Residents of the South-East of this Sceptered Isle awoke to the smell of something unpleasant emanating from continental Europe.

Happily, we're just out of range, here but it apparently smells as if the Dutch farmers have emptied their slurry lagoons in one unhealthy swoop, at the end of their winter spreading ban, kindly sending South East England a smelly greeting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/19/weather

This article even commiserates with HM the Queen : Even the Queen wasn't safe barracked away in Windsor castle. A spokesman at Windsor's tourist office said: "When I left home this morning the smell was virtually unbearable. I think the Queen is in. I hope she has her windows closed."

Judging from the smell that has been a regular greeting for M4 travellers past Windsor, she's no stranger to pongs of that sort!

The full meteorological explanation is disclosed in the above article and the Met Office bravely reassures us that there is no health hazard.

At least, it serves as a reminder of the fact that we're all in this together and pollution in one part of our planet affects others.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

As midges start to fly, in mornings and evenings, so a great many poor ponies will start to suffer distressing signs and symptoms. Native pony breeds are particularly susceptible. Severe itchiness (pruritus), damage to the coat and skin sores (esp. mane, withers, rump and tail) are common signs. Happily, much can be done for a good proportion of these.

For advice and information:

http://www.alternativevet.org/horse_diseases.htm#sweetitch

Spring is classically the time for headshakers to start suffering their seasonal problems. For information on this distressing condition:

http://www.alternativevet.org/horse_diseases.htm#head_shaking

http://www.alternativevet.org/Headshaking%20WS064-07.pdf

The season for grass-induced laminitis is delayed by the cold weather. The grass is simply not growing much, at present. However, the seasonal grass laminitis risk can only be just around the corner. Prevention must be our main objective.

Native pony breeds are particularly susceptible but any equine can suffer the condition, esp. if grazing ground is fertilised with artificial nitrogen fertilisers. Stressed grass in over-grazed paddocks and fields may also represent a special risk.

Information and advice on prevention, management and treatment:

http://www.alternativevet.org/horse_diseases.htm#laminitis

http://www.alternativevet.org/WS130-07.pdf

http://www.alternativevet.org/Laminitis%20WS059-07.pdf

The recently released 'scientific paper' from Copenhagen University, Denmark, on the potential harm of vitamin supplementation (antioxidants or anti-oxidants) was very badly reported in the media (links listed below). It was made out to demonstrate that taking vitamins was a sure way to an earlier death (premature death). This was a very unscientific and headline-grabbing conclusion to draw from the paper. The main findings of the paper were that overdoses of vitamin A can do damage.

In some cases, vitamin supplementation can indeed be dangerous. It has been known for DECADES that overdosing of Vitamin A can be dangerous, so no big revelation there. Tell us something new.

Vitamins can form part of a holistic medical programme, for humans and animals. My experience, of course, is in the veterinary field.

It has to be sensible to practise moderation in diet and taking ANYTHING to excess is unwise. Vitamin supplementation, as part of a properly designed regime, can be vital to health. However, no better nutrition exists than a good and varied diet, eating fresh wholesome species-suitable food, preferably organic, with plenty of variety and moderation. If the diet has been unbalanced, over a period, supplementation (with NATURAL-source vitamins) is ESSENTIAL.

Manufactured vitamins may not be all they're cracked up to be. The manufacturing process may also involve the inclusion of species-unsuitable material (e.g. gelatin for horses). It is sad that the study apparently made no attempt to distinguish between naturally-sourced vitamins and their manufactured analogues.

If only science were presented in a scientific way and if only it could cover a subject completely, instead of taking parts in isolation. If only eye-catching and potentially seriously misleading headlines were not a feature of the handling of such issues by our media. Simple truth, integrity and objectivity are not common commodities.

The massive vitamin supplement market (about £150 million in the UK) is viewed with envious eyes by the pharmaceutical industry.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-04/17/content_6623153.htm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/04/16/scivita116.xml

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/health/article3614642.ece

A detailed and objective report of the study can be found at:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/health/article3614642.ece

It comes up with very low-key conclusions. In most cases, results only just reached statistical significance and it was mainly Vitamin A or similar compounds that were singled out - a far cry from the scary headlines. It's conclusions are:

"People take supplements for a wide range of reasons from believing they may be of benefit to treat a certain condition or just to supplement the diet as part of a healthy lifestyle approach. Although this review does provide some evidence of potential harm from taking certain supplements at the doses tested, there may be benefits of lower doses of supplements in certain selected groups."

The best nutrition advice I can offer is what I have long advocated - feed a good, fresh and varied species-suitable diet and don't buy manufactured vitamins. Be suspicious of glossy and vigorous marketing of any 'health' product. If a diet has been unsatisfactory or if there appear to be health indications for vitamin supplementation, seek holistic veterinary advice on the way forward for supplementation with natural-source vitamins.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]