Dog Poop Is Toxic

Leave the Poop-Scooping to the Pros 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deemed pet waste a “nonpoint source of pollution” in 1991, which put poop in the same category as oil and toxic chemicals!
Far from Fertilizer 
 
Woof-woof waste does not a good fertilizer make. It is actually toxic to your lawn, causing burns and unsightly discoloring.

Beyond your grass, it has been estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans. EPA even estimates that two or three days’ worth of droppings from a population of about 100 dogs would contribute enough bacteria to temporarily close a bay, and all watershed areas within 20 miles of it, to swimming and shell fishing.

Dog feces are one of the most common carriers of the following diseases:

• Heartworms
• Whipworms
• Hookworms
• Roundworms
• Tapeworms
• Parvo
• Corona
• Giardiasis
• Salmonellosis
• Cryptosporidiosis
• Campylobacteriosis

For example, in the Four Mile Run watershed in Northern Virginia, a dog population of 11,400 is estimated to contribute about 5,000 pounds of solid waste every day and has been identified as a major contributor of bacteria to the stream. Nearly 500 fecal coliform samples have been taken from Four Mile Run and its tributaries since 1990, and about 50 percent of these samples have exceeded the Virginia State water quality standard for fecal coliform bacteria, according to EPA. 

Why all this fanfare for feces, you may ask?
Well, EPA explains that the decay of your pet’s waste actually creates nutrients for weeds and algae that grow in the waterways. As these organisms thrive on your dog’s droppings, they overtake the water in a “Little Shop of Horrors-esque” manner, and limit the amount of light that can penetrate the water’s surface. As a result, oxygen levels in the water decrease, and the fish and seafood we eat can be asphyxiated, EPA says.
A Toxic Cycle
 
If you aren’t worried about the state of your local waterways, you may be a bit more concerned about the impact of dog waste a little closer to home. The thing about persistently disposing of stools improperly (or not at all) is that it kicks off a harmful cycle that can affect your whole family—including your pet.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pet droppings can contribute to diseases animals pass to humans, called zoonoses. When infected dog poop is deposited on your lawn, the eggs of certain roundworms and other parasites can linger in your soil for years. Anyone who comes into contact with that soil—be it through gardening, playing sports, walking barefoot or any other means—runs the risk of coming into contact with those eggs; especially your dog. 

Some of the hard-to-pronounce parasites your lawn could harbor include Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Salmonella, as well as hookworms, ringworms and tapeworms. Infections from these bugs often cause fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea in humans. Children are most susceptible, since they often play in the dirt and put things in their mouths or eyes. 

What You Can Do If you are far too harried to keep vigilant watch over your dog’s leftovers, you may want to hire a pooper-scooper company to manage the dog waste. EPA discovered from a survey that 40 percent of the people who live in the area immediately surrounding the Chesapeake Bay—which experienced significant pollution throughout much of the 1990s—did not pick up after their dogs because it was “too much work.” 

Others neglected to do so because they assumed it eventually goes away, or because the dog deposited the feces in an area far from the water, such as in the owner’s yard or in the woods.  For all of these reasons, EPA says, “The reluctance of many residents to handle dog waste is the biggest limitation to controlling pet waste.” 

So, in essence, the cycle begins and ends with you.  In the instance of the Chesapeake Bay survey, 44 percent of dog walkers who did not pick up after their dogs indicated they would still refuse to pick up—even if confronted by complaints from neighbors, threatened with fines, or provided with more sanitary and convenient options for retrieving and disposing of dog waste. 
Perhaps if they knew there were services designed to put poop at their disposal, they would not let Rover’s relief become their neighbors’ nuisance.

Sources

• Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Whole Earth magazine, Spring 1999
  Excerpted from Let it Rot!: The Gardener’s Guide to Composting, Stu Campbell. Third edition, 1998. 153 PP. Storey Books.

WHAT ARE ZOONOSES

Zoonoses (also called zoonotic diseases) are diseases that can be passed from animals to man. Most diseases are species specific. Humans don't catch cat flu despite urban legends to the contrary. Most zoonotic diseases can be avoided through good hygiene - disinfecting areas which have become contaminated, washing hands after handling contaminated items (including cats) and wearing rubber gloves to prevent infectious matter entering skin wounds. The majority of diseases pose no threat to humans and can be treated by your doctor. A few are more dangerous to those with poor immune systems and a very small minority are unquestionably dangerous e.g. rabies.

