3 diseases your pets can spread to you!
1) Cat Scratch Disease (CSD)
Those bared kitty claws can potentially transmit the bacterium Bartonella henselae into the wound, leading to an infection with symptoms ranging from fever and swollen lymph nodes to abdominal pain. About 40% of cats carry this bug during some stage of their life, though they remain symptom-free. Be extra careful around kittens—they carry the bacteria more than grown cats and tend to scratch more during play.
Prevent it: Keep feline nails neatly trimmed. If you do get scratched, rinse the wound well with soap and water; if you develop an infection at the scratch site, consult your doctor about antibiotics.
2) Larval Migrans (aka worms)
Intestinal worms are found in your dog or cat’s feces—and can be spread to you by direct contact with contaminated soil. Puppies may be born with them, but both pups and kittens can also pick them up during nursing. Touching contaminated feces can result in a skin infection; if you forget to wash your hands before sitting down to a meal and ingest the eggs, the worms can travel through the body, causing a variety of symptoms with sometimes devastating effects: A cough can mean they’ve migrated to the lungs; permanent vision problems—and even blindness—are possible if they end up in the eyes. The brain, lungs, heart, liver, and other organs can also be affected.
Prevent it: Deworm your pet regularly at vet visits. This means starting at 2 or 3 weeks old, for every 2 weeks until 8 or 9 weeks of age, and then monthly until 6 months of age, and then as recommended by your vet. And make hand-washing a priority—especially after any exposure to animal feces. If you think you’ve been infected, your physician can determine the severity of your case and help you choose the right treatment.
3) Fungal Infections (AKA ringworm)
The same type of infection that causes jock itch and athlete’s foot (called dermatophytosis, or more commonly, ringworm) is found in our pets. Cats carry ringworm on their fur more frequently than dogs and are typically asymptomatic; dogs will almost always show signs of the infection, such as raised, circular lesions and hair loss. When passed on to humans, you’ll also notice red, raised lesions on your body. As a vet, I’ve gotten a ringworm rash on my neck after my stethoscope touched an infected animal.
Treat it: Use an OTC antifungal cream. Unfortunately, ringworm can’t be prevented. Luckily, though, humans are the wrong host —so it won’t survive for long, and will disappear in a few weeks with regular cream applications.
Have you caught anything bad from your pets? Help spread the word and let us know!
Signing off,
Dr. Justine Lee
Biography:
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC is a veterinary emergency critical-care specialist and the author of It’s a Cat’s World…You Just Live in It and It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet.
Those bared kitty claws can potentially transmit the bacterium Bartonella henselae into the wound, leading to an infection with symptoms ranging from fever and swollen lymph nodes to abdominal pain. About 40% of cats carry this bug during some stage of their life, though they remain symptom-free. Be extra careful around kittens—they carry the bacteria more than grown cats and tend to scratch more during play.
Prevent it: Keep feline nails neatly trimmed. If you do get scratched, rinse the wound well with soap and water; if you develop an infection at the scratch site, consult your doctor about antibiotics.
2) Larval Migrans (aka worms)
Intestinal worms are found in your dog or cat’s feces—and can be spread to you by direct contact with contaminated soil. Puppies may be born with them, but both pups and kittens can also pick them up during nursing. Touching contaminated feces can result in a skin infection; if you forget to wash your hands before sitting down to a meal and ingest the eggs, the worms can travel through the body, causing a variety of symptoms with sometimes devastating effects: A cough can mean they’ve migrated to the lungs; permanent vision problems—and even blindness—are possible if they end up in the eyes. The brain, lungs, heart, liver, and other organs can also be affected.
Prevent it: Deworm your pet regularly at vet visits. This means starting at 2 or 3 weeks old, for every 2 weeks until 8 or 9 weeks of age, and then monthly until 6 months of age, and then as recommended by your vet. And make hand-washing a priority—especially after any exposure to animal feces. If you think you’ve been infected, your physician can determine the severity of your case and help you choose the right treatment.
3) Fungal Infections (AKA ringworm)
The same type of infection that causes jock itch and athlete’s foot (called dermatophytosis, or more commonly, ringworm) is found in our pets. Cats carry ringworm on their fur more frequently than dogs and are typically asymptomatic; dogs will almost always show signs of the infection, such as raised, circular lesions and hair loss. When passed on to humans, you’ll also notice red, raised lesions on your body. As a vet, I’ve gotten a ringworm rash on my neck after my stethoscope touched an infected animal.
Treat it: Use an OTC antifungal cream. Unfortunately, ringworm can’t be prevented. Luckily, though, humans are the wrong host —so it won’t survive for long, and will disappear in a few weeks with regular cream applications.
Have you caught anything bad from your pets? Help spread the word and let us know!
Signing off,
Dr. Justine Lee
Biography:
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC is a veterinary emergency critical-care specialist and the author of It’s a Cat’s World…You Just Live in It and It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet.
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