The questionnaires included information on maternal age, maternal educational level, maternal marital status, maternal ethnicity, household income per month, maternal BMI before pregnancy, any maternal smoking during pregnancy, any maternal alcohol use during pregnancy, parity and parental history of asthma or atopy. Additional information was obtained by a combination of prenatal and postnatal questionnaires completed by both parents. Information on potential confounders, including mode of delivery, gender and gestational age, were obtained from obstetric records assessed in mid-wife practices and hospital registries. Questionnaire response rates were 82%, 73% and 72% at the age 2, 6 and 12 months respectively. Partial breastfeeding was defined as receiving both breast milk and infant formula and/or solid foods. Breastfeeding dose was categorized as (I) never breastfed, (II) partially breastfed until 4 months, and (III) predominantly breastfed until 4 months. Predominant breastfeeding was defined as receiving breastfeeding without any other infant formula, milk or solid foods.

An approximation of breastfeeding exclusivity was defined on the basis of parent reports of the child’s age at which solid foods were first introduced, including the introduction of formula feeding. The majority of infants had stopped receiving breast milk before the age of 12 months, only 3 infants thereafter. The duration of breastfeeding was categorized as (I) never breastfed, (II) breastfed for less than 3 months, (III) breastfed for 3–6 months, and (IV) breastfed for 6 months and longer. By questionnaire the mothers were asked whether they had ever breastfed their child and at which age (in months) the child had stopped receiving breast milk. The aim of this study was to examine the association between breastfeeding and lower and upper respiratory tract infections after infancy up to 4 years of age.ĭata on breastfeeding were collected by a combination of delivery reports and postnatal postal questionnaires at the age of 2, 6 and 12 months. However, only few studies have examined the effect of breastfeeding on respiratory tract infections after infancy and reported inconsistent results. Since breastfeeding might protect against diseases in adulthood such as type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease a prolonged protection against respiratory tract infections after the first year of life seems plausible. It is suggested that the influences of breast milk on the infant’s immune system may persist beyond the breastfeeding period, as it not only provides passive immunity but also maturation of the immune system in the long run. But, not all studies found breastfeeding exclusivity and duration to reduce the occurrence of respiratory tract infections. The protection of exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding against respiratory tract infections in the first year of life has often been suggested and also found in The Generation R Study. The benefits have been found to be dose-dependent and related to the duration of breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life with breastfeeding along with complementary feeding thereafter is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). It enhances the immature immune system of the infant and strengthens defense mechanisms against infectious and other agents during the breastfeeding period. Breast milk contains various antimicrobial substances, anti-inflammatory components and factors that promote immune development. There is much epidemiological evidence for the benefits of breastfeeding against a wide range of infections and illnesses. I managed to rehabilitate him to a certain extent but had to let him go at the age of 15 as his body was too unstable and he started to become dangerous as well.Infectious diseases, including respiratory tract infections, are a leading cause of morbidity and hospitalization in infants and children. At the age of 10, when he came into my life, he was broken.

At the age of 8 he had developed a tongue problem as well as navicular and hip problems. Due to a lack of diagnosis, he was not understood and pushed beyond his boundaries. He was girthy, nervous during mounting, could spook out of nowhere and had difficulty with bending. At young age (4), he had difficulties to be broken in. He suffered from unilateral C6 malformation with transposition to C7 and scoliosis. I have lost my beautiful warmblood gelding Armando at 15 years old. Some affected horses can be managed and trained, some cannot. Since every case is highly individual, it will always be a process of trial and error with no guarantees.

In conclusion, it can be said that multiple factors need to be considered when it comes to managing and potentially training ECVM affected horses.

Jessica gee feeding