Did you ever wonder how parasites die?
What do you think about killing organisms that we call- parasites?
Is it humane?
Your answer now is probably; So what?! Who cares?!
Let's talk about one of the smallest, most celebrated and welcomed deaths in veterinary medicine. You might have a different perspective on the topic after this article. Perhaps not a different approach to the issue of parasitism, however. Nevertheless, they deserve some depth of understanding I wish to offer here.
Let's start with the nervous system. Nerve cells work on the basis of chemically induced electric impulse. It is either provoked, or inhibited. They are quite fascinating, however, in their function, it comes down to basically plus and minus- there either is excitation or not, the system is binary.
Excitation and inhibition of excitation is a very complex cascade of mechanisms.
Let's just super simplify this by saying, some chemicals (enzymes or some pharmaceuticals) are responsible of fitting the receptors on the surface of the nervous cell. If they are the chemical appropriate for excitement, this releases further enzymes and an impulse begins.
If the enzyme fits the excitement receptor, but does not have the excitement effect, it actually prevents the cell from being provoked and inducing an impulse is temporarily or permanently inhibited.
There is also layers and layers of cascade events responsible of how different chemicals perhaps bind themselves to the provoking enzyme, so it no longer fits his receptors etc...but this is beyond the point I am aiming to make here.
Most of our well loved anti parasite treatments work by inhibiting relaxation period of the nervous cells of the invertebrates (creatures with no spinal bone structure).
This means the parasite, once in contact with the chemical ingredient we use, falls into a state of constant nervous excitement and dies in this state of generalized excitation paralysis, basically.
Imagine nervous cells that constantly transmit induction to excitement, with no relaxation period. Not a nice death, is it?
If we were to draw a paralel with a vertebrate poison equivalent, this would perhaps be closest to poisoning resulting in convulsions.
So after I have preached on how to kill them, I want to draw your attention towards how they actually die.
I am not the one ever to recommend anything 'natural' for parasite prevention and treatment, however, I want everyone to understand, it is heavy duty chemicals we are dealing with, and they are necessary.
They do not target vertebrates, but there are many invertebrates and aquatic organisms which are receptive to this, that we want to keep in our environment.
So, dispose of the extra medication safely, take their preventative collars off while swimming (not for the collar as much as for the tiny creatures in the water), wash hands after application, keep away from children and animals. Be aware, be present. That is all.