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"Sheza Shinette and Platinum Performance Beat Pleural Pneumonia"
The beautiful golden mare stood frozen in time, her ears sharply forward, waiting for a cow to enter the arena; prepared to do what generations of her blood told her. Her job, and her pleasure, was to work that cow.
Sheza Shinette wasn't aware of the people watching her, nor did she know she was poised to step into the elite circle of American Quarter Horse Association World Champions, but she responded willingly when Sandy Collier sent her softly forward to meet her destiny.
On that day in November, the 4-year-old Shining Spark daughter out of Chick And Chex by Smart Chic Olena, owned by Nancy Crawford-Hall, became the 2002 AQHA Junior Working Cow Horse World Champion.
Just days later, the lovely mare was fighting for her life.
The morning after Sheza Shinette's midnight arrival from the long ride back to California, Collier knew that something was very wrong. At first she suspected intestinal discomfort, as the mare wasn't eating. Fortunately, Collier called highly respected California veterinarian, Dr Van Snow, and his associate Dr. Matt Byrd came right away. Upon taking her temperature, and listening to her breathing, Byrd told her to load the mare immediately and head for their clinic.
When they arrived at Snow's Equine Clinic, Dr. Byrd's suspicions were confirmed. Sheza Shinette had fallen victim to a dreaded equine ailment named
Equine Pleural Pneumonia, better known in laymen's terms as shipping fever. Equine Pleural Pneumonia is a deadly infection of the pleural lining of the lungs. The first apparent symptoms are fever and bodily discomfort, particularly a stiffness in the horse's gait due to pressure on the lungs. Blood work reveals an elevated white count, and ultrasound shows liquid in the pleural space, both symptoms of infection.
At the onset of fever there is a short window of time to begin effective treatment to turn the infection around, without the horse suffering long term consequences, damaged lungs, and often death. The onset of Equine Pleural Pneumonia is almost always observed in adult horses which have been trailered a long distance, hence the label 'shipping fever'.
Standard treatments for Equine Pleural Pneumonia were begun immediately upon Sheza Shinette's arrival at the Clinic. Unfortunately, both trainer and doctors knew that many horses do not respond well to standard treatments for this extremely tenacious infection. Collier and Dr. Snow began plans to transfer the mare to the famous Alamo Pintado Equine Clinic, a 24-hour equine hospital in California's Santa Ynez Valley, where her Equine Pleural Pneumonia could also be treated with a more revolutionary approach.
Well-known California Veterinarian Dr. Doug Herthel, founder and owner of the Alamo Pintado Equine Clinic and chief of staff of nine equine veterinarians, has been studying equine nutrition for over 30 years, to develop a therapeutic approach to enhance recovery time in his patients. He developed his own line of nutraceuticals designed to enhance orthopedic bone healing by decreasing inflammation, improving soft tissue recovery, enhancing the immune system, improving circulation, decreasing damage from excess free radicals, and strengthening bone, cartilage, and muscle.
Oddly enough, Dr. Herthel had found that his supplement, designed to enhance healing of his equine patients, often resulted in horses which were healthier upon recovery than they were before their surgery. He began marketing his product, called Platinum Performance, in 1996 in order to help his patients recover more rapidly. Equine professionals were quick to take note of the fact that his product was working, and began also using the supplement for their well horses, increasing their strength, wellness, and stamina.
Sheza Shinette came to Alamo Pintado a very sick horse. Part of Dr. Herthel's approach to healing her was to deliver Platinum Performance into her digestive tract via stomach tube. In this way, the mare was able to receive desperately needed nutrition and electrolytes directly from the supplement.
Herthel explained, "One of the keys to Platinum Performance's success is the form in which the nutrients are delivered. Many feeds and supplements contain the necessary nutrients. The key however, is in the bio-availability of these nutrients". In other words, the nutrients may be present in the feed, but they are in a form the body does not readily absorb. Most of the value is lost as the body synthesizes the feed and loses what it cannot absorb.
Another important factor in getting effective use of nutrients is the freshness of the supplement and how it is stored. Many times nutrients which were present at the production of feed expire due to climate and storage conditions. Dr. Herthel said that Platinum Performance products are packaged in relatively small quantities and shipped in nitrogen to ensure freshness. He added "The effects (of Platinum Performance) are more gratifying, more long lasting, and more accumulative".
The Platinum Performance treatments delivered by Dr. Erin Byrne, Alamo Pintado's attending physician for Sheza Shinette, enabled the mare to receive the ultimate benefits of the nutrients she desperately needed so she could enjoy a full and complete recovery from her brush with death.
Sandy Collier is very thankful to her wonderful equine veterinarians whose years of experience and special talents saved this beautiful and valuable show horse and Collier is also now a big believer in Dr. Herthel's Platinum Performance Products.
Collier said "I believe beyond a doubt that Platinum Performance saved Sheza Shinette's life". She shouldn't really have been surprised, she explains. She was already using the human line of Platinum Performance Products prior to Sheza Shinette's frightening experience, and she credited them directly for her ability to ride injured at the 2002 AQHA World Show for Sheza Shinette's memorable performance.
The intent of Platinum Performance formulas is to provide people and animals with sustained energy for enhanced mental and physical performance. According to their research, the formulas do this naturally, by combining energy and health-boosting compounds present in flaxseed, soy, rice, bran and sunflower seed using the latest in modern orthomolecular nutrition. The Platinum Performance formulas supply biologically available essential trace minerals, Omega-3 bioactive lipids, vitamins, anti-oxidants, amino acids, phyto-nutrients, and chondro-protective agents that are often missing or deficient in diets. The result is a dietary enhancement product that will allow animal and human athletes to maximize their full genetic potential.
According to Dr. Herthel, Equine Pleural Pneumonia is not well understood by many horsemen, and most of the time it can be prevented. In 30 years of dealing with this ailment, he has become quite sure that it is directly related to dry and dusty bedding in horse trailers and vans.
The particular culprit, he feels, is hard wood sawdust, and to a lesser extent, shavings. There are chemicals present in wood by-products which in Dr. Herthel's words: "Inhibit the muco-ciliar effect, the cilia which work to expel foreign bodies from the lungs". Add to that the fact that most bedding is full of pathogenic bacteria, and horses riding many miles tied, without the ability to lower their heads and clear their airways, thus paralyzing the lungs ability to expel irritants. The end result is a recipe for Equine Pleural Pneumonia, as the horse can't withstand the bombardment of lethal dust, and its lungs succumb to raging infection.
Dr. Herthel asks horsemen to seriously consider the environment in their trailers, and take a few preventative measures which can save horses from extreme discomfort at the least, and death at the worst. He notes that if wood product bedding cannot be avoided, clean bright pine shavings are best, and they can be sprayed with a mixture of mineral oil and water to keep down the dust. Allowing horses to ride untied, or frequently allowing them to lower their heads is very important. It is also very important to make sure that horses are getting enough water to drink.
And he truly believes that Platinum Performance will help horses to be less likely to succumb to illness, due to stronger immune systems and more stamina. He feels that human and equine athletes can increase their edge, stay bright and alert, experience less fatigue, and better handle stress.
Sandy Collier and Sheza Shinette are in complete agreement with him.
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