I was recently reading a news story about a man who devastated his arms and legs after contracting a rare bacterium from his dog’s saliva. Just awful!

This is an extreme and rare result, but it got me thinking about how much we share too much when it comes to pets. Many of us share hugs, kisses, beds, and even food with our pets. Most of us get nothing from them, but there are some things they can “share” with us, albeit less than ideal. Some of the major potential risks that sharing with dogs and cats can pose include:

Parasite

Pets carry parasites such as fleas and ticks that can easily infect humans. Fleas bite humans, and repeated stings can cause irritation or a mild reaction. Ticks can be passed from pets to humans and cause scabies and scabies. It can burrow under the skin and cause itching and dermatitis.

intestinal parasites

intestinal parasites Tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms can be passed from pets to humans.
– Tapeworm eggs or larvae are most commonly inhaled or ingested by humans by ingesting infected fleas. Infection in humans can cause many gastric symptoms, cysts, and bowel obstructions.
– Hookworm larvae can infect humans through contact with contaminated soil. The larvae then burrow into the skin (usually the legs) and cause inflammation in the burrowed area.
– Roundworms are transmitted only through eggs ingested by humans. This is caused by ingesting soil that has been contaminated by not eating or washing hands after touching the eggs. The eggs then hatch in the intestine, where they complete their life cycle inside the human body. Infestation can cause wheezing, coughing, lung damage, and gastrointestinal blockage.

ringworm

Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes circular skin lesions. It can be acquired through direct contact with an infected animal, ringworm wounds, or infected bedding or furniture.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis can be transmitted to humans through feces of infected cats. Symptoms include swollen glands, fever, muscle pain, sore throat, and rash, and can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth. People who are pregnant or have a compromised immune system should avoid changing cat litter if possible.

bacterial infection

Bacterial infections can be passed from dogs and cats to humans. This is usually caused by a wound or bite, where bacteria can enter through broken skin. Infectious bacteria are often harmless to animals. People’s symptoms range from local inflammation, pain, and minor infections to more severe cases where the bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body.

allergy

The most common problem caused by pets is owners who suffer from allergies to pets. Allergens found in pet hair, skin and saliva can cause allergies. Allergic reactions range in severity from mild allergic symptoms such as rashes, sneezing, and watery eyes to severe reactions such as asthma, wheezing, and hives.

Note that animals’ systems are different from ours. They are designed to deal with a wide variety of bacteria, infections, and parasites for us, and in many cases they can also deal with what we can’t. Keeping your pet in optimal health with regular de-worming and good hygiene practices can reduce the chances of spreading unpleasant diseases and unwanted “sharing”.

If both you and your pet are healthy, the chances of catching anything from them are minimal. So love them, hug them, kiss them, share your bed with them. However, be aware that more sinister things may be shared.