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Newsletter Pigeon - January 2017
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As you might have seen, we have been approached by the NPO to be the Official Sponsor of the National days in 2017. One asked us our vision on the medical pigeon guidance of today. For many enthusiasts it is known that I personally are a supporter of the more natural accompaniment of the sport for over 30 years. In this we, a number of colleagues, have a quite different opinion. I believe that there are several roads that lead to Rome. Each fancier can determine, for themselves, what the right path is for him/her. I gave myself the task to try to sketch an objective view of the (im)possibilities out there. Both with respect to the classical view of the guidance, primarily with medications (ie antibiotics) and the more natural approach which also have several possibilities now.
Antibiotics
When I, about 30 years ago, began to ask for a more natural approach to the sport, I was like a voice in the wilderness and a rower who tried to row against the current flow. Not strange if we put this in the era of the past. At  that time even the government was a strong supporter of the use of antibiotics. There was legislation that was even promoting the use of antibiotics in animal feed. Ears to the risk of resistance induction by excessive antibiotic use were hardly there.
There was no time for it. So even in the pigeon sport there was a culture of antibiotic use as a panacea for all ills. Now you may think that I am an opponent of antibiotics. Well then, however, you are wrong. I am very glad that these substances exist. In fact, I have to thank my life. As a small child I was struck by a severe glomerulonephritis (blood poisoning) which made me stay in the hospital for almost half a year. Without the existence of penicillin at the time, I would not have written this article. Possible that the latter has ensured that I strive towards a wise use of these resources. I read recently that there was a woman who deceased because of a bladder infection, because the bacteria that cause cystitis, was no longer susceptible to any means. It just would be your wife, mother, daughter or grandchild.
All this, does not mean that I as a veterinarian, where necessary, will not use antibiotics to help sick birds, suffering from an infectious disease. If antibiotics are needed, then they are needed. Clear.
However, the time is drastically changing. Where once, even the government encouraged the use of antibiotics, the same government has now made a turn of 180 degrees. The aim is now a government policy, whereby antibiotics not only be used as little as possible, but in which one looks at it which also antibiotics when needed or can be used. This is to be regarded as a complete break with the old policy. The sport and the fans should realize this also. Dutch legislation goes beyond herein regulations in the countries surrounding us. Thus enthusiasts from border areas often do not understand that the prescription of certain resources is restricted in the Netherlands, since these resources are available without many problems in our neighboring countries.
Veterinarians in the Netherlands, however, have to do with the Dutch regulations.
Health Care versus illness Care
As I wrote earlier, I was in favor of a more natural approach, long before the legislation had overtaken daily practice. This restriction in the use of antibiotics came from a vision that we do not only have to deal with in the sport with Illness Care, but that there should also be talked of health in addition to the Performance care.
What do I mean by this? In my book Keep pigeons healthy (for now, only in Dutch), I try to make clear  that we have to deal with Illness Care, Health Care and Performance Care. Of course, this in daily practice are overlapping areas. But years of observation revealed that many lovers only want to deal with sickness and performance care. Concern for health is seen as a gift of nature. Something that naturally exists if you give the birds food and water. Once there is little stress, this will often be correct. But when stress comes into play, this story may change completely. Illnesses are then everywhere on hold and waiting to strike. The extent of Health is also determine whether this may or may not succeed easily.
Veterinarians are trained to cure diseases. When you visit a typical average vet, then they will check your birds for the presence of disease and, where appropriate, proposes a treatment. Nothing wrong with that. I research the pigeons for the presence of diseases and also I propose, where necessary, treatment. However, I consider it a missed opportunity if not then explained to fans that after this treatment, the disease may be gone, but whereas this is not immediately restored the health of the pigeons. Every fancier understands that we can not run a marathon right after a flu itself (as we already can do this). Everyone understands that health must first be optimized. Yet many enthusiasts still has the idea that when the disease has been overcome, the pigeons can be basket right back in and deliver a (top)performance. Well, the miracles haven’t gone out the world, but usually the body following an illness still needs some time to recover.
The Care to support this process I indicate with Health Care. Health Care is therefore seen as the act that makes pigeons less susceptible to diseases. Providing sufficient resistance. And precisely this Health Care within veterinary medicine and the Pigeonsport is often neglected. The fancier who realize that it is important to optimize the resistance and support, are often viewed with suspicion by other fanciers who then wonder what 'drugs' this, good playing, lovers are using.
But it's like Cruyff already stated: You will only see it once you've got it.
During the years my thesis was and still is: Encourage Health – stimulate health care – whereby there is less risk of disease. The ways to achieve this I, in addition to the treatment of subjects that belong to the Illness Care, will give further consideration in a number of columns. Eventually every fancier decides which way he/she wants to go and that is good too. I just want to describe a few possibilities in the next period of time. It gives the fancier the change to get his/her advantages from it or not.
Good Luck, Peter Boskamp
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