Rabies, tetanus and 4 other diseases you can get from cats and dogs

Many of us dream of a furry friend who will delight with his presence, affection and funny antics. But what are the dangers of dogs and cats?

Pets can be carriers of various diseases that pose a danger to their owners. Together with an expert we’ll look at the most common diseases that our four-legged friends can infect us with, as well as share useful tips for safe communication with pets.

• What diseases can pets transmit?

• Tips for safe communication with pets

What diseases can pets transmit?

Maria Vorobey

therapist at the clinic “Bud Zdorov” on Frunzenskaya Street.

“Communication with animals brings a lot of pleasant emotions, but we should not forget that each such contact is fraught with infection with infectious diseases”.

Carriers of dangerous parasites are more often stray cats, dogs, which are in contact with food waste, insects, contaminated water and sick animals on the streets. However, clean pets that have never visited the street can also become a source of infection.

You can catch the infection simply by petting a pet or through a scratch/bite. Indirect contact is also dangerous: when cleaning the cat’s litter box and washing food bowls, there is a risk of contracting parasites that are found in the saliva, feces and urine of the animal.

Infections that can be contracted from animals are

Toxoplasmosis

This disease, caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, as it can lead to serious complications. Infection occurs through contact with cat feces.

Toxoplasmosis can be asymptomatic, especially in healthy people. However, some infected individuals may experience flu-like symptoms:

• Mild fever: a slight increase in body temperature;
• fatigue and headache, general malaise;
• muscle aches;
• enlarged lymph nodes: usually in the neck and axillae.

In immunocompromised people, toxoplasmosis can lead to serious complications, including brain damage. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriage or serious birth defects.

To minimize the risk of infection, you should clean the cat’s litter box regularly (preferably at least once a day), wash your hands thoroughly after contact with your pet. It is also not recommended to feed the cat raw or undercooked meat, and you should not eat such a product yourself.

Rabies

This is an acute viral disease that causes damage to the central nervous system in animals and humans. It is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases, which, if untreated, is almost always fatal. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an already infected animal, most often through bites.

The incubation period of the disease – from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms – ranges from several weeks to a year (more often two to three months).

At the initial stage of the disease, the following signs may be observed:

• fever;
• fatigue;
• headache;
• pain at the site of a bite or scratch.

After a few days or weeks, more severe symptoms may develop, including: nervousness, anxiety, muscle spasms, “water fear,” confusion, and paralysis, most often starting in the face and neck. In the final stage of the disease, paralysis develops, leading to coma and in most cases, death.

The only salvation from this virus is timely vaccination, which is carried out according to strict rules. This vaccination is safe, its purpose is to form a stable immune response to the rabies virus during its incubation period (it is 30-90 days). This is why it is important to seek immediate medical attention as soon as contact with an unknown animal, such as a stray animal, has occurred.

Ringworm

This is one of the most common fungal diseases that can affect both humans and animals. The disease is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person.

Characteristic symptoms:

• skin changes: round spots with well-defined edges, often red in color, appear on the affected skin areas. The surface of these spots is often covered with crusts;
• itching and burning: the affected areas itch, causing scratching and further damage to the skin;
• hair loss: in areas of infection, hair breaks at the root or falls out completely, leaving gaps.

Ringworm is characterized by predominantly affecting the scalp.

In animals, the symptoms of ringworm may not be as obvious. That is why it is important to conduct regular examinations and pay attention to the condition of the skin of pets.

Felinosis

Felinosis, also known as “cat scratch disease”, is an infectious disease that develops as a result of bacteria entering through damaged skin: cat scratches and bites.

It can also be contracted through cat bites and through cat saliva contaminating cuts, wounds and sores on the skin. Felinosis is caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae, which more than half of domestic cats carry, so the risk of infection is extremely high.

Symptoms of the disease can range from mild to severe and include:

• fever: usually begins within one to two weeks of contact with an infected animal;
• enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the armpit or neck area;
• weakness and fatigue;
• headache;
• rough, red or inflamed patches on the skin: may appear at the site of scratches or bites.

In most cases, the disease goes away on its own, but some people, especially those with weakened immune systems, develop more serious symptoms.

Tetanus

This is an acute infectious disease caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. It usually lives in soil, dust, and animal feces. Spores of the bacterium enter the body through wounds, cuts, or other injuries, including animal bites.

The main symptom of tetanus is muscle cramps; in severe cases, the respiratory and vasomotor centers of the brain are affected. Fatal outcome is possible.

The main and most effective method of preventing the disease is regular vaccination against tetanus.

Helminthoses

Cats are carriers of more than 80 species of worms, many of which can be dangerous to humans. Animals with access to the outdoors are especially at risk of infection when they hunt rodents, fish and crustaceans, which act as intermediate hosts for these parasites.

Even an indoor cat can become a source of infection by eating contaminated food or licking shoes and other items brought in from the street, which may have worm eggs on them.

Symptoms depend on the specific parasite that has entered the body. Among them, for example, stool disorders, abdominal pain, increased fatigue, skin itching, shortness of breath and other signs.

This is not the entire list of diseases that can “bestow” pets. They are also capable of infecting a person with tularemia, tapeworms, salmonella and other diseases.

Any health problems in a cat owner or in a person who has recently interacted with a domestic or stray animal require medical attention. Without treatment, all of the above diseases cause dangerous symptoms and can be complicated, and some of them – tetanus, rabies – can be fatal.

Tips for safe interaction with pets

To reduce the risks of infection, follow simple rules:

1. Annually conduct preventive antihelminthic therapy and vaccination of pets, treat them from fleas and ticks.
2. Avoid contact with stray animals.
3. Minimize pet contact with stray dogs and cats.
4. Be sure to wash your hands after contact with animals, even pets.
5. Avoid scratches and bites from animals while playing.
6. Do not kiss animals on the face and do not let them sleep in the bed.

To avoid infection, it is necessary to vaccinate your pet in time and contact specialists in case of alarming symptoms.