Animals as Pharmacists and Doctors

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Animals often show an ability to sense things which humans can't detect.

There are suggestions that dogs can detect malignant melanomas by smelling a distinctive odour.  Such a case was reported at King's College Hospital in London, England.  A patient had a mole checked out because her dog constantly fussed, whined, and attempted to bite the back of her thigh where the mole was situated.  Her normally gentle dog, became quite aggressive whenever he was nearby while she undressed.  The mole turned out to be a malignant melanoma.  It seemed the dog recognized the illness, perhaps by sniffing something associated with the skin cancer.

Another possible role for animals in health care is the identification of healing plants, which are abundant in nature's pharmacy.  There are reports that wild chimpanzees, when sick, will eat bitter plants that they don't eat when healthy.

In one case a very sick female chimpanzee dragged herself to a Vernonia Amygdalina bush, and began to suck on its shoots.  This plant is known to be exceptionally effective against parasites, but is never eaten by healthy chimps.  By the next day she was eating again and appeared quite healthy.  It seems that chimps, who are vulnerable to many parasites, are able to identify plants in nature's pharmacy that rid the body of these unwelcome guests.

So next time you can't reach a doctor, maybe you should pay more attention to signs from the family pet.