PET
The word pet has meant “a domesticated, fondled young animal,” “a spoiled child,” “offense at being
slighted” or, a personal favorite, “breaking wind, fart,” according to philologist Leo Spitzer, who once wrote
an entire essay on the etymology of the word.
“Pets” these days has come to mean animals that you treat like family: dogs, cats, even fish. A pig that
might be livestock to a farmer who intends to make her into bacon is a loved family pet to someone else
— they say pigs are smart. Eugeneans love their pets from ferrets to fish, and whether milking them or
dancing with them, our animal friends (or as some prefer, the “furkids”) are part of our daily lives.
They say if you love something set it free. In the case of a domesticated animal, if you love it, take care
of it. For those of us who are our pet’s “person” rather than “owner,” a collar might seem oppressive, but
you’ll be happy you did it after Fido or Fluffy runs away, and you’re waiting for the call to tell you that your
puppy or kitty has been found. Put ID on your pet, microchip him and, as EW reminds you every year,
always spay and neuter your pets. — Camilla Mortensen
ME!
The Worms Crawl in …
KITTIES AND THEIR CREEPY CRAWLIES by Mike W. Davis
C
ats love to put their butts in your face. It’s a
feline way of saying “Hello.” What’s truly
disturbing is when there is a host of little
worms all wiggling out of kitty’s bottom,
saying “Hello,” too. For such fastidious
animals, cats can carry a whole lot of worms and parasites.
We’ve all heard the “crazy cat lady” stereotype, but
parasites might be the problem, not cats. A new study from
Denmark suggests that women with a Toxoplasma gondii
infection have an increased risk of self-directed violence.
The study explores how the bug has been linked to
behavioral, affective and cognitive disorders in people. The
study screened newly born children for T. gondii infection
while associating the mother’s self-directed violence as a
neurological imbalance caused by the bug.
Studies find that the parasite known as T. gondii should
not be underestimated. It lies dormant in a feline’s intestinal
tract and rarely does a cat show physical symptoms. But
this widespread neurotropic protozoan parasite affects
approximately one-third of the human population worldwide
with symptoms ranging from little to none in most common
cases to severe behavioral disorders in rare cases, according
to scientists. People can be infected by ingestion of the eggs
spread from feces of an infected cat, eating uncooked meat
or contaminated water.
Maybe this is how the “crazy cat lady” came to be. The
parasite’s effects on the brain — not a kitty obsession — are
responsible for erratic behavior.
Self-directed violence in mothers and crazy cat ladies is
only a small part of what to be concerned about when it
comes to T. gondii.
According to Eugene veterinarian Sheila Johnson, “T.
gondii is very serious and can cause birth defects in
children, so pregnant women should be careful when
cleaning the litter box.”
Although with all this talk of T. gondii in cats and the
threat it poses, changing the litter box may sound alarming,
but “You are more likely to contract it from ingesting
infected, undercooked meat,” Johnson says.
So before the thought of giving your beloved cat away
VETERINARIAN
SHEILA JOHNSON
EXAMINES A CAT
AT ANIMAL HEALTH
ASSOCIATES
PHOTO BY TODD COOPER
sinks in, remember that there are other health concerns
much more likely to enter your home.
The most common parasitic worms found in most
animals, including your cat, are roundworm and tapeworm.
Outdoor cats are more likely to expose themselves to
worms through the environment. Fecal droppings, ingesting
infected prey and dirt are among the many ways roundworms
get picked up. The tapeworm, on the other hand, is most
commonly given to your cat by fleas.
“We see a lot of roundworms, primarily in kittens, and
those worms can be about a half a foot,” Johnson says. “That’s
why it’s very important to deworm your animals regularly.”
The dewormer used on most animals is a neurotoxin that
paralyzes the worm, which exits the cat from the anus and
dies, according to Johnson.
“We’ll get frantic phone calls from people finding
worms on their carpets and we have to assure them that the
worm coming out is what we want,” Johnson says.
Cats have a reputation for being assiduous groomers, but
they, too, can miss a spot. All it can take is that one fleabite
or ingesting the wrong critter before your cat’s insides are
crawling with hungry worms. If you see symptoms, it’s
better to be safe in the vet’s office then sorry with worms
crawling out of your cat’s butt.
ew
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EUGENE WEEKLY JULY 26, 2012 11