Keeping Pets (and People) Healthy
My-Dog.info > Dog Diseases, Bites, Worms & Ticks
Pets occupy an esteemed place in many of our households, often
being treated as members of the family. They offer a source of
amusement, pleasure, and companionship. They provide
opportunities for outdoor exercise and socialization. And,
according to some studies, they can decrease our blood pressure,
cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels.
But along with the emotional rewards and health benefits of
pet ownership also come health risks. Pets--and other
animals--can give us diseases.
Animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans are known as
zoonotic diseases, or zoonoses. Some people are more likely than
others to get zoonoses: the elderly, pregnant women, infants and
children less than 5 years old, people undergoing treatments for
cancer, people who have received organ transplants, and people
with suppressed immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS.
If you fit into one of these categories, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises avoiding contact
with certain animals that are more likely than others to carry
diseases: reptiles (turtles, lizards, and snakes), baby chicks,
and ducklings.
The list of zoonoses is long and continues to grow as people
travel to more remote parts of the world and bring diseases back
with them, and as animals that carry diseases are imported. The
first human outbreak of monkeypox, a rare smallpox-like disease,
occurred in the United States in May 2003. The disease was
believed to have been brought into the country in April by a
shipment of rodents and other small mammals imported from Africa.
These animals infected prairie dogs being sold as pets, which in
turn infected humans in close contact with the prairie dogs.
In June 2003, in response to the monkeypox outbreak, the Food
and Drug Administration and the CDC banned the import of all
African rodents, and the transport, sale, and release into the
environment of prairie dogs and six species of African rodents.
In November 2003, both agencies issued a new rule that clarifies
and extends the import and transport restrictions for these
animals. This interim rule, which is open for public comment
until Jan. 20, 2004, gives an increased measure of protection to
help prevent future outbreaks of monkeypox in the United States.
Even if people never leave the country or acquire a pet from
further away than their local animal shelter, they may still be
vulnerable to getting certain diseases from pets. Fortunately,
the risk of getting a disease from your pet is small, and you can
minimize the risk by practicing good personal hygiene, keeping
pet areas clean, controlling disease-carrying insects, and
getting regular vaccinations and veterinary care for pets.
Parasites, bacteria, fungi, and viruses are the culprits
responsible for spreading many diseases from pets to humans. Some
are more common and troublesome for pets and pet owners than
others.
Worms
Worms, such as roundworms and hookworms, can infect dogs,
cats, and some other animals. Worms can also infect people if
they ingest the organisms or, in the case of hookworms--which can
penetrate the skin--if they walk barefoot on infected soil.
Worms live in the intestines of animals and are expelled in
the stool. If left untreated in pets, homes and yards can become
contaminated from worm eggs that are passed in animal feces and
hatch in the soil. If your animal has worms, get it treated and
clean up after it promptly, advises Linda Wilmot, D.V.M., a
veterinary medical officer in the FDA's Center for Veterinary
Medicine (CVM). "Don't give the eggs that are passed in the
feces time to hatch."
More than 90 percent of puppies are born with worms, says
Wilmot. Mother dogs can pass worms to their puppies before birth
and both dogs and cats can pass it to their offspring through
their milk after birth.
Touching the stool or contaminated soil and then touching the
mouth or handling food are common routes of transmission of worms
to humans. Children are at risk for acquiring worms if they walk
barefoot or play in the dirt where an infected dog has defecated
or on the floor where a dog may have tracked in dirt or feces.
Hookworm larvae can cause painful inflammation in areas where
they penetrate a person's skin and crawl just below the skin's
surface. The larvae can also travel through the body, eventually
reaching the small intestine. There they develop into
half-inch-long worms, attach themselves to the intestinal wall,
and suck blood.
Roundworms may also cause problems. "Between 5 percent
and 20 percent of children have been infected by dog roundworm at
some time in their lives," says Larry Glickman, V.M.D.,
Dr.P.H., a professor of epidemiology and environmental health at
the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine. In most cases, it never
becomes apparent and doesn't need to be treated, he says. But in
some cases, larvae migrate through the body and damage tissues
and organs.
Just one roundworm larva has been known to damage the retina
of the eye and cause blindness. Glickman developed an eye fluid
test, used by some eye doctors and the CDC, to detect the dog
roundworm in people's eyes so they can be treated before
permanent damage sets in.
Prevention and early treatment are the best defenses against
worms, says Wilmot. FDA-approved drugs are available to destroy
worms that infect dogs, cats and people. Guidelines from the CDC
and the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists advise
using deworming drugs in dogs and cats beginning at two weeks of
age. Your veterinarian can provide dewormers and a treatment
schedule.
Adult animals should have their stool tested at least annually
by a veterinarian, who can also prescribe drugs to help prevent
your pet from getting worms in the future.
