How to prevent 4 dangerous diseases from dogs and cats for homeowners
Owning a dog or cat has been shown to help reduce blood pressure, stress, and depression, especially in the elderly. However, people also need to be careful because pets can make us sick in the following ways:
1. Parasites
Dogs and cats can carry a variety of parasites that can be transmitted to humans, such as hookworms and roundworms.
One of the best ways to prevent parasites is to wash your hands after touching dogs and cats.
Some pets are more at risk of parasites than others. Puppies can carry parasites that can be passed on to humans, experts say.
2. Pregnancy complications
Allowing a dog to lick an open wound can cause infection. Anything that affects the pregnant woman will also affect the fetus.
If the pregnant woman is infected due to contact with pets, the fetus can also be infected and this will affect the child's development.
3. Infections and fungi
Bacteria and fungi can be transmitted from pets to people. Ringworm caused by fungus and leptospirosis caused by bacteria are two common zoonotic diseases.
Ringworm causes a rash and itchy skin. Leptospirosis can cause fever, headaches, vomiting, and even kidney and liver failure, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
4. Lyme disease
The intermediate host that transmits diseases from pets to humans is the tick. Ticks can fall off the pet's fur and crawl onto human skin.
Ticks are most prevalent in the summer. Walking your dog outdoors, especially in wooded areas, can expose them to ticks.
The best way to limit the transmission of diseases to humans from dogs and cats is to vaccinate them with the necessary vaccines and take them to the veterinarian for regular check-ups.
In particular, it is necessary to vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies.
