Preventing Infections From Pets: A Guide for People With HIV Infection
My-Dog.info > Dog Diseases, Bites, Worms & Ticks
- You do not have to give up your pet.
- Although the risks are low, you can get an infection
from pets or other animals.
- Several simple precautions are all you need to take
with pets or other animals.
- HIV can not be spread by, or to, cats, dogs, birds,
or other pets.
Should I keep my pets?
Yes. Most people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can
and should keep their pets. Owning a pet can be rewarding. Pets
can help you feel psychologically and even physically better. For
many people, pets are more than just animals — they are like
members of the family. However, you should know the health risks
of owning a pet or caring for animals. Animals may carry
infections that can be harmful to you. Your decision to own or
care for pets should be based on knowing what you need to do to
protect yourself from these infections.
What kinds of infections could I get from an animal?
Animals can have cryptosporidiosis ("crypto"),
toxoplasmosis ("toxo"), Mycobacterium avium complex
("MAC"), and other diseases. These diseases can give
you problems like severe diarrhea, brain infections, and skin
lesions.
What can I do to protect myself from infections spread by
animals?
- Always wash your hands well with soap and water after
playing with or caring for animals. This is
especially important before eating or handling food.
- Be careful about what your pet eats and drinks. Feed
your pet only pet food or cook all meat thoroughly
before giving it to your pet. Don’t give your
pet raw or undercooked meat. Don’t let your pets
drink from toilet bowls or get into garbage.
Don’t let your pets hunt or eat another
animal’s stool (droppings).
- Don’t handle animals that have diarrhea. If the
pet’s diarrhea lasts for more than 1or 2 days,
have a friend or relative who does not have HIV take
your pet to your veterinarian. Ask the veterinarian
to check the pet for infections that may be the cause
of diarrhea.
- Don’t bring home an unhealthy pet. Don’t
get a pet that is younger than 6 months old —
especially if it has diarrhea. If you are getting a
pet from a pet store, animal breeder, or animal
shelter (pound), check the sanitary conditions and
license ofthese sources. If you are not sure about
the animal’s health, have it checked out by your
veterinarian.
- Don’t touch stray animals because you could get
scratched or bitten. Stray animals can carry many
infections.
- Don’t ever touch the stool of any animal.
- Ask someone who is not infected with HIV and is not
pregnant to change your cat’s litter box daily.
If you must clean the box yourself, wear vinyl or
household cleaning gloves and immediately wash your
hands well with soap and water right after changing
the litter.
- Have your cat’s nails clipped so it can’t
scratch you. Discuss other ways to prevent scratching
with your veterinarian. If you do get scratched or
bitten, immediately wash the wounds well with soap
and water.*
- Don’t let your pet lick your mouth or any open
cuts or wounds you may have.
- Avoid reptiles such as snakes, lizards, and turtles.
If you touch any reptile, immediately wash your hands
well with soap and water.
- Wear vinyl or household cleaning gloves when you
clean aquariums or animal cages and wash your hands
well right after you finish.
- Avoid exotic pets such as monkeys, and ferrets, or
wild animals such as raccoons, lions, bats, and
skunks.
*If you are bitten, you may need to seek medical advice.
I have a job that involves working with animals. Should I
quit?
Jobs working with animals (such as jobs in pet stores, animal
clinics, farms, and slaughterhouses) carry a risk for infections.
Talk with your doctor about whether you should work with animals.
People who work with animals should take these extra precautions:
- Follow your worksite’s rules to stay safe and
reduce any risk of infection. Use or wear personal
protective gear, such as coveralls, boots, and
gloves.
- Don’t clean chicken coops or dig in areas where
birds roost if histoplasmosis [his-to-plaz-MO-sis] is
found in the area.
- Don’t touch young farm animals, especially if
they have diarrhea.
Can someone with HIV give it to their pets?
No. HIV can not be spread to, from, or by cats, dogs, birds,
or other pets. Many viruses cause diseases that are like AIDS,
such as feline leukemia virus, or FeLV, in cats. These viruses
cause illness only in a certain animal and cannot infect other
animals or humans. For example, FeLV infects only cats. It does
not infect humans or dogs.
Are there any tests a pet should have before I bring it home?
A pet should be in overall good health. You don’t need
special tests unless the animal has diarrhea or looks sick. If
your pet looks sick, your veterinarian can help you choose the
tests it needs.
What should I do when I visit friends or relatives who have
animals?
When you visit anyone with pets, take the same precautions you
would in your own home. Don’t touch animals that may not be
healthy. You may want to tell your friends and family about the
need for these precautions before you plan any visits.
Should children with HIV handle pets?
The same precautions apply for children as for adults.
However, children may want to snuggle more with their pets. Some
pets, like cats, may bite or scratch to get away from children.
Adults should be extra watchful and supervise an HIV-infected
child’s handwashing to prevent infections.
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