May 7, 2014

Could Your Pets Be Making You Sick?

Photo by sarandy westfall on Unsplash

They’re cute, cuddly and beloved members of millions of families. For animal lovers, it’s all too tempting to treat your adorable yellow lab as a child! But it’s important to remember that your dog or cat is still an animal, and according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are a few diseases that we sometimes can contract from our furry friends.

Cat Scratch Disease

Cat scratch disease (CSD), also known as “cat scratch fever”, is a bacterial disease transmitted through a cat bite or scratch. This disease causes the lymph nodes around the head, neck and upper limbs to become swollen.

Leptosprirosis

Animals with this disease show no signs of infection. However, if humans come in contact with infected pet urine through water or soil it can enter the body. Leptospirosis can be very serious and potentially fatal for humans, leading to kidney damage, liver damage and even death.

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus

This viral disease is carried by rodents such as mice, hamsters and guinea pigs, all of which are popular household pets in the US. Symptoms of the LCMV infection are similar to that of the flu. They include fever, stiff neck, loss of appetite, muscle aches, headache, nausea and vomiting.

Scabies

Scabies are a skin condition that cause intense itching, causing us to scratch our skin. This may result in eczema. To prevent the risk of getting scabies, owners should take their pets to their vet for their regular exams and vaccinations.

Rabies

Rabies may be the most well-known viral disease associated with mammals. Wild animals are much more likely to carry the disease, but dogs and cats can still contract the virus and pass it along to people. People usually get rabies after being bitten by an infected animal. Symptoms of rabies include fever, headache and confusion, and it’s very important to seek treatment immediately if you believe you’ve contracted rabies.