Toxoplasmosis
Cats may be carriers of Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite causing
the disease toxoplasmosis. Direct contact with cat feces is one
possible route of human infection, but toxoplasmosis is more
likely to spread to people through eating raw or undercooked
meat. Food animals may become infected by grazing in fields or
eating feed contaminated with cat feces. People can also get
toxoplasmosis from gardening and accidentally ingesting soil
where an infected cat has defecated. Wearing gloves while
gardening and washing hands afterward are recommended.
Cats pick up the toxoplasma parasite by eating rodents, birds
or other prey, undercooked meat, the feces of infected cats, or
contaminated soil. Most cats infected with Toxoplasma don't show
signs and don't need to be treated, but those that do get sick
may be diagnosed with laboratory tests and treated with
medications. The CDC estimates that more than 60 million people
in the United States probably carry the toxoplasma parasite, but
few become ill from it. Those who get sick may have flu-like
symptoms such as swollen glands and muscle aches.
Pregnant women with cats in the household need to take special
precautions because toxoplasmosis can cause miscarriage,
premature births and birth defects.
Pregnant women and others with suppressed immune systems
should avoid changing a cat's litter box or, at a minimum, wear
disposable gloves and wash their hands thoroughly afterward, says
the CDC. Changing the box daily is recommended because it takes
the toxoplasma parasite at least 24 hours to become infectious.
It's also possible to become infected by inhaling the dried
feces, so seal the waste in a plastic garbage bag for disposal.
Cover children's sandboxes when not in use to prevent
contamination from cat feces.
Antimicrobial drugs are available to treat people who become
infected with toxoplasmosis.
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella.
People usually get salmonellosis by eating contaminated food,
such as undercooked meats or eggs. But Salmonella can also be
transmitted to people through pets, particularly reptiles, baby
chicks, and ducklings, which commonly pass the organism in their
feces.
Most, if not all, reptiles carry some Salmonella in their
intestinal tract, says Scott Stahl, D.V.M., owner of Stahl Exotic
Animal Veterinary Services in Vienna, Va., and past president of
the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians. Stahl
says he and other reptile veterinarians have stopped testing the
animals for Salmonella. "They tend to intermittently shed
the organism, so a fecal culture may be a false negative,"
he says, giving the reptile owner a false sense of security. Once
the bacteria are shed in droppings, Salmonella may be found on
the reptile's skin, its cage, the floor, and any other surface
the animal touches.
Since Salmonella are part of a reptile's normal bacteria and
cannot be eliminated from its intestinal tract, people need to
practice good hygiene around reptiles. Stahl advises no eating,
drinking, or smoking around the animals. Nor should the pets be
allowed to roam freely through the house, especially in areas
where food is prepared or eaten. Always wash your hands with hot,
soapy water after handling reptiles, their cages or equipment,
and any surfaces they come into contact with.
The CDC estimates that 70,000 people in the United States get
salmonellosis each year from contact with reptiles. Reptiles are
not appropriate pets for small children and should not be in the
same house as an infant, advises the CDC.
Ringworm
Ringworm is not caused by worms, but by several different
types of fungi. People can get this skin and scalp disease just
by touching the skin or fur of an infected animal, typically a
cat, which holds the fungal spores. Ringworm can also infect
dogs, ferrets, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs and other animals.
Signs of the disease can be "virtually invisible" in
some cats and dogs, says Wilmot, but they can still transmit the
disease to people. Others will lose patches of fur or hair,
exposing bare skin with a lesion that is sometimes ring-like and
itchy. Ringworm in people may show itself as a ring-shaped,
reddish, itchy rash that can be dry and scaly or wet and crusty.
Keeping animal areas clean will help prevent ringworm, since
the disease-causing fungi grow in dirt and contaminated bedding.
In addition to contracting it from animals, people can also get
ringworm from contact with other infected people or their
personal items.
Topical and oral medications may be used to treat ringworm in
people and pets.
Cat-Scratch Disease
The CDC estimates that more than 20,000 people in the United
States get cat-scratch disease (CSD) each year. Most cat
scratches don't develop into CSD, but those that do may cause
fever, fatigue, headache and swollen lymph glands.
The bacteria believed to cause CSD may be transmitted by
fleas. About 40 percent of cats carry the infectious bacteria at
some time in their lives, according to the CDC. Many do not show
signs of illness, but some develop fever, lethargy, swollen lymph
glands, inflamed eyes and gums, and neurological disease,
requiring treatment by a veterinarian. Cat owners should use a
good flea control, keep cats' claws trimmed short, and discourage
rough play to prevent scratches and bites. If you are bitten or
scratched, wash the area immediately with soap and water. Do not
let cats--or any animal--lick open wounds on your body.
