We love our pets and treat them like family. One of the last things we wish to take into consideration is how they will make us sick. Of course, our pets don’t mean to, but they will pass a few of their diseases on to us.
Diseases transmitted from animals to persons are called zoonotic diseases (or zoonoses). And there are lots of of them. An article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that “more than six out of every ten known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals, and three out of every four new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals.”
This sounds scary, needless to say. But we promise that we’re not here to scare you! Rather, we wish to educate you about zoonotic diseases. In this text, we’ll delve into what causes zoonotic diseases, how they’re spread, and the common zoonotic diseases in dogs and cats. We’ll also explore strategies to protect yourself, your relations, and your pets from these diseases.
What are zoonotic diseases?
Pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi cause zoonotic diseases. These diseases could be transmitted from animals to humans in several ways:
- Direct contact with bodily fluids (e.g., mucus, urine, feces) from an infected animal
- Indirect contact with objects (e.g., food bowl, bedding, toys) that an infected animal touched
- Bite from a vector (an animal that carries the disease-causing pathogen): tick, mosquito, fly, flea
- Contaminated food
- Contaminated water
Zoonotic diseases may cause a spread of symptoms in people, various from mild to severe. Some symptoms will resolve on their very own, but others could also be so serious that medical intervention, and possibly hospitalization, is required.
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Who is in danger for zoonotic diseases?
Although zoonotic diseases can affect anyone, certain groups of individuals have a high risk of contracting a zoonotic disease. Generally, individuals with a weakened or underdeveloped immune system are most susceptible because their bodies cannot fight off disease thoroughly.
Here is a listing of who’s most in danger for becoming unwell from a zoonotic disease:
- Pregnant women
- Patients with HIV/AIDS
- Adults over 65 years old
- Children under five years old
- Patients receiving chemotherapy
- Blood or organ transplant recipients
- People with genetic immune deficiencies
- Patients taking medications that suppress the immune system
Fortunately, having a weakened immune system doesn’t mean you can’t have a pet. Instead, it means you would wish to take extra precautions to protect yourself from zoonotic diseases.
Common zoonotic diseases from dogs and cats
Here is a table of common zoonotic diseases from our pets.
| Disease | Pathogen | Mode of Transmission | Common symptoms in people |
| Tapeworms | Fleas (Ctenocephalides) | Accidental flea ingestion | Weakness, diarrhea, fatigue |
| Toxocariasis | Roundworm (Toxocara canis) | Ingesting feces from infected pets | Digestive upset |
| Toxoplasmosis | Protozoan (Toxoplasma gondii) | Direct contact with cat feces; foodborne | Muscle aches, fever, headache |
| Giardiasis | Protozoan (Giardia) | Ingesting feces from infected pets | Usually no symptoms; possibly profuse, watery diarrhea |
| Ringworm (dermatophytosis) | Fungus (Microsporum canis) | Direct contact with infected cat’s skin | Ring-shaped skin lesion that’s red and itchy |
| Rabies | Virus (rabies virus) | Bite from a rabid dog | Flu-like symptoms, progressing to neurologic symptoms; nearly all the time fatal |
| Bartonellosis (Cat scratch disease) | Bacteria (Bartonella henselae) | Bite from an infected cat | Swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, appetite loss |
| Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus | Bacteria (S. aureus) | Dog or cat bite | Skin infection, fever, chills |
| Leptospirosis | Bacteria (Leptospira) | Direct contact with contaminated urine | Fever, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting |
| Salmonellosis | Bacteria (Salmonella) | Direct contact with contaminated pet food | Stomach pain, diarrhea, fever |
| Scabies | Mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) | Direct contact with infected dog | Mild skin irritation |
Preventing zoonotic diseases
Reading about these diseases could make you’re feeling a bit squirmy. Fortunately, basic hygiene practices significantly reduce the danger of zoonotic diseases for you and your loved ones. Follow these hygiene steps to prevent getting sick out of your pet:
- Wash your hands with soap and hot water after touching your pet. If handwashing isn’t possible, use hand sanitizer that’s a minimum of 60% alcohol, but washing your hands is best.
- Do not let your pet lick your or your kids’s faces.
- Pick up and throw away your dog’s feces in your yard or during a walk. Use gloves or a poop scoop to avoid directly touching the feces, and wash your hands afterward.
- Keep your pet’s food and water bowls separate out of your dishes and wash them each day with soap and hot water.
- Ensure that your kids wash their hands after touching your pet. Do not allow them to touch your pet’s feces.
- Wash your pet’s bedding and toys commonly.
- Wear gloves when gardening, especially in case your pet is allowed within the garden.
- Clean your cat’s litter box often, wearing gloves. If you’re pregnant, have another person clean your cat’s litter box to prevent getting toxoplasmosis.
- Keep yourself and your relations healthy. A strong, healthy immune system is a wonderful defense against zoonotic diseases.
Your pet needs to be protected, too! The higher your pet is protected against infectious diseases, the less likely they’ll pass them on to you. Follow these prevention strategies in your pet:
- Keep your pet up to date on their vaccinations.
- Prevent your pet from direct or indirect contact with wild animals.
- Do not allow your pet to keep in touch along with your children’s feces.
- Keep your pet on year-round, monthly flea and tick preventative.
- Take your pet for wellness visits according to your vet’s really useful schedule.
- Treat your pet’s illnesses promptly.
Bringing it Together
Zoonotic diseases sound scary, but many are easily preventable with easy and practical hygiene practices. Do your best to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your pet from infectious diseases. If you or your pet are unwell, seek medical care promptly.