12 newborn wild foals (wild baby horses) were scheduled to be euthanized
here in Utah because of a equine infectious anemia.  Utah is home to one
of the largest wild horse populations in the country.  Well the animal
rights advocates had a fit--they said the test was positive for these
newborns because the antibodies they test for came from their mother's
milk!  The horses may not be infected afterall.  The article in the Salt
Lake Tribune confirmed their suspicions, all 12 wild horses will be
spared slaughter!  To me this just shows the level of misunderstanding
we have achieved in our society.  Did they not know that antibodies to
diseases can be passed on thru mother's milk, or did they just forget?
When I tell mothers that they can protect their babies from illness when
breastfeeding because of the antibodies in mothers milk, many are just
shocked.  They can put all the DHA they want into formula, but they
can't make it "live" with antibodies.
Just picture 12 wild horses running thru the newly fallen snow in the
desert.  Just thought you might like to know.
Jennifer Myers Coombs, PA-C