Pets fill an important role in our lives, and research has overwhelmingly shown that pets can contribute to our health and wellbeing. However, concerns are occasionally raised about whether our pets can make us sick, or even whether we can make our pets ill. Some infectious diseases, called zoonoses, can be a problem in both humans and pets. The most well-known example is rabies. As discussed several months ago (see In the News for March 2008), humans and pets may spread MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), one of the so-called superbugs, between species. Sometimes a pet is implicated by the family physician or a medical specialist as the cause of certain problems in other family members such as persistent diarrhea or itching. Veterinarians may occasionally suspect that a family member is the source of recurrent illness in an animal. As a precaution, many physicians recommend that pregnant women have no contact with cats, going so far as advising the family to surrender their cats to a shelter or another home, due to perceived risks for toxoplasmosis.
Some of these concerns are real, while others may be “erring on the side of caution”. As pet owners, we can minimize the risks by learning what circumstances can lead to problems, and steps we can take to avoid transmission of disease between us and our pets. If you contact our clinic, we have several handouts available that discuss zoonotic diseases in dogs and cats, and we will be happy to provide these to you. If you wish to use the internet for reference, one excellent resource for information is the website developed by the US Center for Disease Control (CDC), called "Healthy Pets, Healthy People". This website’s aim is to educate the general public about pets as a source of infection to humans. The site contains a wealth of information about how people can protect themselves and others from contracting diseases from household pets, petting zoos, and farm animals. Users can browse for health information by type of animal, by disease name, or for people at extra risk. For example, children under 5 years of age and people with weakened immune systems are advised not to touch reptiles or they may contract Salmonella bacteria, which can make them very sick. Although the site information is aimed at the general public, it also contains a section for health professionals that will allow them to provide information to their clients on prevention of diseases related to animal contact.
To access the "Healthy Pets, Healthy People" site, search the internet at www.cdc.gov/healthypets (or click on the link http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/ if you are currently online).
Caution: These news items, written by Lifelearn Inc., are licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written permission of Lifelearn Inc. Please note that the news information presented here is NOT a substitute for a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by our clinic veterinarian.