Rabies
Rabies, a deadly viral disease that infects the brain and
spinal cord in animals and people, is transmitted through the
saliva of a rabid animal, usually by a bite. Vaccines to help
prevent rabies are available for dogs, cats, horses, ferrets, and
some farm animals. Pet owners should keep their pets'
vaccinations, including rabies vaccinations, up to date. Vaccines
for animals are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) and vaccines for people are approved by the FDA.
The number of rabies cases in domestic animals has steadily
declined since animal control and vaccination programs began in
the 1940s. Today, domestic animals account for less than 10
percent of the reported animal rabies cases. The number of cases
in wild animals, however, has increased. Rabies is frequently
found in raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.
People and pets should avoid contact with wild or unfamiliar
animals. If you are bitten, immediately wash the wound with soap
and water, clean the bite by allowing the wound to bleed, and get
medical help at once. If a pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek
veterinary assistance immediately.
After a person has been exposed to rabies, rabies immune
globulin (proteins that function as antibodies) and the first of
five doses of vaccine must be given promptly. The remaining four
vaccine doses are given over a 28-day period. This regimen works
by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies that
neutralize the rabies virus before it causes the actual disease.
By the time symptoms appear, it is too late for this treatment,
and the disease is almost always fatal.
According to the CDC, no one in the United States has
developed rabies after being exposed to it when the vaccine was
given promptly. Unlike the older rabies vaccines, which were
painful injections in the abdomen, today's rabies vaccines are
relatively painless and can be given in the arm.
Rodent-borne Diseases
Two diseases of emerging concern, especially in young
children, may be spread by rodents, including pet hamsters, mice
and rats. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) is a viral disease
that people can get from inhaling infectious airborne particles
of rodent urine, feces, or saliva, or by ingesting food
contaminated with the virus. Rat-bite fever is a bacterial
illness that can be transmitted through the bite or scratch of a
rodent or by ingesting food or water contaminated with rodent
feces.
Because both diseases may cause flu-like symptoms initially,
such as fever, headache, and muscle aches, they can be
misdiagnosed or underestimated, says Victoria Hampshire, V.M.D.,
of CVM's Office of Surveillance and Compliance. LCM can escalate
to muscle weakness and paralysis, and rat-bite fever can also
cause severe complications. There are no specific drugs to treat
LCM, and severe cases may require hospitalization. Rat-bite fever
is usually cured with antibiotic drugs.
Owners of pet rodents should avoid exposure to their droppings
and should periodically disinfect rodent habitats while wearing
gloves and washing hands afterward. Traps should be used to rid
the house and property of wild mice and rats. Make sure to tell
your doctor if you or your child has flu-like symptoms and has
had recent contact with rodents.
Flea- and Tick-borne Diseases
Fleas and ticks are responsible for a number of diseases in
pets and people. Some types of ticks, for example, can transmit
the bacteria that cause Lyme disease to animals and humans. Fleas
can harbor tapeworm larvae, which grow into adult tapeworms in
the intestines of pets or people who may swallow the infected
fleas.
Although pets cannot give flea- and tick-borne diseases
directly to people, they can transport these pests into their
homes, exposing family members to potential infection.
Many products are available to help control fleas and ticks on
pets and in their environment. Check with your veterinarian for
appropriate treatments. (See "
Taking the Bite Out of Fleas and Ticks
," July-August 2001 FDA Consumer.)
he USDA has licensed a vaccine for use in dogs for Lyme
disease prevention. If you live in a tick-infested region, ask
your veterinarian about this vaccine for your dog.
Mycobacteria
Fish and the water they live in can harbor bacteria that may
cause illness in people. Mycobacterium is one of the main
infectious germ families associated with fish and aquarium water.
A common route of this infection in humans is through cuts or
scrapes on hands or feet.
People, especially those with compromised immune systems,
should wear rubber gloves when cleaning the fish tank and wash
their hands well afterwards, says Renate Reimschuessel, V.M.D.,
Ph.D., director of the FDA's aquatic research program.
"Since these and other bacteria can be present in fish
tanks, it's a good idea to keep kids from putting their hands in
the tank, or, in the case of toddlers, drinking tank water,"
she adds. "The same advice goes for pets--keep your cats and
dogs from drinking potentially contaminated water--either from a
fish tank or a toilet. Basically, follow good hygiene procedures
when handling aquatic animals or materials from their
habitat."
Psittacosis
The bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci is the cause of a common
bird disease, psittacosis. The disease is also called parrot
fever because of its frequent occurrence in parrot-type
birds--especially cockatiels and parakeets. Some birds may get
sick from it, while others show no signs of illness. Bacteria
from infected birds are found in their droppings and nasal
discharges, and people can become infected by inhaling the dried
droppings and secretions.
People exposed to birds with psittacosis should see a health
care provider if they develop flu-like symptoms such as fever,
chills, headaches, muscle aches, or dry cough. Left untreated,
psittacosis can develop into pneumonia and other health problems.
