Can Your Pet Make You Sick?

Did you know that your pet can make you ill? Millions of people get sick each year from their cats, dogs and other pets. Many of these range from skin conditions (benign) to potentially serious illnesses. With a little information and a lot of common sense, most pet-related sickness can be avoided.

TYPES OF ILLNESSES RELATED TO YOUR PET
Parasite Infections. You probably already know about Toxoplasmosis gondii, a parastitic infection th you can get though direct contact with cat feces while cleaning the litter box or gardening in soil contaminated with cat feces. This is just one of several parasitic infections that can be transmitted this way.

Fungal infections. Cat and dog owners (especially owners of puppies and kittens) can get infected with a fungal infection of the skin such as ringworm. When you pet the animal or even touch contaminated bedding or other articles you can directly spread the infection to a person's skin.

Bacterial infections. People who come into contact with the feces of dogs and cats can pass Campylobacter bacterial infections causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Also, contact with baby chicks, ducklings, lizards, snakes and turtles can result in Salmonella bacterial infections which cause fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

PROTECT YOURSELF
Increased awareness is the first line of defense for pet owners and the medical community. The trouble is that primary care physicians are not always up-to-date on pet-related diseases and how to treat them.

To reduce your family's risk of pet-related infections, make sure you tell your family physician about the presence of pets in your family. This is especially important if young children, elderly or immune-compromised family members live with you.