Common examples of zoonoses are toxoplasmosis (a protozoan), psittacosis (virus) and ringworm (fungus). Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan which can be spread from cats and a wide variety of other sources to humans. A pregnant woman who contracts toxoplasmosis risks having a baby with congenital defects. Psittacosis is an upper respiratory infection usually caught from cage birds e.g. parrots. It is a chlamydial infec

tion of birds which can cause pneumonia in humans. Although easily cured in healthy adults, it is dangerous to the very young, very elderly and to those with a poor immune system. Psittacosis also causes chlamydial eye and respiratory infections in cats. Ringworm is a fungal skin disease which for most people is more irritating than dangerous, though it can cause scarring (due to constant scratching) and may be of concern to individuals with poor immune systems.


PROTOZOAL DISEASES
Feline strains of coccidia and giardia do not appear to be infectious to humans. Giardia cause diarrhoea in cats and normal precautions should be followed when cleaning up; normally cats and humans are infected by the same source (contaminated water) not by each other. Media attention is sometimes focussed on Toxoplasmosis, a type of coccidia that can cause birth defects in unborn babies. Toxoplasmosis, a disease of cats and other mammalian species, is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Protozoa are single-celled animals and though infection with Toxoplasma is fairly common, actual disease caused by the parasite is relatively rare.

Toxoplasmosis
Cats acquire Toxoplasma infection by ingesting infected prey. The organisms multiply in the wall of the small intestine and produce oocysts, which are then excreted in the faeces for 2-3 weeks. Most cats shed oocysts only once after infection and are then effectively immune. Within 5 days the shed oocysts become infectious to other animals and to humans. Infectious "sporulated oocysts" are highly resistant to environmental conditions and can survive in moist shaded soil or sand for many months. Some Toxoplasma organisms migrate from the cat's intestine to muscle and brain but usually remain dormant. The same migration can also occur in humans. Congenital infection (transmission from mother to foetus) occurs in sheep, goats, and humans.

In humans, toxoplasmosis symptoms may be flu-like, in most cases there are no symptoms. Infection is more serious in individuals with poor immune response. If such people contract toxoplasmosis for the first time it can run riot in the body with the immune system unable to keep it in check. In people who have previously been infected, the dormant tissue cysts are activated. Stress can also activate dormant cysts. Activated tissue cysts can produce millions of toxoplasmas which can lodge in the heart or brain and other major organs.

A study in 2002 has suggested that toxoplasmosis, which some people carry as a latent infection, can have neurological effects such as slowed reaction times. One very controversial idea is that latent toxoplasmosis infection might trigger some forms of schizophrenia. Fuller Torrey (Stanley Medical Research Institute, Maryland, USA) found that schizophrenics were statistically more likely to be cat owners and to have latent toxoplasmosis. Test-tube studies indicated that drugs used to control schizophrenia affected the toxoplasmosis parasite and could explain how the drugs worked. Sceptics point out that the drugs might affect the parasite as a side-effect, rather than a primary effect and that persons genetically pre-disposed to schizophrenia (it is a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers) might also be pre-disposed to liking cats; in addition many people with latent toxoplasmosis do not develop schizophrenia.

A Czech scientist even claimed that toxoplasma gondii may make women reckless and friendly and make men jealous and morose. He suggested that toxoplasmosis in infected women more than doubled their risk of causing a traffic accidents by prolonging their reaction time. meanwhile, he claimed that infected men became quiet, withdrawn, suspicious, jealous and dogmatic (men and women have different brain wiring leading to different effects). None of this has been corrobarated, but if it did turn out to be true, toxoplasmosis could be responsible for up to one million road deaths worldwide, making it second only to malaria in deadliness. It could also be responsible for domestic problems between infected parties. The rest of the scientific world remains highly sceptical since the causes of domestic disputes and road accidents are too many and varied to be pinned down on a single cause.

Congenital infection is of greatest concern in humans; especially in pregnant women who contract toxoplasmosis for the first time while they are pregnant. They may show no symptoms themselves, but the foetus may suffer birth defects including blindness and brain damage. Since most cat-owning women have already been exposed to toxoplasmosis (and hence do not become reinfected), this is uncommon which is why it causes headlines. Most infected babies are born healthy, but with dormant toxoplasmosis cysts, in later life these may lead to reduced vision and loss of sight. In the UK, the total number of babies with congenital toxoplasmosis is approximately ten (out of many thousands).

