Post by lauras on Aug 20, 2007 21:28:42 GMT -5
My cousin sent this to me today....
This is from our local Horse vet..
Subject: Living with O.C.E.A.N. Syndrome
Just recently, after years of research, I have finally been able to give a
> name to what my wife and I have been living with for years.
>
> It's an affliction, for sure, which when undiagnosed and misunderstood can
> devastate and literally tear a family apart. Very little is known about
> O.C.E.A.N. Syndrome. But it is my hope this article will generate interest
> from researchers involved in the equine and psychological sciences. You
> will, no doubt, begin to identify similar symptoms in your own family and
> hopefully now be able to cope.
>
> Obsessive Compulsive Equine Attachment Neurosis Syndrome (O.C.E.A.N.S) is
> usually found in the female and can manifest itself anytime from birth to
> the golden years. Symptoms may appear any time and may even go dormant in
> the late teens, but the syndrome frequently re-emerges in later years.
>
> Symptoms vary widely in both number and degree of severity. Allow me to
> share some examples which are most prominent in our home.
>
> The afflicted individual:
>
> Can smell moldy hay at ten paces, but can't tell whether milk has gone bad
> until it turns chunky.
> Finds the occasional "Buck and Toot" session hugely entertaining, but
> severely chastises her husband for similar antics.
>
> Will spend hours cleaning and conditioning her tack, but wants to eat on
> paper plates so there are no dishes.
>
> Considers equine gaseous excretions a fragrance.
>
> Enjoys mucking out four stalls twice a day, but insists on having a
> housekeeper mop the kitchen floor once a week.
>
> Will spend an hour combing and trimming an equine mane, but wears a
> baseball cap so she doesn't waste time brushing her own hair.
>
> Will dig through manure piles daily looking for worms, but does not fish.
> Will not hesitate to administer a rectal exam up to her shoulder, but
> finds cleaning out the Thanksgiving turkey cavity for dressing quite
> repulsive.
>
> By memory can mix eight different supplements in the correct proportions,
> but can't make macaroni and cheese that isn't soupy.
>
> Twice a week will spend an hour scrubbing algae from the water tanks, but
> has a problem cleaning lasagna out of the casserole dish.
>
> Will pick a horse/DONKEY's nose, and call it cleaning, but becomes
> verbally violent when her husband picks his.
>
> Can sit through a four-hour session of a ground work clinic, but unable to
> make it through a half-hour episode of Cops.
> The spouse of an afflicted victim:
>
> Must come to terms with the fact there is no cure, and only slightly
> effective treatments. The syndrome may be genetic or caused by the
> inhaling of manure particles which, I propose, have an adverse effect on
> female hormones.
>
> Must adjust the family budget to include equine items - hay, veterinarian
> services, farrier services, riding boots and clothes, supplements, tack,
> CARTS, HARNESS, DRIVING CLINICS, SHOWS, equine masseuse and
> acupuncturist - as well as the (mandatory) equine spiritual guide, etc.
> Once you have identified a monthly figure, never look at it again. Doing
> so will cause tightness in your chest, nausea and occasional diarrhea.
>
> Must realize that your spouse has no control over this affliction. More
> often than not, she will deny a problem even exists as denial is common.
>
> Must form a support group. You need to know you're not alone - and there's
> no shame in admitting your wife has a problem. My support group, for
> instance, involves men who truly enjoy Harley Davidsons, four-day weekends
> and lots of scotch. SKIING, SNOWMOBILING, HUNTING, FARMING, FISHING ALSO
> WORK. Most times, she is unaware that I am even gone, until the precise
> moment she needs help getting a 50-pound bag of grain out of the truck.
>
> Now you can better see how O.C.E.A.N.S. affects countless households in
> this country and abroad. It knows no racial, ethnic or religious
> boundaries. It is a syndrome that will be difficult to treat because those
> most affected are in denial and therefore, not interested in a cure.
>
> So, I am taking it upon myself to be constantly diligent in my research in
> order to pass along information to make it easier for caretakers to cope
> on a day to day basis.
