Your Pets, Their Parasites, Your Family

For many people, pets are an important part of the family circle. Naturally, you want to protect your family and your children in particular, from needless exposure to internal parasites such as worms and external parasites such as fleas and ticks. Some pets can harbor zoonotic parasites that can potentially be transmitted from your pets to your family.

Zoonotic Diseases that affect people.

·        Cat Scratch Disease – Also known as “cat scratch fever,” this flea-borne infection is typically transmitted from a cat’s scratch or bite. Signs include pimples at the scratch site and swollen lymph nodes that may persist for six weeks or longer.

·     Ehrlichiosis – Transmitted by ticks, this bacterial disease can cause fever, muscle aches, vomiting and other, more serious symptoms. As many as half of all patients require hospitalization.

·        Giardia – People become infected when they drink water containing the parasite Giardia lamblia. You can also become infected by putting something in your mouth that has come in contact with a pet’s stool. Signs include diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea.

·        Leptosiriosis – “Lepto” is a bacterial disease spread by contact with urine from an infected animal, including dogs, raccoons, squirrels and skunks. Lepto can cause high fever, severe headaches, vomiting and, if left untreated kidney damage or liver failure.

·        Lyme Disease – Spread by ticks, Lyme disease can cause arthritis and kidney damage. The number of Lyme disease cases has nearly tripled since 1990, and the disease is now found in virtually every state.

·        Rabies – This well-known disease is caused by a virus found in the saliva of infected animals and transmitted to people by bites. It is invariably fatal if not promptly treated.

·        Ringworm – Ringworm is a fungal infection – not a worm – transmitted by contact with the skin or fur of an infected animal. Signs include a bald patch of scaly skin on the scalp, or a ring-shaped, itchy rash on the skin.

·        Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever – A very serious, tick-borne disease that causes fever, headache and muscle pain, followed by a rash. May be fatal if left untreated.

·        Toxoplasmosis – This is a parasitic disease spread by contact with cat feces in soil or litter, although the major route of transmission is contaminated meat. It can cause serious health problems if pregnant women or in people with compromised immune systems.

Making sure your pet is on a year-round parasite control program is good health care for your pet and your family. Also, be sure your pet receives regular checkups from your veterinarian and is treated for any external and internal parasites that might be present.

Pets greatly enhance our lives. However, precautions for preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases are necessary, particularly when children are involved. Do not allow children to put foreign objects from the ground in their mouth, and always wash children’s hands and your own after playing with pets.