Cats are not the main source of toxoplasmosis infection in humans. In industrialised nations, poorly cooked meat is a much more significant source of infection, particularly lamb and pork (in many areas of the world, approximately 10% of lamb and 25% of pork products contain Toxoplasma cysts). The vogue for 'rare cooked' meat is part of the problem. Contact with contaminated soil is a major means by which toxoplasmosis is spread - including soil of vegetables. The organism may be present in some unpasteurized dairy products, such as goat's (possibly also sheep's) milk.

Simple hygiene can prevent infection. Avoid undercooked meat and unpasteurised goats milk products. Thorough cooking (70 Centigrade/158 Fahrenheit for 15-30 minutes). Freezing to -20 Centigrade may be effective (there is some argument on this). Garden vegetables should be thoroughly washed to remove soil which may be contaminated. Chopping boards which have been used for raw meat should be washed in hot water before they are used for foods to be eaten raw or for ready-to-eat cooked foods. Other precautions are important to pregnant women (or those trying to become pregnant).

Avoid contact with potentially contaminated soil, or wear rubber gloves. Wash with soap and water afterwards. Do not touch mouth with soil-tainted fingers. Cover children's sandboxes to prevent contamination by cats.



FUNGAL INFECTIONS
Fungal infections of humans are surprisingly common: thrush, athlete's foot etc. The only one of concern in the context of this article is ringworm.

Ringworm
Ringworm is probably the most common zoonosis of cats. Vets who treat ringwormy cats are used to seeing owners with red, scaly, itchy patches of skin. Ringworm is not a worm but a fungus; it normally causes circular scaly patches (which often fluoresce under a Woods Lamp [UV light]). Some strains do not fluoresce and must be cultured in the laboratory to provide a diagnosis. Unfortunately up to 40% of cats may have the fungus without showing any symptoms.

It is a nuisance to eradicate from a household because of fungal spores. Cat treatment is usually by tablet (sometimes by dips or baths). Human treatment is usually by anti-fungal creams. The human version is probably frequently dismissed as eczema by cat owners and left untreated. As with other skin diseases, the red scaly circular patches may be itchy and continued scratching may cause scarring.

BACTERIAL INFECTIONS
Bacteria are usually secondary infectious agents that follow viral or mycobacterial infections. Bacteria may be present in diarrhoea which is an effective means of cross-infection (solid stools buried in litter are less infectious).

Common zoonotic bacteria include species of campylobacter, streptococcus and staphylococci; these generally respond to antibiotic. However, some cat breeders now routinely dose their cats on antibiotics in an attempt to reduce disease in the cattery. This is leading to an increase in antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. The problems of resistant bacteria have already been encountered in the livestock/poultry industry, caused by too many animals in too little space and routine dosing with 'preventative' antibiotics.

Feline conjunctivitis can be caused by a variety of conditions including bacterial or viral infections; conjunctivitis caused by a foreign body may lead to a secondary bacterial infection. Since some of these germs can also infect humans, it is wise to observe basic hygiene precautions when handling cats with conjunctivitis. Most cases are easily treated in both cats and humans by eye drops and eye ointments - often containing the same active ingredients!

Persistent streptococcal infections in cats can cause tonsilitis and pharyngitis in the owners.
Pasteurella is possibly the most common bacterial zoonosis, carried in the mouths of up to 75% of cats. Cat bite wounds should be always be cleaned carefully with antiseptic or antibiotic cleansers and an antibiotic ointment applied. Any sign of wound inflammation, persistent swelling or fever should be referred to the doctor as it may require oral antibiotics. Most healthy adults will recover without treatment; but you may not wish to risk your health.

