What You Need to Know About Diseases Your Furry Friends May Pass

Did you know that pets can transmit diseases to humans? You may not realize it, but zoonotic diseases are more common than you think. Even though your pet may appear healthy, it can carry contagious illnesses. The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family!

How do pets spread diseases?

Pets can spread germs in various ways, including:

– Direct contact – Touching a contaminated pet’s bodily fluids, like saliva, blood, urine, or poop, can lead to disease transmission. For example, you could get sick if your furry friend licks an open wound on your skin or if you clean up their mess.
– Indirect contact – Coming into contact with something an infected pet has contaminated can also spread illness. For instance, if a stray cat uses your child’s sandbox as a litter box, your kid may get a roundworm infection.
– Vectors – Ticks and fleas can attach to pets and be carried indoors, biting and transmitting diseases to you.
– Food – Eating undercooked meat, contaminated eggs, or raw fruits and vegetables can make you and your pet sick.
– Water – Drinking or touching water contaminated with urine or poop can cause diseases like giardia or leptospirosis.

What illnesses can pets transmit to humans?

Pets can transmit various illnesses, such as:

– Bacteria (including salmonella and E. coli, cat scratch disease, tick-borne diseases, and leptospirosis)
– Viruses (like rabies)
– Fungi (such as ringworm)
– Intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, giardia, toxoplasma)
– External parasites (scabies, fleas, ticks)

Take preventive measures, such as proper hygiene, when caring for your furry pal and their belongings to prevent disease transmission.

Stay up-to-date with regular preventive care visits to ensure the safety and health of your two-legged and four-legged family members. Give our team a call today to book an appointment for your pet!