Animal medication

Abstract

The word ‘medicine’ is typically associated with humans, but scientists are increasingly realizing that non-human animals also use medication to deal with infections and other health issues. Medication behaviors are shared by a wide diversity of animal species, ranging from ants to apes, from bees to bears, and from caterpillars to capuchins. These animals use a wide variety of medicines provided by nature, ranging from plant chemicals to other animals and clay (Box 1). The targets of medication are equally diverse: while many animals use medication as protection against internal and external parasites and pathogens, animals may also use medicine to reduce inflammation and stress or to improve reproductive function.