term: urticaria) is not an unfamiliar term for us.

Unfortunately, Domingo gets nettle rash “relatively quickly”. We first became acquainted after I gave him one (!) unwashed, presumably sprayed apple and less than 2 hours later he looked like bubble wrap personified: swollen lips, pustules all over his body - a frightening picture.

This year freshly sprayed fields in the immediate vicinity were a particular problem - The insects that fly around in these fields and transmit the fresh poison to the horse when they bite cost us a hasty call to the vet on several occasions, because he, again, reacted violently and comprehensively: The whole horse was full of pustules, the mucous membranes were swollen and the horse was clearly exhausted.

Already at the first visit we were advised to give a semi-permanent dose of higher doses of calcium, which can be fed prophylactically to support the body's immune reaction to allergens so we would not have to counteract with ad hoc medication only. At the second visit because of nettle rash less than two (!) days later I took the vet's advice and ordered Stiefel Calcium for Domingo.

Calcium can slow down an immune overreaction of this kind because it reduces the permeability of the vessel walls and thus prevents the flooding of allergens and toxic histamines. This is no guarantee that the nettle rash will never come back but it does support the immune system in its reaction if it is known that the horse is (over)sensitive to insecticides, pesticides and herbicides. In acute cases only antihistamine can help, often in combination with cortisone. The feeding of calcium makes sense for prophylactic support in critical times (for example when fields are sprayed).

Calcium should not be used as a long-term dose since an excess can be deposited in joints and vessels. From a veterinary point of view feeding calcium for prophylaxis over a few weeks is harmless.

I will no longer be able to validate whether it is due to cortisone, Stiefel calcium or (very likely) the combination of both but one thing is certain: Since I fed Domingo the Stiefel Calcium in addition to a cortisone cure, we haven't had any more nettle rash - even though the farmers were busy spraying. I therefore consider this approach to be very successful for us and will support Domingo with calcium next year in the "critical time" to offer his immune system a little help and hopefully get through the mosquito season without nettle rash.