Tips for Preventing Zoonotic Diseases. No messing around here, it’s very important to keep your animals clean.
This will not only keep odors at bay, but keeps zoonotic diseases in check, too.
Your animals truly are part of the family, and any diseases or parasites he brings home can be transmitted right to you and your family. Ick.
Generally, you should bathe your dog once a week in warm water with a gentle dog- or baby shampoo.
Cats are more tricky. But if they go outdoors, schedule a feline bath once a month.
Be sure to use a shampoo specially made for cats. Because they lick themselves so much, they could get some of the shampoo in their systems.
If your cat spends all of her time indoors, however, you probably squeak by with bathing her just once or twice a year.
Preventing Cat Scratch Fever (With apologies to Ted Nugent)
One often-ignored aspect of owning an animal is that they can - and occasionally do - transmit parasites such as fleas and ticks and diseases to your family.
Which is why diligent cleaning is especially important in homes with kids.
These are called `zoonotic' diseases. Remember your Mom always screeching “Wash your hands!” after you petted a stray dog or cat? Well, she was right.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the strays you have to worry about. All pets can potentially transmit diseases if you don’t take the proper precautions.
Usually, the only people who might be seriously affected are pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, or children under age five.
It is very unlikely that anyone in your family will ever catch a disease from your animal. To get a disease, you have to have very close contact with a pet or its feces or urine.
Little children are most at risk, and not just because of their size. They have fewer antibodies. And they're much more likely to want to kiss animals, eat their food, or (ick) touch their droppings.
They're also the most likely to follow this lovely pattern to its natural conclusion by putting their hand in their mouth or sucking their thumb. Here are some of the more common diseases that can be transmitted from pets to humans - called zoonotic diseases - and how to stop them.
Most are mild, but some are serious. To be safe, follow these simple precautions:
-- Campylobacter:
Puppies sometimes carry this bacteria in their stools. It can cause diarrhea. More ick.
Cleaning up stools carefully - with pooper scoopers and bags - and never touching it with bare hands is key to keeping this in check in your home.
-- Cat scratch fever:
This bacterial disease is spread by cat scratches and bites. It can cause fever, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, and general weakness.
Kittens are more likely to carry it than older cats. To prevent it, if your cat scratches or bites you, remember the cleaning routine: wash both the wounds and hands with soap and water.
-- Cryptosporidium:
This is a bacterial disease carried in the feces of cats, dogs, and horses. In humans, it can cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
To prevent it, wash your hands after handling animals. Take animals with diarrhea to the vet.
-- Leptospirosis:
This is a bacteria in dog and cat urine that can cause flu-like symptoms or more serious illnesses. Wash your hands after handling pets and prevent pets from drinking contaminated water.
-- Mycobacterium:
This is a bacteria found in fish and aquarium water. Exposure can result in swollen lymph glands in kids or more serious illnesses for the immune compromised.
-- Ring worm:
This is a fungal infection caught from furry critters. Despite its name – is not a worm at all. It is transmitted from direct contact with an infected animal's skin or hair.
Dogs and cats, especially kittens or puppies, can have ringworm that can be passed to people. Cleaning diligence will especially pay off here.
Regularly disinfect your home surfaces, and be diligent in making sure kids wash their hands after pet contact.
-- Round worms:
These worms are found in infected cat and dog feces.
In humans, they can cause fever, cough, loss of appetite, and congestion. Never touch feces with bare hands. Period.
-- Salmonellosis:
This bacteria, which is also passed through animal feces, can cause diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.
Some 70,000 people get it each year just from handling reptiles.
You can also get it from touching horses, baby chicks and ducklings. Never let kids under age five pet baby chicks and ducks.
Wash hands thoroughly after handling animals or aquariums.
-- Scabies:
This is a skin disease caused by itch mites that burrow under skin. Take scratchy uncomfortable pets to the vet before these mites find a human home.
-- Toxoplasmosis:
This is caused by a parasite found in animal feces.
In most cases, you feel like you have the flu, but it can be serious for immune compromised people, pregnant women, and small children. You can get this from eating raw meat or even gardening.
It’s easy to prevent: Simply remember to have everyone in the family always wash their hands after changing litter, and don’t let your cat eat raw meat.
If at all possible, keep him inside so doesn’t eat small animals.