Zachary Franklin, DVM
This is from our local Horse vet..
Subject: Living with O.C.E.A.N. Syndrome
Just recently, after years of research, I have finally been able to give a
> name to what my wife and I have been living with for years.
>
> It's an affliction, for sure, which when undiagnosed and misunderstood can
> devastate and literally tear a family apart. Very little is known about
> O.C.E.A.N. Syndrome. But it is my hope this article will generate interest
> from researchers involved in the equine and psychological sciences. You
> will, no doubt, begin to identify similar symptoms in your own family and
> hopefully now be able to cope.
>
> Obsessive Compulsive Equine Attachment Neurosis Syndrome (O.C.E.A.N.S) is
> usually found in the female and can manifest itself anytime from birth to
> the golden years. Symptoms may appear any time and may even go dormant in
> the late teens, but the syndrome frequently re-emerges in later years.
>
> Symptoms vary widely in both number and degree of severity. Allow me to
> share some examples which are most prominent in our home.
>
> The afflicted individual:
>
> Can smell moldy hay at ten paces, but can't tell whether milk has gone bad
> until it turns chunky.
> Finds the occasional "Buck and Toot" session hugely entertaining, but
> severely chastises her husband for similar antics.
>
> Will spend hours cleaning and conditioning her tack, but wants to eat on
> paper plates so there are no dishes.
>
> Considers equine gaseous excretions a fragrance.
>
> Enjoys mucking out four stalls twice a day, but insists on having a
> housekeeper mop the kitchen floor once a week.
>
> Will spend an hour combing and trimming an equine mane, but wears a
> baseball cap so she doesn't waste time brushing her own hair.
>
> Will dig through manure piles daily looking for worms, but does not fish.
> Will not hesitate to administer a rectal exam up to her shoulder, but
> finds cleaning out the Thanksgiving turkey cavity for dressing quite
> repulsive.
>
> By memory can mix eight different supplements in the correct proportions,
> but can't make macaroni and cheese that isn't soupy.
>
> Twice a week will spend an hour scrubbing algae from the water tanks, but
> has a problem cleaning lasagna out of the casserole dish.
>
> Will pick a horse/DONKEY's nose, and call it cleaning, but becomes
> verbally violent when her husband picks his.
>
> Can sit through a four-hour session of a ground work clinic, but unable to
> make it through a half-hour episode of Cops.
> The spouse of an afflicted victim:
>
> Must come to terms with the fact there is no cure, and only slightly
> effective treatments. The syndrome may be genetic or caused by the
> inhaling of manure particles which, I propose, have an adverse effect on
> female hormones.
>
> Must adjust the family budget to include equine items - hay, veterinarian
> services, farrier services, riding boots and clothes, supplements, tack,
> CARTS, HARNESS, DRIVING CLINICS, SHOWS, equine masseuse and
> acupuncturist - as well as the (mandatory) equine spiritual guide, etc.
> Once you have identified a monthly figure, never look at it again. Doing
> so will cause tightness in your chest, nausea and occasional diarrhea.
>
> Must realize that your spouse has no control over this affliction. More
> often than not, she will deny a problem even exists as denial is common.
>
> Must form a support group. You need to know you're not alone - and there's
> no shame in admitting your wife has a problem. My support group, for
> instance, involves men who truly enjoy Harley Davidsons, four-day weekends
> and lots of scotch. SKIING, SNOWMOBILING, HUNTING, FARMING, FISHING ALSO
> WORK. Most times, she is unaware that I am even gone, until the precise
> moment she needs help getting a 50-pound bag of grain out of the truck.
>
> Now you can better see how O.C.E.A.N.S. affects countless households in
> this country and abroad. It knows no racial, ethnic or religious
> boundaries. It is a syndrome that will be difficult to treat because those
> most affected are in denial and therefore, not interested in a cure.
>
> So, I am taking it upon myself to be constantly diligent in my research in
> order to pass along information to make it easier for caretakers to cope
> on a day to day basis.
Zachary Franklin, DVM
I love it
