Healthy pets, healthy people: How to avoid the diseases that pets can spread to people

Cats and dogs

• Campylobacter – most common bacterial cause of gastroenteritis (infectious diarrhea)

• Human infections are usually not caused by pets themselves, but by eating contaminated raw or undercooked meat, or by drinking unpasteurized milk. 
• The organism lives in the intestinal tract of healthy farm animals, poultry, wild birds and animals.
• Infections are common in young animals, especially puppies and kittens. They can get it from eating undercooked poultry or contaminated animal products, or by drinking water containing traces of feces.
• Close contact between owners and dog and cat fur, or the animal feces in infected animals who are shedding the bacteria.

• Diarrhea that can be bloody, severe stomach cramps, and sometimes a high fever. See a doctor if severe.
• People with this infection can become very sick.
• Campylobacter infection is a known trigger for Guillain-Barré syndrome.

• Wash hands well after contact with animals, and animal feces.
• Puppies or kittens with diarrhea should be seen by a vet for proper treatment.
• Practice careful hand hygiene and food handling, especially around raw chicken. Cook all meats well.
• Drink pasteurized milk and water from trusted sources only.

• “Cat scratch disease” – bacteria (Bartonella) causing skin infections

• Cats, especially kittens, carry the germ under their claws and in saliva. Cats get their infection from fleas.
• Because cat claws are thin and sharp, their scratches can inject bacteria under the skin.
• Infection can also spread by saliva in a bite that breaks the skin.
• Dogs also carry, and can spread, “cat scratch disease”.

• A common skin infection, mostly affecting children, young adults, sometimes with gland swelling and/or fever. In healthy people, this often resolves without therapy.
• Serious complications are rare, but more likely in persons with abnormal immune systems.

• Make sure your cat does not have fleas.
• Teach your cat not to scratch and your children not to play roughly with pets. Never leave a young child alone with a pet.
• Clean scratched skin thoroughly with soap and water.
• See a doctor if scratched skin becomes red and inflamed, or if you develop swollen glands.

• Cryptosporidium – parasite that causes a highly contagious intestinal disease

• Many mammals (including humans), birds, and reptiles shed the germs (called oocysts) in their feces that cause human infection. 
• These oocysts are resistant to treatment (eg., to chlorine in drinking water).
• Contaminated water supplies and swimming pools can cause extensive water-borne outbreaks, and so-called “traveller’s diarrhea.”
• Cows, dogs and cats, guinea pigs, mice, and animals in petting zoos (eg., deer, llamas, alpacas) can pass infection to humans.
• Person-to-person and food-borne transmission (eg., in child care settings) also happen.

• Frequent, non-bloody, watery diarrhea. Vomiting and fever are more common symptoms in children.
• Can be severe, even fatal, for people with a severely weakened immune system.

• Wash your hands, and make sure children wash hands, after contact with animals. Hand sanitizers are not as effective.
• Be sure your water supply is safe to drink. Boil water for at least one minute if you are in doubt.
• People with diarrhea should not use recreational swimming facilities for at least 2 weeks after diarrhea goes away.

• Giardia – a parasite that makes people sick by causing a bowel infection

• Lives in the intestinal tract of many wild and domestic animals (eg., beavers, muskrats, seals, cattle, goats, llamas and pigs) without causing symptoms.
• Humans are usually infected by drinking untreated water, or by person-to-person transmission (eg., in child care settings), but the feces of infected dogs and cats can also contaminate water supply.
• Even healthy dogs and cats may carry it, though diarrhea is especially common in puppies.

• Watery diarrhea and severe stomach cramps are common symptoms.
• Can be severe for people with a weakened immune system, and can cause epidemics.

• Wash your hands, and make sure children wash hands, after contact with farm animals and pets.
• Pets with diarrhea should be seen by a vet for proper treatment.
• Make sure your water supply is safe to drink.
• People with diarrhea should not use recreations swimming facilities.

• Rabies –a virus that attacks the brain

• In Canada, rabies is most often in foxes, skunks, bats and raccoons. Pets can get rabies from saliva, if a wild animal bites them.
• Humans get rabies from the bite of an infected animal. In Canada, house pets are protected by a vaccine against rabies, and almost never get the disease.

• A rabies vaccine is available. A doctor will decide whether the vaccine is needed.
• Rabies is not common, but when an animal gets it, it is always fatal.

• Vaccinate your pets against rabies.
• Don’t handle wild animals.
• A bite from an animal that is acting strangely, a stray pet, or a wild animal or any contact with a bat must be seen by a doctor and reported to a local public health authority.

• Ringworm (Dermaphytosis) – different kinds of fungus that can cause rash

• Farm animals, pets, and wild animals can carry fungal spores on their skin or fur.
• Cats and dogs (especially kittens and puppies) are common carriers, and may have no symptoms of infection, especially in shelters or households with several pets.
• Touching or petting an animal can pass infection to humans.

