The Importance of a Healthy Immune System in your Cat or Dog
What is the Immune System?
The immune system is the "defense army" of your pet, it is a group of cells and organs that are designed and programmed to defend your pet's body from viruses, bacteria, toxins and other material that make their way into your pet's body.
These cells and organs are distributed along your pet's body, some of them are:
- Lymph Nodes - These are the structures that can be felt through the skin in the groin, armpits and neck (if you've ever been to the doctor with a sore throat, you know what I mean) they serve as filters trapping the portion of a virus or bacteria that cause and immune response.
- Lymphocytes - There are 2 types of lymphocytes, T cells and B cells. T-lymphocytes, are responsible of "recruiting" white blood cells to fight an infection. B-Lymphocytes, are responsible of creating antibodies.
- Antibodies - Proteins that respond to antigens and that the body use to fight infections and foreign material in the body.
- Spleen - The spleen serves the function of another filter, it traps the antigens present in the blood stream.
- Thymus - It's a gland that produces the hormones necessary for the production of certain infection-fighting cells.
- Bone Marrow - This is mostly where white blood cells are produced.
- White Blood Cells - There are several types and each type has a function, some are responsible for fighting bacteria, others parasites, other inflammation, etc.
What are the 2 principal tasks of the Immune System?
- To recognize antigens (substances foreign to the body).
- To protect the body from infection or foreign matter.
There are several types of diseases of the immune system.
- Immuno deficiencies: These can be inherited or carried since birth or acquired during the life of the individual.
- Immune-mediated diseases: These are diseases that indirectly affect the immune system.
- Cancer of the immune system: It is characterized by the over production of immune cells.
When the immune system is working properly, the animal has a powerful weapon to fight disease, from a sinus infection to cancer. Too often, the immune system's balance is altered by poor nutrition or injuries and the animal becomes vulnerable to illness.
That is why it's so important to protect the balance of a healthy immune system, it is our pet's first illness fighting mechanism. Combining a healthy diet with holistic remedies and nutritional supplements, you are contributing in creating a strong immune system for your pet, in other words you are helping to protect your pet from disease.
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© 2008. Mariangie Gonzalez has a major in Animal Science and runs the day-to-day operations of her home-based business and website www.MindBodyAndPaw.com. Visit to learn how holistic dog care products and homeopathic remedies could prolong and improve your dog's life.