Antibacterial drugs are used to treat the disease in birds and
people.
To help prevent transmission of psittacosis, Victoria
Hollifield, D.V.M., of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in
Derwood, Md., recommends that people not allow birds to peck them
around the mouth area, or to fly around the house, particularly
in eating or food preparation areas. Hand washing after contact
with birds and wearing a dust mask and gloves when cleaning the
cage are also good precautions. "The inhalation of particles
is what's so potentially dangerous to us," says Hollifield,
"and when you are scrubbing out the cage you tend to push a
lot of those particles into the air."
Getting regular veterinary checkups for all pets is important,
but it's especially critical for birds, says Hollifield. Being
flock animals, birds will hide their signs of illness. "If
they show that they're weak, the other birds will push them
out," says Hollifield. "By the time you see a bird
acting or looking like it's sick, it's probably been sick a long
time and it's probably very sick at that point."
Hollifield advises pet owners to get birds and other pets from
a reputable source who can produce documentation to show that the
animal has been tested for certain diseases. This is particularly
important for exotic pets, says Hollifield, who sees hedgehogs,
chinchillas, and even tarantulas in her veterinary practice. She
advises people to think carefully before getting an exotic pet,
and never take in an exotic animal caught in the wild. They are
more likely to carry parasites and become sick in captivity.
"I think pets are a wonderful part of our lives, and
especially beneficial to children," says Hollifield.
"But we know more about domesticated animals and are better
equipped with vaccines and knowledge to make these safe pets. It
is a safer choice to select a domesticated animal for a
pet."
Petting Zoos
Children are enchanted by face-to-face encounters with animals
in public settings. But their fascination can fade quickly if the
animal gives them a disease.
"In the past few years, we've seen numerous outbreaks of
disease among persons visiting petting zoos, farms and county
fairs," says John Dunn, D.V.M., Ph.D., an epidemiologist at
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Infections in people, particularly children, have been linked
to venues where they had hands-on contact with animals. One of
the largest outbreaks occurred in 2000 among school groups and
families that visited a dairy farm in Worcester, Pa. Fifty-one
people reported symptoms that included bloody diarrhea, fever,
and vomiting within 10 days of their visit. While none of the
infected people died, 16 needed to be hospitalized, including one
child who required a kidney transplant.
The illnesses, caused by a strain of the bacterium Escherichia
coli (E. coli), arose from nail-biting, eating food, or other
manners of touching the mouth with hands after petting the
animals, according to the CDC. This and similar incidents
prompted the CDC to publish federal safety guidelines for
operators of events and facilities that offer public contact with
farm animals. The guidelines recommend providing hand-washing
facilities with soap and disposable towels, posting information
about diseases that can be contracted from animals, and
prohibiting human food in the interaction area.
"We're not advocating that people don't interact with
animals," says Dunn. "We want to emphasize hygiene and
education; people should be informed that there is some risk when
handling animals, especially when eating afterwards without
washing their hands."
BARF and Bacteria
There is a growing trend on the part of pet owners to feed
pets a diet that includes raw meat and bones, typical of what
animals in the wild would eat. For dogs and cats, these diets are
often referred to as BARF-bones and raw food, or biologically
appropriate raw food.
"The FDA believes that feeding raw meat diets to pets is
not consistent with its goal of protecting the public from
significant health risks," says William Burkholder, D.V.M.,
Ph.D., the Food and Drug Administration's pet food specialist. In
addition, he says, raw meat and bones do not have all the
required nutrients that a pet, for example, a dog, needs on a
daily basis.
But in recognition of owner preferences and the popularity of
these diets, the FDA has published draft guidelines to
manufacturers of pet foods that contain raw meat or other raw
animal tissues for dogs, cats, and other pets as well as captive
animals that are not pets (such as zoo animals). The guidelines
give recommendations on manufacturing practices and labeling to
protect pet owners and pets from risks involving food safety and
nutritional deficiency.
Pet owners who feed raw meat and bones should handle these
products very carefully to avoid bacterial contamination, says
Burkholder. Just as when preparing raw foods for humans, use hot
water and soap to wash hands, utensils, containers, and surfaces
that come into contact with the food. Don't put your hands near
your mouth until you've washed them, and don't allow your pet to
lick your face right after it has eaten raw meat.
Pets may also contract an infection from raw meat. "Vomit
and diarrhea are potential sources of infection for humans,"
says Burkholder. "If your animal gets sick, wash your hands
after cleaning up."
If owners choose to feed bones to their pets, they should
supervise their pet when it is chewing on bones, he adds.
"If the pet consumes a big chunk of bone that won't pass
through the digestive system, it could perforate the
gastrointestinal tract, which is life-threatening for the pet.
Owners would need to seek immediate veterinary care."
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