You should know about pet-borne illnesses if you have a cat or dog!
As it turns out, your furry pal can pass down more than just snuggles and kisses! According to the NIH, 68% of households in our country have a pet, and their benefits are countless, from staying active to boosting spirit.
But as wonderful as our furry… or scaly friends are, certain health risks come with having an animal in your home. A professor at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine explains that zoonotic diseases can be transmitted from animals to people.
Wild or domesticated animals can transmit harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi to humans. Certain diseases can be transmitted through touching, bodily fluids, petting, bites, scratches, and inhalation. It can even happen through ticks, mosquitos, and fleas.
Very young children, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems are especially at a higher risk. Don’t worry, though.
Speaking to your veterinarian about possible disease transmission can help you avoid any risks. But to begin, here are 7 pet-borne illnesses you should know about immediately!
Pet-borne illness: Hookworms
A hookworm is a parasite with “hooks” inside its mouth, making it easy to attach itself to its host. Puppies and kittens are likelier to be infested with hookworms than your adult pets.
That’s why it’s essential for you, as a responsible pet owner, to take your pet to a vet and have it “dewormed.” This is the process that uses medication to destroy parasites.
As far as humans are concerned, a person can become infected with a hookworm through direct contact with animal feces. How is that even possible? Children can be exposed when playing in the dirt where a pup has gone to the bathroom.
Hookworm eggs can be left behind in the dirt, and someone might accidentally ingest them by putting their fingers in their mouth. That’s why it’s so important to have your pets dewormed!
-Symptoms of hookworm:
Symptoms of an infestation in people can manifest in several ways. The larvae can travel through the body in what’s known as “larva migrans.”
The larvae can also cause an itchy, painful skin condition when they move through the skin. Hatched larvae can also reach the intestine and cause swelling, bleeding, and abdominal pain.
Pet-borne illness: Cat Scratch Fever
First discovered in 1889, this typically benign pet-borne illness is caused by the bacterium known as Bartonella henselae. It’s also recognized as “cat scratch fever.”
In the 50s, Dr. Robert Debré discovered that cats are a natural reservoir for the bacterium, hence the name “cat scratch disease” or CSD. Roughly 40% of cats carry Bartonella henselae, but you can’t tell a carrier from an uninfected cat.
The bacteria are more likely to be found in the bloodstream of kittens rather than in adult cats. So, how can humans get it exactly? This disease is commonly found in children one to two weeks after bite exposure or a cat scratch.
That’s why you shouldn’t “play rough” with cats to avoid any possible infections. And let’s be honest: Cats are more likely to scratch or bite.
If you receive a bite or scratch, immediately wash it thoroughly with soap and running water. Don’t allow your kitty to lick any open wounds you may have. Symptoms of cat scratch disease include:
-Swollen lymph nodes (especially around the head, neck, and upper limbs)
-Loss of appetite
-Headache
-Fever
-Fatigue
Pet-borne illness: Psittacosis
Psittacosis is caused by Chlamydia psittaci, a variety of bacteria. The disease can be transmitted through an infected bird’s droppings that become dispersed in the air as very fine droplets or dust particles. Inhaling these aerosolized particles causes the infection.
It’s important not to overcrowd birds in a cage and to arrange cages so materials like feces, urine, food, and feathers can’t spread between them.
Feeding your bird correctly and ensuring its cage is clean is very important! All birds are susceptible to this pet-borne illness , including pet birds such as:
-Turkeys
-Ducks
-Parrots
-Macaws
-Parakeets
-Cockatiels
Symptoms of Psittacosis in birds
It’s challenging to tell whether a pet bird is infected. A sick bird can show one or several of the following symptoms:
-Eye discharge or swelling
-Weight loss
-Diarrhea
-Lethargy
-Labored breathing
-Shivering
-Weakness
Pet-borne illness: Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella, which we’ve all heard about. But you might not have known that many kinds of animals can pass salmonellosis to humans. Most typically get salmonellosis by eating contaminated food, including eggs or chicken.
Pet birds, dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals can pass Salmonella through their feces. When people come into contact with contaminated feces and don’t sufficiently wash their hands, they risk becoming sick with this pet-borne illness.
Lizards, turtles, snakes, baby chicks, and ducklings are especially likely to pass Salmonella to humans. This is why it’s essential to ensure young children wash and disinfect their hands after petting animals at a petting zoo!
Many different kinds of Salmonella can make people ill. Most have the following:
-Stomach pain that begins 1 to 3 days after infection
-Diarrhea
-Fever
These symptoms usually go away after about a week. Sometimes, people must see a doctor or go to the hospital because the infection has affected other organs or the diarrhea is severe.
Pet-borne illness: Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a condition caused by spiral-shaped bacteria called leptospires. It’s uncommon in the US, but infections do occur. Dogs are most likely to become infected. While there have been cases of cats with this disease, it’s pretty rare.
So, how can humans get it? The disease is transmitted through urine and other body fluids, but not saliva. Humans and animals can become infected with contaminated fluids, including water or soil.
Rodents like mice and rats also carry leptospirosis. So, keep any pest issues under control to minimize the risk of transmission to your pets. Also, protect your pets from wildlife, like marine mammals, and their habitats because they may be infected.
Symptoms of this pet-borne illness include an infection in humans that resembles the flu. Pets can receive vaccination against this disease, but because there are so many varieties of leptospires, it’s not 100% effective.
Pet-borne illness: Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial disease induced by Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria is spread through ticks. When an infected tick catches a ride on a dog or horse and then jumps onto a human and locks onto them, the person can become infected with Lyme disease.
To protect yourself from getting this pet-borne illness, avoid areas that are most likely to be infested with ticks, particularly during the spring and summer months, whenever possible.
Symptoms of Lyme disease can include:
-Within one to two weeks of infection, people may develop a rash that looks like a bull’s eye and run a fever.
-They may also have headaches and muscle or joint pain.
-Others develop a fever and flu-like symptoms without a rash.
Some infected people don’t show any early symptoms of the disease. And after several weeks, the bacteria can spread throughout an infected individual’s body.
Rashes may appear on other parts of the body, the pain will move from joint to joint, and signs of inflammation of the nerves or heart will emerge. Patients can experience swelling and pain in major joints and cognitive changes months after infection if the disease isn’t treated.
Pet-borne illness: Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii. It’s passed to people from contaminated cat feces. This can occur when you clean your litter box or touch dirt where cats might have been, like soil in the yard.
This pet-borne illness can also be passed to humans when they eat meat not cooked thoroughly, especially lamb, pork, or deer meat. So after handling raw meat in the kitchen, be sure to disinfect all surfaces and wash your hands properly.
Symptoms of Toxoplasmosis:
Most people who get toxoplasmosis don’t get sick, but some will develop muscle aches, swollen glands, and feel as though they have the flu. Women who are pregnant or considering it should be especially cautious.
This infection can contaminate the fetus and cause abortion or congenital disabilities. Infants, children under five, organ transplant patients, those with HIV/AIDS, and individuals getting cancer treatment are more susceptible to toxoplasmosis infections.
Did you know about all these pet-borne illnesses? Don’t forget to share your experiences with The Geeky Gecko in the commenst section below.
And if you liked this article, we highly recommend you also read: Having Trouble Administering Pet Medicine? Check Out These 8 Genius Tips
