I believe the best information on this subject would be found in David Urch’s book – “Aloe Vera Natures Gift – Aloe in Veterinary Practice. This book comes highly recommended and is full of nothing but the use of Aloe Vera Gel and animals.
The way I understand it, David Urch was intorduced to Aloe Vera through having a serious accident. Being a BSc, MA, VetMB, MRCVS having over 20 years experience in Veterinary Practice, why would’nt he use Aloe Vera Gel preparations in his Practice for his animals?
The book provides animal owners and vets with practical advice on how to use the Aloe Vera Gel to treat a wide range of animal ailments. There are over 200 conditions which effect the dog, horse and cat that are discussed with in the pages of this Great Practical Book. The book does talk as well about some common diseases of sheep, cattle, snakes, goats, lizards, fish and birds. The diseases are described and with step-by-step instructions on how to effectivly use Aloe Vera preparations where animals are concerned. He even has the recommeded dosages. Along with all of this, there is included guidance for owners on animal care and some first-aid.
Urch’s reports of his work with horses and dogs are really the most interesting to me. He states he has noticed a general health improvement in animals when the Aloe Vera Gel is included in diets. It is typical that around 6 weeks after the animals are on the gel he noticed that the animals treated have thicker shinier and better quality coats, they have nails which grow faster and are of much better quality. It seems as though the animals are much more vibrant and full of Life.
Urch writes that Aloe Vera Gel acts on the digestive system, which includes the oral cavity, the respiratory system, including the nasal Chambers and the sinuses. Aloe Vera Gel also helps with the eyes, ears and th muscuo-skeletal system. Of course, we can not forget the Skin! All of the above systems have 2 properties in common – they have either epithelail cells or the response involves the immunological system. A few different Dr.’s including Dr. Peter Atherton, have concluded that Aloe Vera Gel actually works on the epthilial tissues (Layer of cell covering the body-the skin or lining a cavity connected with it) and the immune system to produce its beneficial effects. This came from Dr. Urch’s very large number of clinical cases he has worked with in his practice.
Treatment of Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome -
What is that you may ask?! This condition I believe was first noticed in fit competition and race horses. All of a sudden, the horses would show persistent poor exercise tolerance and were more lethargic than normal. Most of the horses had a normal appetite. Clinical examination frequetly revealed enlargement of the lymph nodes under the jaw between the mandibles (sub-mandibular lymph nodes), a body temperature that was 1 – 2 degrees Fahrenheit below normal – most frequently between 97.5 and 98.5 F (normal body temperature is approximately 100 F) Some of the horses had suffered initially from lying-up or spasmodic colic. However, once the problems had been resolved, these horses were still not right. Blood samples taken from them sat this stage revealed the leucopaenia.
There were some cases, where the owners did not appreciate that the horse was ill and continued to work them, showed signs of hind leg inco-ordination – becoming recumbent and paralysed. The outcome for these cases was unfavourable and many were put to sleep.
Blood samples from all cases consistently showed the leucopaenia and frequently a reversal of the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio with neutrpaenia (decrease in neutrophilis) and and increase in lymphocytes. Some showed a decreased red cell count but not all. An increase in the number of monocytes in the blood was also evident in some cases. In a few cases the blood sample also showed an increase in both muscle and liver enzymes. Most cases showed no concurrent clinical signs that could be associated with an upper-respiratory tract virus infection. This syndrome was most common in horses over 6 years of age and affected all sexes of horses equally.
Conventional drug therapy: Previoulsly, rest had been advised for these cases and over a perod of time, some returned to normal. However an increasing number were remaining dull and lethargic. A number of drugs were then employed to try and stimulate the immuological system back to normal. Drugs such as levamisole and isoniazid were used, but with limited success – typically about a 40% success rate. Many of these horses were off work for over a year and some never returnded to their privious perfomance. Anjmber of casds were also given hyperimmune serum inravenoulsy in the form of a preparation called equinumb IV. Thre injections were given over a six week period. Several of the horses went off their food and develped fever during this treatment. Overall, proved only slighly more effective than levamisole and isoniaid. Horses that showed signs of aneamia were given iron and vitamin B 12 preparations by injection and orally.
There is an article written by a Peter Green, published in the Veterinary Times in 1996, repored considerable success in treating horses with PVLS (Post viral lethargy syndrome) with Aloe Vera. After reading the article, Dr. Urch started to treat these cases in the same way. Over a number of years he has treated several hundred cases of PVLS using Aloe Vera, acheiving a success rate of 83%. The cost I understand of this treatment is approximately half that of traditional drug therapy.
Check out the Book at this link!