Although it’s tempting to hug your dog, it might not be the best idea. Our relationship with pets has changed dramatically over the past few years or decades, to the point where many people prefer fur babies over real babies and spend a lot of money caring for them.
This isn’t a bad thing, as pet ownership has been shown to be linked to many physical and mental health benefits.
But they can also have infectious diseases that can be transmitted to us and, although the risk is low for most people, it is still important to be aware of them and take the necessary precautions to guard against them.
Possible diseases they can transmit
According to Science Alert, infectious diseases that pass from animals to humans are called zoonotic diseases or zoonoses. More than 70 pet pathogens are known to be transmissible to humans. Sometimes pets carrying a pathogen appear sick, but sometimes they have no visible symptoms, making infection easier.
More than 70 pet pathogens are known to be transmissible to humans.
Zoonotic diseases can be transmitted directly from pets to humans, for example through contact with saliva, bodily fluids and feces, or indirectly, for example through contact with litter, soil, food or contaminated water. Although studies suggest that the prevalence of pet-associated zoonoses is low, the true number of infections is likely underestimated. Dogs and cats are important reservoirs for these infections.
Photo: A dog’s tender reaction to “The Lion King”: “He’s as excited as I was when I was 4 years old” (TikTok: @bosco.and.the.fam)In endemic regions of Africa and In Asia, dogs are the main source of rabies transmitted by saliva. Dogs can also carry the bacteria Capnocytophaga in their mouth and saliva, which can be transmitted to humans through close contact or bites.
In addition to dogs and cats, domestic birds can transmit psittacosis, a bacterial infection that causes pneumonia.
Zoonoses associated with cats include a number of diseases transmitted by the fecal-oral route, such as giardiasis, campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, and toxoplasmosis. It is therefore especially important to wash your hands or wear gloves every time you handle your cat’s litter box. Cats can also transmit infections through bites or scratches.
Birds, turtles and fish too
In addition to dogs and cats, domestic birds can transmit psittacosis, a bacterial infection that causes pneumonia. Contact with pet turtles has been linked to Salmonella infections in humans, particularly in young children. Even domestic fish have been linked to various bacterial infections in humans, including vibriosis, mycobacteriosis, and salmonellosis.
I was an intern at the editorial office. When I saw their ad for a freelancer, I decided to come back. I’m a fan of series and movies, I spend my weekends at the cinema and my nights in front of Netflix