Re: [PyrNet-L] Pyrenees en Guarde!

["Beverly Coate" <bcoate@cwis.net>]

Actually Ken we are in full agreement on this subject.  I firmly believe
that all the illnesses, diseases and ineffective antibiotics are caused by
the idea that we must sterilize everything we touch or eat to keep from
being contaminated.  In Short over the past 50 years we have become neurotic
about "CLEAN" and our bodies and those of our pets never get a chance to
build and immunity against these germs that are everywhere despite all the
efforts to control them.
    I'm sure your right about many owners turning green at the idea of their
"fluffy butt" eating a dead carcass 3 or 4 days after it died for what ever
reason, though I have yet to see one of my dogs show me anything more than a
little scours which probably comes more from overeating this nice delicacy
more than the bacteria that is probably contain there in.<g>

Beverly Coate  C&C Farms   Stigler Oklahoma   USA  918-967-4871
***************************************************************************
Great Pyrenees LGD's  -  Hampshire - Cotswald - Polypay  Sheep
Nubian Dairy Goats  -  LGD Rescue foster home
Visit our website at http://www.c-c-farms.com/
Look over our new Mighty Mule E-Z gate openers
http://www.c-c-farms.com/Auto_Gate_home_page.html
the Christmas present you can open all year long.
Please note we are a member of the Hero's Waggin Train
http://www.homestead.com/heroswaggintrain/
bcoate@cwis.net
ICQ #20747702

 Beverly Coate wrote:
> >     Yes, they are this is one of the reasons I worry so much about the
breed
> > as a whole being changed by the showing.  I have already seen enough to
know
> > we are slowly changing to a less disease resistant, but prettier dog.  I
> > can't get over how many people want to change them from what they are to
> > something they would like for them to be.  These people don't seem to
> > understand these dogs became what they are by the "survival of the
fittest",
> > not because the shepherd pump medications in them to keep them around to
> > raise more puppies.

Ken said:>
> I understand your concern, but take heart.  I'll grant that while
> breeding to an appearance standard can have dire, unintended
> consequences (proving once and for all that beauty is only skin deep) -
> it seems unlikely that it would be as easy to impact the immune system
> of an animal.  (Since these genes are probably highly conserved.)
>
> It would seem more likely that disease resistance is being impacted by
> environmental factors - and a good possibility (which I just learned
> from your message) is the lack of carrion in their diet.  (Since it's
> probable that people breeding pretty dogs would turn green watching them
> eat a dead sheep.)
>
> Probably their immune system requires a certain amount of challenge
> (especially a young dog) to develop properly (you can bet eating dead
> animals provides that challenge) - without the challenge (therefore
> development) they are less able to handle even normal infectious agents.
>
> KenMc
>