HOW CAN I PREVENT AN INFECTION FROM A DOG CAT HORSE OR PET WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF INFECTION FROM DOGS CAT ANIMALS

THEY ARE CALLED ZOONOTIC INFECTIONS SOMETHING THAT PET LOVERS ANIMAL OWNERS NEED TO KNOW

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Who loves you more than your dog? When you come home Fido or Fluffy practically jumps up to greet you shouting (barking) a "So happy to see you".How many pet owners kiss their dog,cat,aardvark? O.K aardvark maybe not.






In this love affair, pet lovers may lose sight of an important consideration. You may get more than just a kiss from Fluffy. You may get an infection! And it"s a two way street.Fluffy may get something from you! You've heard the news about MRSA? Methicillin Resistant Strep. Well guess what? "Patients infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can pass the infection to their dogs, cats, or other pets through normal daily contact, leading to human reinfection despite appropriate therapy. Where has Fluffy's nose,mouth,other body part been today? Not to rain on the love parade but scrupulous hand washing and proper waste disposal are a vital part of being a happy pet owner."Human contact with cats, dogs, and other pets results in several million infections each year in the United States, ranging from self-limited skin conditions to life-threatening systemic illnesses". Take Fluffy, for example,"Dogs can carry a variety of germs that can make people sick. Some of these germs are common and some are rare. For example, puppies may pass the bacterium Campylobacter in their feces (stool). This germ can cause diarrhea in people. Puppies and some adult dogs often carry a variety of parasites that can cause rashes or illness in people. Less often, dogs in urban or rural areas can carry the bacterium Leptospira. This germ causes the disease leptospirosis in people and animals".




"Perhaps the most common bacterial infections associated with pet ownership are campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis. Many animals, including cats and dogs, are carriers of Campylobacter and transmission between pets and humans (presumably through fecal-oral contact) has been estimated to cause more than 200,000 cases of gastroenteritis"(stomach upset and diarrhea) per year.

Special Tips for Pregnant Women




On the other hand,pets provide many benefits to humans. They comfort us and they give us companionship and improve our mental health. So what can you do when you have a love session with your pet? Prevention of infection involves common sense measures such as adequate hand washing, proper disposal of animal waste and ensuring that infected animals are diagnosed and treated. Special precautions are indicated for immunocompromised persons".



The Center for Disease Control has a great web site for pet owners and people who love animals. You can browse by animal including dogs,cats,horses,farm animals,reptiles and fish.

Healthy Pets Healthy People





"To reduce the risk of toxoplasmosis, pregnant women should not change the litter box. Pregnant women should also avoid adopting or handling stray cats and should not feed cats undercooked meat. High-risk persons (i.e., immunocompromised patients, infants and children younger than five years, pregnant women, and older adults) should avoid reptiles, chicks, ducklings, young kittens and puppies, and animals with diarrhea. They should also exercise caution at farms and petting zoos".


See the excellent article

Pet-Related Infections