Immunology

A few weeks ago I read a very interesting appendix in the weekend edition of a newspaper. In the world of cancer therapy, there have long been three ways to combat this terrible disease. These are the surgical knife, radiation and chemotherapy. For a long time, alternative (supportive) treatments have been quickly dismissed as quackery. Even now, a doctor must above all stick to the existing protocols and not look too far off the path for a solution. The risk of a quack brand from the professional group is then quickly present. In the alternative circle, it has been repeated for quite a long time how important it is to increase one's own defenses in order to give the body the opportunity not only to help fight the disease itself, but also, above all, to withstand the damage caused by the current therapy to be able to Even if the doctors try with integrity to limit the damage from chemotherapy and radiation, in many cases they are still significant (I was somewhat amazed when I read a book a year ago that studies had shown that three-quarters of oncologists Therapies that they recommend to their patients in many cases would not go down themselves or would recommend to their relatives. I found that questionable. Well, when cancer is diagnosed, it is human to grasp at every straw as a loan.).
I also read with admiration recently about a 50-year-old pulmonologist who quit practicing because she could no longer stand the protocol of prescribing therapies to people who had only a few percent better results than doing nothing. Incidentally, I think that not everyone was happy with their confession.
In the appendix mentioned, for the first time the general public could read what had long been known behind the scenes. Namely that it is of the utmost importance to support one's own defense against cancer as much as possible in order to increase the chance of success considerably. Even more, 2013 was seen as the year that the classic approach to cancer was joined by an important fourth and fifth mode of treatment. This strengthens your own defenses in such a way that the body is able to fight the cancer itself. It was posited that this procedure could be seen as the fourth way in the fight against cancer.
Gene therapy has been mentioned as a possible fifth way to fight cancer. We do not have to expect now that every form of cancer will be treated with immunotherapy. It's too early for that, but it's hopeful that within the regular circle, supporting the body's defenses is now also being embraced as a possible key to success. In the case of this immunotherapy, the main thing to consider is specifically motivating the immune cells, which makes them better able to attack the cancer cells. Certainly not all cancer cells can be fought in this way. But it gives hope that one is also willing to shift the field of vision.
When I conducted experiments with the acidification of the drinking water in pigs in the 1980s, we had considerable success. Ranchers have seen their antibiotic costs cut, sometimes by as much as 50%, and improved their outcomes. This was at the time of the massive use of antibiotics. One could say that the zeitgeist was not ripe for another approach. Change the field of view? When I got the idea that it had to be possible to support the intestinal function of the young pigeons in a similar way, a colleague quickly came to visit me to tell me what he saw as an 'unfortunate idea' to fight pigeon diseases with acids and herbs wanting to talk out of your head. Luckily I wasn't listening to him at the time. My belief in the right process was greater than betting all my cards on the sale of antibiotics, as was the custom at the time. Well, I was a caller in the desert for years, which was often smiled at contemptuously. But that time is clearly changing, although a … colleague still seems to be trying at times. But oh, I'll let him. I try to let everyone in their worth.
Even then, I had the idea that we must stimulate the animals' own defenses as much as possible so that the patients have more power in the event of an infection attack. It's good that we have antibiotics around, if our own defenses are not sufficient, the animals can still come to the rescue. But the starting point is that this should be the exception rather than the rule.
In short, there are two ways to tackle pigeon diseases. Any infection is fought with antibiotics. There are colleagues who publicly propagate this way. They even show that performances in the pigeon sport are only possible if about five antibiotics or similar cures have been given before the season. Fortunately, today's practice proves that this is not an absolute necessity. Certainly not in the middle and long distance pigeons. The program game is a bit more sensitive, but there are more and more alternatives there too.
Other colleagues examine the pigeons and then find an infection that they fight. When they check up afterwards, they find another infection. On the other hand, a cure must then be made again. Etc. It's not so strange when we understand that pigeons can be seen as a kind of breeding vessels of infections. In pigeons, enough infections can be found in the winter months without the pigeons seeming to have any obvious complaints and, considering their condition, usually not even have them. We can detect streptococci, staphylococci, salmonella, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis and hexamitiasis in pigeons that are obviously in top shape, have powder on their feathers and have snow-white eyes and noses. Do we then have to give these pigeons cures against all these diseases immediately? Definitely not, left paratyphoid. With the other infections, there is less of a need, unless the infection pressure threatens to become too high. But in this case, the symptoms that these infections can cause are usually more definite.
