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Hello,
and welcome to
Cat Puz zles!
Parasite
Lessons
By Myrna Milani, BS, DVM
When most of us
think of parasites we think of creepy, crawly, blood-sucking little
horrors of no redeeming value whatsoever. However, an increasing number
of scientists no longer share that view. Instead of taking a villain-victim
approach to parasite-host relationships, they look at what parasites
can teach us about animal health and behavior.
Lessons
From the Field
Some scientific
studies suggest that parasites trigger changes in the host's immune
response that could protect the host from other, more serious problems.
In the process of creating changes that make the host's intestinal tract
more hospitable to itself, for example, the parasite makes that area
less hospitable to certain conditions that could lead to other, more
serious problems. Other studies indicate that the health of entire ecosystems
might depend on the presence of parasites as much or even more than
on some species higher up the food chain. Although individuals belonging
to a certain species of fish may not fare too well because of a parasitic
infestation, the changes caused by that parasite make them easy prey
for certain bird species who would die without this readily available
food supply.
At that same though,
the awareness that parasites can kill lies deeply embedded in many animal
species. The willingness to effectively groom another to remove external
parasites ranks as a primary method of gaining a friend or even a mate
in primate species. Scientists now believe that the brightly colored
plumage of male birds and other breeding male adornments and displays
communicate the animals' parasite status. The male peacock's splendid
feathered frock, like the buck's elegant antler's, both depend on good
health. If the animal must share its food with internal parasites or
it lacks the necessary grooming skills to keep itself free of external
ones, the resulting bedraggled appearance will serve as a turn-off for
females seeking the best sire for their offspring.
Parasites also
may serve as an efficient method of population and quality control in
wild species. When numbers of animals exceed the food supply's ability
to nourish them all, parasites previously kept at bay may flourish at
the host's expense, and only the healthiest animals most skilled at
finding and utilizing any available food will survive. Offspring of
parents who keep their nests or dens free of parasite-harboring wastes
and who groom their young regularly stand a greater chance of surviving
than those whose parents don't supply this quality care.
Within the wild
animal kingdom then, we may say that parasite and host are partners
in a dance that ultimately leads to the evolution of both species. But
does the same hold true for our pets?
Lessons
From Suburbia
Domestication leads
to several parasite-related problems for our pets. First, the very process
of domestication elevates a substance called cortisol which can undermine
the domestic animal's immune response. Second, many pets lead relatively
stressful lives. Although images of predators stalking wild dogs or
small wildcats appear far more stressful to us than life in the average
human household, our pets may need to cope with far more stimulus input-such
as that from traffic, meter readers, loud televisions, kids squabbling,
other animals in the neighborhood-over which they may have little or
no control. Additionally, a certain amount of stability and consistency
underlies wild animal life while inconsistency ranks as the hallmark
of many pet owners' lives.
Because of this,
it's fortunate that many excellent options for parasite control now
exist, and regular veterinary check-ups to determine the best one(s)
should remain high on everyone's list of pet-owning responsibilities.
At the same time, though, we don't want to put so much faith in these
products that we forget to address those two other critical aspects
of parasite prevention and control: good nutrition and cleanliness.
Offering our pets
a good quality diet in a calm environment nourishes both mind and body.
Doing so also ensures we won't miss early signs of parasite problems-such
as diarrhea or a scruffy haircoat-because a poor diet or lots of table
scraps led to those same results.
As far as cleanliness
goes, too much simply can't be said about it. Regular grooming does
more than eliminate external parasites; it stimulates the skin as well
as strengthens the bond between owner and pet. The longer wastes remain
in yards on in litter boxes, the more time any parasites have to infect
the pet again. Daily removal of waste prevents this problem.
And even though
taking Danny for a walk so he doesn't mess in the yard sends many owners
to the local park every day, waiting until he eliminates in the yard
before going to the park offers several important benefits. Because
dogs mark their territories with their urine and stool, a dog who only
eliminates in his own yard only has to protect this space. This can
take an enormous amount of stress off an animal who previously eliminated
in an area that he couldn't monitor from his owner's home, and which
contained the marks of numerous other, sometimes hostile animals. Home-ground
elimination also makes it easier for owners to clean up as well as monitor
pet waste for signs of problems.
Once Danny eliminates
in his own yard, keeping him moving at a brisk pace provides two more
benefits. Not only does he get more exercise, he doesn't have time to
sniff and mark the areas where others have marked. Although many owners
see such sniffing as fun for the dog, in areas with lots of animals,
such sniffing (and the nose-licking that follows it) may serve as good
way for pets to pick up parasites and disease.
From all this we
can see that, although parasites might give us the creeps, they can
also help us develop an expanded view of nature and our relationship
with our pets. Effective treatments may appear to make concern about
parasites a thing of the past. However, we should never forget the basic
lessons of good husbandry and quality interaction that these creatures
teach us.
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Copyright 2005, Myrna Milani, TippingPoint, Inc, Charlestown, NH
All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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Would you like
to read about cats? Myrna has written some great articles about them
and other animals and the human-animal bond. To read them, go here:
www.mmilani.com
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