Generally, it is known that pets can be lifesavers and can even enrich your life. Many people share their homes with a pet of some kind and the majority consider their animals to be part of the families. Caring for our furry friends is a great learning experience. Perhaps, they teach us how to be responsible, gentle, compassionate and respectful to other living beings. Nevertheless, they can pass along serious, life-threatening infections to their human. However, most can be easily controlled and treated with some common sense and care, and you can enjoy years of affection and happiness with your pet.

How pets spread infection

The most popular furry friends you can find in various homes are cats and dogs, birds and rodents. Irrespective of the benefits you get from sharing affection and relationships with your pets, it is needful to be mindful of the germs and pet-borne infection they spread to human. Some of the germs common among domestic pets include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Humans get their pet borne diseases when they are scratched, bitten or have contact with the animal saliva, urine, feces or fur. Don’t play rough with pets since they can pass diseases along in bites and scratches. Also, keep your dog from licking you in the face.

Pregnant women, kids, and people with low immunity are at greater risk of these infections.

Therefore, it is important to always wash your hands after touching a pet, handling its food or cleaning its cage. Avoid kissing or touching your furry friends with your mouth to avoid the spread of pet-related infections through saliva. Keep your pets living area clean and free of waste. Most importantly, do not share food with your pets.

Microorganisms and diseases pets can transmit

Pets can pass along serious life-threatening diseases to their human keepers. Therefore, protecting your family from pet-related infection starts before bringing a pet home. So, if you are thinking of buying a pet or you already have one, it is important to know how to protect your family these infections.

Here are some diseases and germs that our furry friends can spread to human

Roundworm

Virtually, all puppies are born with roundworm, a parasite that passes from the body with their feces. Human especially kids tend to pick it up from playing in contaminated dirt. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough and poor appetite.

Rabies

Worldwide, people are most commonly infected with this fatal disease in unvaccinated dogs and cats. This disease is caused by a virus that enters the body through a bite or open wound that comes in contact with an infected animal’s saliva.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

This is spread by infected ticks carried by dogs. Symptoms include a headache, fever, chills, rashes, and muscle aches.

These ticks are infected by bacteria known as Rickettsia ricketsii. However, this disease can be treated with antibiotics.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a skin disease caused by different types of fungi found in the ground, on human skin and pets. It is most often carried by cats, especially long-haired kittens, but can also be passed on by dogs. Children commonly contract ringworm, which typically appears as red, scaly lesion on exposed skin particularly the scalp.

Strep throat

Some kids just seem to always have a sore throat that turns out to be streptococcal bacteria. Where is it coming from?. Well, if your dog is licking them good night, he may be the culprit. Dogs can be carriers of bacteria.

Cat scratch disease

Rarely serious, cat scratch disease still can be uncomfortable. Symptoms include high fever, a sore at the site of the scratch that’s slow to heal and swollen tender lymph nodes one to three weeks later.
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