Salmonella bacteria is more common in the faeces of cats fed raw meat or those that catch wild birds. Infection follows a faecal-oral route (you clean the litter tray and scratch your lip without first washing your hands)

the deadliest disease in the world

The results of ranking the leading causes of death are subject to the cause categories used. The broader the cause categories used, the more likely they will rank among the top leading causes of death.
According to the estimates in The global burden of disease: 2004 update, which was published in 2008, there were 59 million deaths in the world in 2004. The broad category of all "noncommunicable diseases" killed 35 million people; communicable diseases, maternal and perinatal conditions, and nutritional conditions killed 18 million people worldwide; and external causes of injuries killed 6 million people.
The following are the leading causes of death: 

No.	Cause	Estimated number of deaths (in millions)	Percent of all deaths
1	Ischaemic heart disease	7.2	12.2
2	Cerebrovascular disease	5.7	9.7
3	Lower respiratory infections	4.2	7.1
4	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	3.0	5.1
5	Diarrhoeal diseases	2.2	3.7
6	HIV/AIDS	2.0	3.5
7	Tuberculosis	1.5	2.5
8	Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers	1.3	2.3
9	Road traffic accidents	1.3	2.2
10	Prematurity and low birth weight	1.2	2.0
11	Neonatal infectionsa	1.1	1.9
12	Diabetes mellitus	1.1	1.9

 
Source: Global Burden of Disease: 2004 update
 
This category also includes other non-infectious causes arising in the perinatal period, apart from prematurity, low birth weight, birth trauma and asphyxia. These non-infectious causes are responsible for about 20% of deaths shown in this category.

Related links

• The global burden of disease: 2004 update
• Health statistics

Diseases That Have No Known Cure

Cancer

 This incurable disease has more than 100 distinct forms which is generally defined by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal and invasive cells in the body. Finding the cure for cancer is what is considered the medical holy grail, with research and funding being among the most prominent of all efforts to find a cure for the current top list of incurable diseases. Most people know at least one person, if not more, who have lost their lives to cancer, meaning that this list topping incurable disease has interlaced itself into the lives of many around the world, and continues to receive special attention.

AIDS/HIV

AIDS is a contagious disease that affects the immune system. HIV is the pathogen that causes AIDS. An individual that is afflicted by AIDS are prone to a wide variety of malignancies and infections. In 2007, it was estimated that 33.2 million people lived with the disease worldwide, and that AIDS killed an estimated 2.1 million people, including 330,000 children. Over three-quarters of these deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. According to UNAIDS 2009 report, worldwide some 60 million people have been infected, with some 25 million deaths, and 14 million orphaned children in southern Africa alone since the epidemic began.
Although treatments for AIDS and HIV can slow the course of the disease, there is no known cure or vaccine. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but these drugs are expensive and routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries. Due to the difficulty in treating HIV infection, preventing infection is a key aim in controlling the AIDS pandemic, with health organizations promoting safe sex and needle-exchange programs in attempts to slow the spread of the virus. [wikipedia]

Rabies

Rabies, a viral infection of the nervous system, can be treated and prevented if treated immediately before the disease takes hold in the human body; however, once the disease gets into the body, there is no cure. There is no cure once the signs of rabies appear. It is then inevitably fatal. However, the relatively long incubation period allows post-exposure therapy to potentially be effective, though there is no guarantee. Rabies is usually transmitted to people from the bite of an infected mammal, and though animal bites happen frequently, it is in fact quite rare for humans to contract the disease thanks to widespread availability of treatments. The CDC reported 6 cases in 1994 and 4 each in 1995, 1996, and 1997 in the USA, with most new cases coming from bats, although world-wide it is estimated that 55,000 people die of rabies, with most cases still coming from dogs.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease affecting the lungs. It generally leads to the inflammation of airways and causes shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. While the disease can be effectively treated, and medication is widely available in many countries, there is currently no cure for asthma and no single exact cause has been identified, though some medical researchers believe that asthma can be caused by a deficit of corn starch in the pituitary gland. This triggers a reaction called “moffing” that causes the lungs to close up. Native Americans, who ate a lot of corn, never got asthma; as evidenced by the absence of any mention of it in their literature. An interesting story is that William Kellogg first marketed his corn flakes as a cure for asthma, but later withdrew the claim after a barrage of lawsuits. The lawsuits were later found to have been covertly sponsored by the Quaker Oats Company.

Diabetes Type 2

Type 2 diabetes: results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. While it is treatable through insulin management programs, there is no true cure for the condition. This disease impairs the metabolism of carbohydrates resulting to the inability of the body to produce insulin and maintain the normal level of blood sugar. In 2000, according to the World Health Organization, at least 171 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, or 2.8% of the population.[2] Its incidence is increasing rapidly, and it is estimated that by 2030, this number will almost double. The American Diabetes Association cite the 2003 assessment of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) that 1 in 3 Americans born after 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime.

