5 Health Concerns You Should Be Aware of If You Own a Pet

80 million or more people in the United States of America own dogs or cats, or both. Most if not all animal are treated like the family members than as pets, sharing couches and beds with the family members and eating foods nearby, all of that raises some serious health concerns you must be aware of if you also own a pet. Does a cat or dog cause flu or cold? To keep it short and simple, NO! Flu and cold viruses are very species-specific. As mentioned by Dr. Shelley Rankin, a researcher at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medication, “Common cold or flu viruses which affect human beings is specific to humans, and different pets species have different types of strains of influenza virus which affect them.” Can you get Diarrhea from your pets? If your pets are suffering from diarrhea and the cause of it is Campylobacter or Salmonella, you can simply become infected if you have contact with their feces and then do not wash your hands before handling the foods and touching your mouth, stated by Dr, Shelley Rankin. However, reptiles like snakes and turtles, birds like ducklings and baby chicks, and other pocket pets such as mice and hamsters, present much higher risk than the risk of Salmonella. Is it correct that the Saliva of dogs is safe? Another big NO! It is just as bad or worst as compared to human saliva, added by Dr. Rankin in the same research. Although most if not all organisms in the mouth of your dog are not harmful, cases of the bacterial transmission to human being have been witnessed; therefore it is not wise to let your dog lick your face or mouth, mainly if your immune system is weak. Moreover, be careful not to get the saliva of your dog in an open wound. What are the bacterial diseases In your dogs that you Must be Concern About? Leptospirosis, another less frequent yet more serious bacterial disease can be passed from your dog’s urine into our mucous membranes. It is also possible to get ringworm, which is a fungal disease if you have contact with your infected dog’s or cat’s skin. Moreover, toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that can be transmitted from the feces of your pets. What if my pet is not sick? Even if your pet isn’t sick, it can still harbor some microorganisms that may infect you. Bacteria which causes cat scratch diseases, for instance, can be passed from one infected cat without any symptoms of illness via a scratch or bite. Words of wisdom You are far more likely get sick from other humans as compared from your cat, dog or other pets. However, you must still be careful, mainly if your immune system is weak, especially ones at high risk (pregnant, frail elderly person or younger kids). Always get your pets dewormed and vaccinated, take them to vet regularly, control fleas and wash your hands after handling your pets. You should keep your away from kitchen during food preparation. If you use wireless-electric fence, you can easily keep your food safe from poisoning by dog.