When spring comes and the pigeons are a little more stressed by being in the coop with other fanciers' pigeons, the infection pressure can increase because the level of defense lowers. When this level falls below a certain value, one of these infections can take the opportunity and go from latent (=hidden) to a clinical infection.
Many pigeon doctors wait until this stage and then prescribe a cure that either works very well because the pigeon has sufficient residual defenses to get over it and still be able to get in shape. But it can also happen that in this way the way is cleared for another latent infection. If this infection is not sensitive to the prescribed remedy, the causative agent of this infection can multiply unchecked. Especially if the general defense of the pigeon is a little less good. So the other infection takes the place of the previous infection, so to speak, and you don't get much further with the given cure. When doing a cure it is sensible to optimize the general defense of the pigeons in such a way that the defense cells retain more power to be able to overcome the remaining infections. Better still, by keeping the general defenses of the pigeons at as high a level as possible, any infections will have less opportunity to develop and it is better to stay out of the cycle of antibiotic use.
Again, I'm not against the use of antibiotics when necessary. But I've been propagating for over thirty years increasing general defenses to reduce antibiotic dependency.
How can you increase the general defense of the pigeons? That's a question I hear a lot when I get back to my hobbyhorse. Many breeders already do some things. So giving brewer's yeast to the pigeons forms a good base. Probiotics and prebiotics also support the pigeons' intestinal function. The good gut bacteria in probiotics can put up a fight with the more harmful gut bacteria for the attachment points on the gut wall. If too many harmful bacteria are able to occupy the attachment points, it will lead to clinical symptoms in the form of diarrhea or poorer bowel function. The B vitamins in brewer's yeast also have a supporting effect on the development of intestinal bacteria.
Prebiotics are substances that the good intestinal bacteria need for good development. There are enough products available on the market for this purpose. Bony B.M.T. is just one of them.
In this context, it might be good to remember that many antibiotics also kill the good bacteria in the gut, causing the gut to lag behind again. It is then also a good practice to administer probiotics during and after a course of antibiotics.
Maintaining good levels of acidity in the gut can also benefit the body's good bacteria over the more harmful varieties. This is one of the goals of the acidifying supplements on the market. It is important to ensure that the correct acidity is maintained. Too acidic isn't good either. As far as this is concerned, there are currently enough options available. Some preparations not only acidify but further support the defense through their influence on the defense cells by means of the added herbs. In this way, the immune cells in the intestinal wall can also function better, so that the risk of an invasion by bacteria can be further reduced.
Omega 3 oil is one of the things that must not be forgotten in today's pigeon sport. Omega 3 oil has an anti-inflammatory effect.
A little more work but certainly not unimportant, even if only for the sake of a good down moult, is giving a supporting pigeon tea on a regular basis. This might be a bit too much work for some growers, but despite this we are seeing more people getting excited about this ancient practice. A good tea usually also contains herbs that support the liver and intestines, in addition to herbs for general defense. In addition, most pigeon teas also contain herbs that are reputed to have a supportive effect on the airways.
In order to provide the pigeons with sufficient minerals, we developed the basic core a few years ago. We have combined herbs with minerals to protect the pigeons from deficits in periods of stress and increased needs. Next we have our newest bucket of mineral mixes, featuring cores coated with herbs, vitamins and minerals and a dose of Omega 3 oil. with a similar goal. In short, many of the natural products we have developed over the years are aimed at raising the pigeon's basic defenses to a higher level and reducing their susceptibility to infection. Evil tongues will definitely be shouting again that I want to give vague information about our products here, but since there are now several producers who have worked out and are working out similar views, it is good to point out the various possibilities in relation to the natural process. What is most important is a change of mindset, no longer focusing on fighting diseases as soon as they break out, but focusing on the stage before that by acting proactively, giving the pigeons more clout to overcome infections to stay and become without a whole series of antibiotic cures is necessary to be able to let the pigeons still reasonably participate in races.
Prevention is still better than cure.

Good luck
Peter Boskamp