Health & Life® MedixNet® • Health and Medical Publications, November 8th, 2006
Companionship and comfort are some of the many benefits that pets provide us. There are many others, such as the extraordinary help that trained dogs can provide to disabled people. However, we have to be careful while handling our pets, because they can carry germs and diseases that can be transmitted to humans [Zoonoses].
Animals can carry many germs, including some that are dangerous to humans; we may also be exposed to them from contaminated food and water. Wild animals can carry germs causing serious diseases to humans; we should not have direct contact with wildlife, avoid adopting wild animals as pets or bring them home. Children must never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear to be clean and friendly.
Diseases from Dogs - Dogs can pass germs to humans, particularly to children; it is a good idea to wash our hands [and our children's hands] with running water and soap after contact with dogs, dog saliva, or dog feces. Although it is a very common occurrence, we should never kiss a pet in the mouth or face; they may appear clean, but we must remember that dogs and cats lick their genitals and anal area, and some even eat their [and other pets] feces, contaminating their mouths and faces with many germs that can cause serious diseases to children and adults alike.
Dogs can carry a number of germs that can make us sick. Some of them are fairly common. Puppies and young dogs may pass the bacterium 'Campylobacter' in their stools; these germs can cause severe diarrhea in humans. Another germ is 'Leptospira', causing 'leptospirosis' in humans.
As we know, dogs may contract [and pass it to humans] rabies from other dogs and wild animals such as raccoons, bats, etc. Rabies is fatal, unless properly treated right away after contact with a rabid animal has occurred.
Recently, a group of girl scouts in Virginia came in contact with bats while getting ready to spend a few days at camp and, because of the possibility of rabies, they must all receive immunization shots. The actual possibility of contracting rabies in this situation is remote; however, considering that rabies is fatal in most cases, we should take all available precautions to avoid contact with the causing viruses. Affected patients who survive may do so with severe brain damage.
Scarlet Fever and Rheumatic Fever are also diseases important to mention here because they are caused by germs frequently carried by otherwise healthy household pets, including the family dog. Repeated bouts of streptococcal [strep] throat infections in a family justify looking for the presence of the responsible bacteria in pets. If this search is positive, the animals must be examined and treated by a veterinarian.
Treatment of the family cat or dog should be carried out simultaneously with treatment of all the members of the household, in order to successfully eradicate the offending germs. Untreated of poorly treated streptococcal infections may have very serious consequences: destruction of kidney and heart tissues, which in turn may cause catastrophic complications.
People more likely to get diseases from animals are young children; Transplant organ recipients, HIV, AIDS and cancer patients are also at risk because they have a weakened immune system, resulting from the medications they receive.
In general, age and health status affect our immune system, making us, to a certain extent, vulnerable to some of these diseases. However, we still can have household pets; all we have to do is follow some simple rules and precautions, in order to minimize the possibility of getting sick.
Infants and young children are more likely to get germs and diseases from animals, because they often touch them and also touch objects and surfaces that may be contaminated with their saliva and feces, often placing their hands in their mouths. It is very common for infants and toddlers to drop pacifiers to the floor, where they can easily be contaminated: they must always be thoroughly washed before they are offered back to the child.
Young children should always be supervised when they are around pets or other animals, particularly babies. We must never leave babies alone with pets or other animals; dogs, even when they are trained and friendly, can seriously injure and even kill babies.
Kids should not be allowed to kiss pets [or other animals] and to put their hands or other objects into their mouths after handling them; their hands must always be washed thoroughly after contact with pets or any other animal.
Careful hand washing prior to breast feeding or preparation of formula is also strongly recommended. In general, young children must avoid contact with lizards, snakes, turtles, frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, baby chicks and ducklings. This is not easy, because children are attracted to small animals. What should we do? We should follow simple precautions and doing a lot of hand and face washing.
We should also be very careful when taking babies and young children to farms and allowing direct contact with animals, including animals at petting zoos and fairs. Although disease outbreaks are reported, there are many instances of infections and diseases contracted by children that are not.
Approximately three million households in the US have at least one reptile. Turtles, lizards and snakes can carry germs that could make us sick. For instance, 'salmonella', which may cause a severe illness, and even be fatal to young children.
Contact with reptiles [and their feces] causes approximately eighty thousand cases of Salmonellosis every year in the US. It is a bacterial disease; many different types of this germ can make us sick. Diarrhea, fever and stomach pains appear within three days after we are exposed; these signs and symptoms usually go away in about seven to ten days. Hospitalization may be necessary because of severe diarrhea and dehydration, particularly in young children.
Many animals can pass salmonellosis to us if we do not wash our hands after touching them. We could also get the disease if we consume contaminated food, such as chicken, eggs, beef, turkey, etc. Ground beef is particularly dangerous if it is not cooked thoroughly; steaks and other cuts of meat are less risky.
Ground beef contamination usually occurs at slaughter houses when exposed to the contents of animals' bowels. This is particularly dangerous to young children at fast food restaurants, while consuming hamburgers that are not thoroughly cooked. Dogs, cats, birds, horses, and farm animals can also pass Salmonella in their feces.
Although birds can spread germs to people, illness caused by touching or owning birds is not common. The best protection from getting sick is to thoroughly wash our hands with running water and soap after contact with birds or their droppings.
Different types of birds can carry different diseases; baby chicks and ducklings often carry Salmonella. Parakeets and parrots can carry 'Chlamydia psittaci' which causes the disease 'Psittacosis'. Pigeon droppings can also have many germs that cause diseases in humans, particularly infections caused by the fungus 'Cryptococcus'.
From watching calf roping at the rodeo to petting lambs at the county fair, there are many ways to explore the animal world during the spring and summer. Exhibits such as petting zoos and fairs allow children of all ages to have the thrilling experience of coming face to face with animals. This interaction allows people to learn more about animals and helps to build an important human-animal bond. Unfortunately, many people become sick every year because of a visit to an animal exhibit.
As we noted above, it is important to remember that animals can carry germs that are harmful to us. When we forget to wash our hands after touching an animal or bringing food into an area where animals are being housed, we are at risk of contracting a disease. Prevention is very important, and we must remember to often, and carefully, wash our hands --and our children's, after touching animals or being close to them.
We should not share any food with animals, and discourage children from feeding them, because they may come in contact with their saliva. Unpasteurized dairy products, available at some fairs, must not be consumed at any time: drinking milk right after it is obtained from a cow or a goat is a very risky proposition. Claims that it is 'natural' and 'healthier' than the milk we get at the store are just a myth, perpetuated by [sadly] misinformed people. We should just remember that 'Salmonellosis' is also a 'natural' disease that may send us to the hospital...
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