• Ringworm causes an itchy rash on the skin or scalp.
• Usually affects children.
• See your doctor if you suspect your child has it.

• Wash your hands and make sure children wash hands after contact with pets.
• Avoid touching animals with bald spots.
• Pets with a skin rash should be seen by a vet for proper treatment.

• Roundworms (Toxocariasis or larvae migrans) – parasites that can infect the intestine or eyes

• Roundworms are common in dogs and cats (especially in puppies and kittens), and their eggs are present in soil wherever dogs and cats have a poop.
• Roundworms infect humans if eggs are ingested (eg., by a young child eating dirt or sand, or by eating raw, unwashed vegetables).

• Most people have no symptoms.
• In serious cases, roundworms can travel around the body and cause damage to organs, including the eyes.

• Clean up pet waste quickly.
• Stop a child from eating dirt or sand.
• Wash hands after handling soil and before eating.
• Cover your children’s sandbox between uses.
• Ask a vet to treat your dog or cat (especially a young animal) regularly for worms.

• Toxoplasmosis – caused by a parasite

• Most humans are infected by eating raw or undercooked meat—only rarely by accidentally ingesting sand or soil contaminated by cat feces.
• Most warm-blooded animals carry this parasite, but only cats shed the germs (called oocysts) in their feces that cause human infection.
• Cats usually get it by eating infected rodents or undercooked household meats.

• Fever, feeling generally unwell or swollen glands.
• First infection during pregnancy can cause birth defects, developmental problems, or miscarriage.
• In people with a seriously weakened immune system, infection can lead to potentially life-threatening brain infections.

• Feed your cat commercial cat food—not raw meat scraps.
• Clean your cat’s litter box daily—new feces do not contain live parasite.
• If you are pregnant, avoid activities that might expose you to cat feces (eg., cleaning a litter box). Wear gloves and wash hands carefully if you must do these chores.
• Wash your hands, and make sure children wash hands after gardening, playing in the sandbox or cleaning out the litter box.
• Cover your children’s sandbox between uses.
• Wash fruits and vegetables well.
• Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat, and wash hands after handling raw meat.

Birds
 

They can also carry, and transmit, Campylobacter, Giardia, ringworm (see Cats and Dogs, above), Salmonella (see Reptiles, below).

• Psittacosis (Chlamydophila or parrot fever) – bacteria that can cause pneumonia

• Breathing in fecal dust or by contact with droppings, or eye, beak secretions of birds: wild (eg., pigeons), tame (eg., parakeets, love birds, macaws and parrots) and poultry (eg., turkeys).

• Respiratory symptoms, fever, headache.
• Serious complications are rare.
• Infections in children are rare.

• Don’t expose your pet bird to other birds.
• Keep the bird cage clean, avoid scattering debris.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling a bird, bird nest or cage.
• Don’t kiss pet birds.
• Buy birds from reliable sources.

Rodents
 

They can also carry, and transmit Campylobacter, Giardia, rabies, ringworm, Salmonella.

• Hantavirus – virus common in rodents (eg., deer mice, white-footed mice) that can attack the lungs

• Contact with infected rodents, their droppings or nests, or breathing in virus particles from rodent urine, droppings or saliva.
• A dog or cat cannot spread Hantavirus from a rodent to a person.

• Flu-like symptoms including headache, muscle pain, fever, followed by shortness of breath and other serious symptoms.
• Can be fatal.
• Infections may be milder in children.

• Prevent rodent infestations in your home. Disinfect traps between uses.
• Don’t use a broom or vacuum to clean infested areas. Ventilate (allow fresh air in) before cleaning, soak droppings with disinfectant first, and wear rubber gloves and a protective facemask.
• Avoid camping, sleeping in places infested by rodents.
• Don’t live-trap wild mice or keep them as pets.

Reptiles and amphibians

They can also carry, and transmit, Cryptosporidum and Giardia.

• Salmonella – A bacteria that causes intestinal infections. It is a common cause of food poisoning

• Salmonella bacteria are everywhere in the environment and live in the intestinal tract of healthy poultry, livestock, reptiles and pets.
• Most human infections are not caused by direct contact with animals but from contaminated food or water.
• Aquatic reptiles, such as turtles, carry and transmit salmonella.
• Risk of infection from “dry land” snakes and lizards may be lower.
• Cats and dogs usually don’t get sick, but they can still infect humans by licking.
• Certain pet treats, such as pigs’ ear chews, may be contaminated and can infect humans.

• Infection can cause severe diarrhea, fever, headache, stomach cramps and vomiting.
• In infants, the elderly, or in people with a weakened immune system, it can be fatal.
• Most cases are found in children 1 to 4 years old.
• Can cause widespread outbreaks.

• Clean your pet’s cage and living area often and well with a hose or in an outdoor sink. Disinfect carpets or furniture when feces are present.
• Avoid keeping reptiles as pets.
• Wash your hands well with soap and water after handling pets, pet chews, or coming into contact with pet waste.
• Eggs and all meats should be well cooked before eating.