Yes, it’s possible to catch diseases from your dog, cat, or other pet. If you have a pet, it’s important to know what diseases and parasites they might have, and how these might be a problem for you and your family. These diseases are especially dangerous for the elderly, the very young, and those who have a weakened immune system.
Such infections can come from your pet directly, or can be transmitted indirectly through what is called a vector; some vectors are fleas, ticks, and houseflies. Animal to human disease transmission is so common that it has a name: zoonosis or zoonotic diseases. The most common modes of transmission are through contact with the animal’s feces, or from a bite or scratch by an infected animal. Here are some of the more common infections that can be transmitted from your pet to you.
Rabies
Rabies is the illness many people think of when they think about diseases that animals can give to humans. Rabies is a viral infection of the central nervous system that can be fatal if not rapidly treated. The virus lives in saliva and passes to humans through bites, and a rabid animal is more likely to bite. Regular veterinary care can remove that threat, since rabies vaccinations are routinely given and are mandatory for dogs in many states.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is transmitted through cat feces, especially through handling infected litterbox material. Symptoms are similar to those of the flu; they clear up, but cysts from the parasite can stay in the body for years. These can cause problems later, especially nervous system problems. Toxoplasmosis is especially dangerous for pregnant women, as it can cause birth defects which may not show up right away. Pregnant women should have someone else take care of the cat litterbox for the duration of their pregnancy.
Giardia
Giardia is one of the most common parasites. It can be transmitted through feces from animals to humans. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, nausea, and flu-like feelings. Although the worst symptoms may clear up, an overall feeling of fatigue and unwellness can last for years.
Worms
Pets can host a number of different species of worms, many of which can be transmitted to people and cause problems. One of them, roundworm, which is one of the most prevalent kinds of worms, can cause appendicitis. Pinworms are common, especially in children. Worms can cause anal itching, and an indicator of worms is when your dog scoots its rear across the carpet. Children playing on the carpet can then pick up the infection.
Lyme disease
Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases can be transmitted by ticks that can live on your pet. These illnesses can cause problems ranging from sore joints to heart problems to neurological symptoms; these symptoms can last for years or decades.
Cat scratch fever
Bartonella bacteria can be transmitted to people from a scratch by an infected cat. Symptoms include skin sores, fatigue, fever (this is why it’s called cat scratch fever), headaches, and swollen lymph nodes. A different form of bartonella is transmitted by ticks.
Not just cats and dogs
Animals other than dogs and cats can make you sick. Tularemia is an infection that is usually found in rabbits, and psittacosis, also called parrot fever, can be caught from birds. Hantavirus, which can be fatal, comes from rodent feces. If your pet mouse, rat, hamster, or gerbil could have had contact with its wild cousins, hantavirus is a possibility.
What can you do to prevent these problems?
The first line of defense is handwashing whenever you clean up after your dog or clean your cat’s litterbox. Be especially careful of contact with animals or their feces or saliva if you have a scratch, rash, or abrasion, since bacteria from your pet can enter your body through damaged skin.
Dogs tend to do their business in grassy areas, and cats like sand, sandboxes, and dirt. Unfortunately, these are all favored places for children to play, so there’s a lot of opportunity for children to encounter infected animal droppings. Teach them to watch out for droppings and to wash their hands after playing outside. They should learn to not put their fingers in their mouths other than in a mealtime context after washing their hands. Young children should play only in their own sandbox, which should be kept covered when not in use.
Discourage your dog from licking you or others on the face.
Regular checkups by your veterinarian, including annual stool testing and treatment if necessary for parasites, would be a good idea. Keep your pets wormed and vaccinated. If your pet is found to have a parasitic illness or infection, have yourself and family members tested and, if necessary, treated for that infection.
Avoid indirect transmission of disease by checking for and removing ticks, and by using relatively nontoxic methods of flea control. Houseflies can pay a visit to your cat’s litterbox and then land on what you’re preparing for dinner, so keep both flies and litterbox cleanup under control.
Treatment
Treatment for these diseases and infections depends on the bug causing the problem. Usually pharmaceuticals that target the organism, sometimes along with more natural remedies, are used. As with most illnesses, the sooner the cause is identified and the treatment started, the easier and more complete the treatment is likely to be. The first step is identification of the problem, and the health professionals at CAM can help with that.