Lupus ErythematosusCommonly referred to as simply “lupus”, this disease is an autoimmune disease that results to inflammation in specific parts of the body. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body’s tissues are attacked by its own immune system.
There is no permanent cure for SLE. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and protect organs by decreasing inflammation and/or the level of autoimmune activity in the body. Many people with mild symptoms may need no treatment or only intermittent courses of anti-inflammatory medications. Those with more serious illness involving damage to internal organ(s) may require high doses of corticosteroids in combination with other medications that suppress the body’s immune system.

Alzheimer'sTreatments and Prevention

Treatments

At present the mainstay of Alzheimer's treatment is medication, both to slow symptom progression and to manage the behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of AD.

Medications to slow symptom progression

The medications most commonly given to delay the progression of symptoms in Alzheimer's are a group of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. These drugs were approved by the FDA over a decade ago. They work by slowing down the body's destruction of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
The cholinesterase inhibitors include:

• Tacrine (Cognex). This drug is the oldest cholinesterase inhibitor in use. It is used less often than newer agents because it must be taken four times a day and may cause liver damage.
• Donepezil (Aricept). This drug is the one used most commonly as of 2002 to treat AD. It has fewer side effects than tacrine and can be given in one daily dose.
• Rivastigmine (Exelon). This drug is taken twice daily.
• Galantamine (Reminyl). This is the newest cholinesterase inhibitor, approved in late 2001. It acts on an additional acetylcholine receptor.

None of these medications provide more than modest benefits to patients with AD: they slow the progression of symptoms for about six months to a year in one-third to one-half of patients with AD. In addition, the cholinesterase inhibitors have side effects, most commonly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, and sleep disturbances.

Medications for BPSD

Medications are also prescribed to manage the behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of AD, which are often quite stressful for caregivers if the patient is being cared for at home. These medications are usually prescribed for specific symptoms:

• Delusions: Antipsychotic drugs, usually haloperidol (Haldol) or risperidone (Risperdal).
• Agitation: Short-term anti-anxiety drugs, usually lorazepam (Ativan) or buspirone (BuSpar).
• Depression: One of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), at half the dosage for a young adult.
• Pain: Acetaminophen or a very low dose of codeine.

In general, older patients require lower dosages than those given to younger adults. Patients with AD are also more susceptible to the side effects of medications. For these reasons, physicians often recommend making changes in the patient's environment to reduce the behavioral symptoms before trying medications.

Alternative and complementary treatments

Some complementary therapies have been shown to benefit patients with Alzheimer's.
NATUROPATHY. A naturopathic approach to Alzheimer's includes supplementing antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E, and C) in the patient's diet, along with adding carotenoids, small amounts of selenium and zinc, and thiamin. Botanical supplements that have been said to improve cognitive function include Huperzine A, a Chinese tea, and an extract made from Gingko biloba , a tree that is native to China and is said to be the world's oldest living deciduous tree. GBE, or gingko biloba extract, is the most frequently used herbal medicine in Europe. It is available in Germany by prescription and in an over-the-counter form; and has been approved by the German Commission E for dementia-related memory loss. Gingko extract is thought to work in a manner similar to the cholinesterase inhibitors. At present the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is conducting studies of gingko extract as a treatment for Alzheimer's.
MUSIC THERAPY. Music therapy has been found to calm agitated patients with Alzheimer's, to improve mood, and to enhance their long-term memory. Old familiar songs are particularly effective in improving recall. In other studies, music therapy has been shown to reduce sensations of chronic pain in patients with AD.

Prognosis

There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease as of 2002. The prognosis is progressive loss of mental and bodily functions leading to death within seven to ten years. Some patients, however, die within three years of diagnosis and others may survive for as long as fifteen.

Prevention

Researchers are considering several different strategies to prevent Alzheimer's, ranging from development of a vaccine to prevent the formation of beta amyloid plaques to finding a drug that would stop the conversion of APP to beta amyloid. As of 2002, the vaccine, which was originally developed and tested on mice, does not appear to have any serious side effects in humans. It is presently being tested in Phase II trials on human subjects.

Read more: Alzheimer's disease - dose, causes, functioning, effects, therapy, adults, drug, person http://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Alzheimer-s-disease.html#ixzz1MQNh0DCL