Of course or maybe drugs?

In principle, this question is wrong. Say it shows us yet like in the last thirty years the medical monitoring in the pigeon sport is seen. It has appeared as if this controversy is kept artificially in able to ensure that the breeder just don't start to look in the right direction. It should not be either medication or a natural process, but is to get to the synergy of both the one than the other to optimize with respect to the application.

Medicines

The drug company of pigeon sport stops at the most veterinarians in the prescribing of drugs on sick pigeons. There's also nothing wrong with it. As a vet, I am very glad that we (still) have the possibility to prescribe antibiotics when a disease breaks out in one fell swoop. Is happy as well as the fire department with water if there is a fire. But at a fire it would not end up like in veterinary medicine when deleting, it should be considered also in fire prevention. Then not also stehts cart and other great stuff would have to move out for a burning trash can. What do I mean with this?

Pigeons are carriers of a wide range of bacteria and other potential pathogens. I would stress here potential pathogens. For long, not all pigeons become sick due to the presence of Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Proteus, etc. We call these bacteria also facultatively pathogenic bacteria. The bacteria that can cause disease under certain optimal conditions are but with optimal health are do not pigeons.

Nevertheless, I will regularly confronted with breeders who made a treatment recommendation against E. coli or Streptococcus, although it is not a disease. The bacteria are detected only during a precautionary check in the feces. It takes lot time to convince pigeon fanciers of that is this utter nonsense. There is for example a large number of different E. coli strains. Many hundreds. Nevertheless, many are not at all pathogenic and are even considered useful. To kill this is completely pointless. Unlike when it above bacteria in institutions where they had no business detected at autopsy of a dove. This is a whole different story. In these cases you can make at best an Antibiogram to test what medications have the best effect.

The attempt to bacteria in the gut to kill always reminds me of an advertisement for the drug that was recommended with the slogan: '99% of household bacteria kills'. The question was not only whether they had to be killed, but it was created also a false security. Because if one is left of 100 bacteria, this one will have multiplied after about 20 minutes (it is assumed that a bacterium splits every 20 minutes). This means that we, roughly speaking, can be after about 2 hours again on the old level. Hereby I do not claim that disinfection is not useful. We must want to see everything in the right perspective remain and created no illusory world.

The same is true for the use of antibiotics. If we use them against bacteria that will lead to illness under good conditions, we created so a false security. Because the use of these funds if it is not necessary will result in a selection of the more vigorous specimens. This will be the antibiotics to victims than last. The breeder has the sensation on the right track to be. But in reality it may be so that he works the problem that does not exist yet, in his hand. Rational use of antibiotics is therefore more than welcome. We should make sure all that we apply the right means if it is really necessary. If al the water is wasted by the fire on small fire, that too little water is if there's a real big fire danger.

Therefore the treatment should need to be seen by sick pigeons as a starting point and not as a railway terminus.

Defense and natural process

I also know that Bill Clinton once said: 'it's the economy, stupid!', but in health care would actually be said: 'It's the immunity, stupid!'. Because that's why everything revolves. If the defense of man and animal is optimal risk for outbreaks is much smaller. In analogy with fire, if fire-resistant materials are used, a fire will have can quickly less himself. This shows immediately that the increase of Defense alone of course also not blessed making is. As a fire storm, you can meet so many preventive measures. The thing is still burst into flames.

That reduce the use of medicines we cause that the weaker brothers are formerly striking. We won't keep them on their toes with medicines. As a result, a better selection is possible which will ultimately result in a healthier pigeon population. What we have seen in the past 40 years is that the pigeons increasingly have become dependent on drugs to stay healthy. It couldn't this be so it seems we saw that more and more diseases among the pigeons? We shot us with our procedures partially yourself in the leg?

The practice teaches us abundantly the breeders who have sworn off excessive use of antibiotics for a long time and have used their cards in particular on prevention could determine not only a better condition when their pigeons, but also a reduced sensitivity for disease whereas previously regularly a cure had to be done. It is anyway an illusion to take something within a month can be reached. Often enough people contact me shortly before the beginning of the season for information about the possibilities of more preventive measures. 'I want to try this natural method.' I know that this is pointless then soon. Of concerned breeders is some kind of miracle from a can. So I can't but. A preventive procedure required a different perspective on the supply of pigeons.

Fortunately we are no longer to the only company that wants to get strong to interpret on a more preventive procedures and on the increase of Defense dependence on antibiotics help to push back. In Velserbroek (NL), there is a company that deserves praise also for the support on the natural processes in the pigeon sport.

Where it's at in the pigeon sport is is that we move the focus of the ' fire lösch-Verfahren, to the measures take by the end of the fire accidents. Just so we can do a favor to the pigeon sport and make less dependent on the use of drugs. So we can also better select among the pigeons which we can keep stronger pigeons which must not be kept busy with medicines. Are probably we do so even less susceptible to all sorts of 'new' infections that keep coming back from seem to the pigeons.

Special attention deserves also the preventive procedure by means of vaccination. Despite comments by some colleagues who defend themselves against the use of vaccines, apparently very teaches the practice that several vaccines exist that can make a great contribution to the prevention of disease outbreaks, especially the youngsters, too much can be. Also this more energy left in the young Dove body which can then be invested in the development of the body.

Sport support

The pigeon sport has very developed in recent years. Will you take yet on the competitions must be left nothing to chance. However, this should not mean that they must be spread with a medicine box. A good sports accompaniment should be out a good selection in the autumn, an optimal supply during the moulting period, a thorough health check far before the season starts again and that support the natural defense. If these conditions are met, be expected effect of supporting supplements during the flights. During the last seven years we intensively deal with improving the shape and the endurance of the pigeons on competitions. Doping is, of course, from the evil. I'm not only not necessary is a large backrest of doping, the results in ones taken the local, provinzial, regionally and nationally can be reached by an optimal support of the Defense einerseids, after possible diseases were treated well before the season as it should be.

When this is done correctly also natural remedies with, brought much profit are on the competitions. I divide the latter group products in the denominator sports accompaniment.

Three G's

How said the pigeons before the season already be free from diseases, the defense should be optimal. Until then, the use of sport support products has its value. But if the three G's do not exist any surplus has no point. The three G's are good pigeons, good shot and good breeders. Which means using whatever makes no sense if no good selection takes place and the ventilation on the beat is sub optimal. It is the good breeders who has to worry.

Best of luck,

Peter Boskamp