Re: re: pets and susceptability

[Guest guest]

Lara,

I know that if anything were to happen to my Boston Terrier, the daughter I never had, I would probably have to be buried with her! (Or vice-versa) Such a loyal companion (curled up under my chair as I type), and never sasses me! I actually prefer her company over many people. I was diagnosed before I had her, and I can honestly say that she is the reason for getting out of bed most days. Pure joy!

I am dog-sitting for my son who, BTW, leaves for Iraq this coming Thursday (Marines). She is a 60 pound Southern Blackmouth Cur (like Old Yeller). I don't have to worry about anyone sneaking in on me!! Talk about protective! Little dog and big dog together are quite the tag-team! Very protective of me!

Anyways, I ask that all of you say a prayer in whatever manner you choose that we get out of Iraq soon and safely. In the meantime, I'll keep these dogs company, or is it the other way around?

Marcie (PPMS)

In a message dated 7/31/2004 4:08:56 PM Central Standard Time, Lara1967@... writes:

So do I place any stock in the theory that small pets cause AI disease? Not sure, since I got sick when I didn't have them around and am better now that I have cats in my house again. They may contribute a parasite or micro-organism that can trigger an already stressed-out immune system, but then simply breathing air can be toxic to one's health these days. Am I going to get rid of my animals? No way! I know several people who are wheel-chair bound that wouldn't trade in their canine friends for anything. My daughter's first-grade teacher is a paraplegic and has a service animal and also claims she hasn't felt this well in a long time. I think pets are some of the best medicine around...

Have a great weekend,

Lara (cooling off nicely in Seattle on a sunny, breezy, summer afternoon)

[Guest guest]

Just maybe... having animals around gives your immune system something valid to attack. Kind of like distracting a baby with something safe when they want to play with something dangerous.

JT

----- Original Message -----

From: Lara Schuchat

low dose naltrexone

Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2004 3:07 PM

Subject: [low dose naltrexone] re: pets and susceptability

Just a thought to toss out, as this small pet topic has been drifting around:

I have always had cats and occasionally, small dogs, in my house. I grew up sleeping with cats, hugging on cats, rubbing my face in their fur...My grandmother was always worried because my mom let our cat sleep in my crib when I was a baby.

He was a big tom-cat who apparently thought I was his baby. I am mildly allergic (get itchy face after a good belly rub!) but have always operated on the de-sensitization theory. The more I am exposed to cats the less the allergies bug me.

In my entire life (all 37 yrs thus far) I have only gone without a cat in my house for one 3 year period, when I first moved out to Guam, because I didn't have the heart to put "my girls" through a four month, outdoor quarantine on Guam (which is a rabies-free zone). We had two littermates at the time, they were my babies, born the same day as my daughter and raised with her...I even fed them left-over frozen breastmilk...(so call me a crazy cat-lady if you like!) It pained me to do it but I did not have the heart to put them through such a long quarantine, so we adopted them out to a very close friend of mine who loves them like her own.

During that three year period: My autoimmune disease went full-blown active for the first time. Up till then I can recall symptoms that might have been related to my Hashimoto's (a type of AI thyroid disease) but all were sub-clinical.

I had no cats in the house and I got very sick. I had frequent infections, neuro symptoms, hyper and hypo swings, etc.

Eventually my goiter got bigger, nodules were found, cancer detected and removed. I still carry the Hashi's antibodies but my titers are lower. I have other possible auto-immune issues but I am better now than I was last year at this time.

And what is the difference? I now have cats in my house again. Hmmmm....is there a connection? It might be a stretch but does make you wonder.

My "boys" (appropriately named & since we knew we were moving them here to WA state) were born on Guam to feral, wild, diseased parents. They come from what locals call "Boonie" stock. Very few people on Guam spay or neuter and there is a large population of wild cats & dogs - with a very short shelf life and a long list of communicable diseases. Our boys have socialized well (amazed the vet but I was very determined) and both are deemed healthy, mainly indoor cats. They may as well be 24 kt gold-plated thoroughbreds for what we spent importing them to Seattle! They had some parasites and other fun things when we adopted them in as babies. The vet was able to get rid of all the excess critters including a rare type of eye fungus. I got rid of the fleas without any poisons, just tepid baths, and a good combing. My daughter and I went on "flea hunts" until all were gone. No one in the family got bit by fleas and none has ever had any problems related to having the cats in the house. In fact my daughter, who had bad nasal allergies prior to their arrival, has noticed an improvement. Her allergies are all but gone except for certain times of the year when pollen counts go up. Those cats sleep with her, even sleeps in her hair and bathes her in her sleep, and she has fewer problems with sneezing than ever.

So do I place any stock in the theory that small pets cause AI disease? Not sure, since I got sick when I didn't have them around and am better now that I have cats in my house again. They may contribute a parasite or micro-organism that can trigger an already stressed-out immune system, but then simply breathing air can be toxic to one's health these days. Am I going to get rid of my animals? No way! I know several people who are wheel-chair bound that wouldn't trade in their canine friends for anything. My daughter's first-grade teacher is a paraplegic and has a service animal and also claims she hasn't felt this well in a long time. I think pets are some of the best medicine around...

Have a great weekend,

Lara (cooling off nicely in Seattle on a sunny, breezy, summer afternoon)