Cat Tree and Cat Care Information

Salmonella Infection (salmonellosis) and Animals

July 11th, 2007 at 07:38am Under Cat Health+ Diseases+ Dog Health

What is salmonellosis?

Salmonellosis (sal-mohn-el-OH-sis) is a bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella. Many different kinds of Salmonella can make people sick. Most people have diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain that start 1 to 3 days after they get infected. These symptoms usually go away after 1 week. Sometimes, people have to see a doctor or go to the hospital because the diarrhea is severe or the infection has affected other organs.

Can animals transmit salmonellosis to me?

Yes, many kinds of animals can pass salmonellosis to people. Usually, people get salmonellosis by eating contaminated food, such as chicken or eggs. However, animals can carry Salmonella and pass it in their feces (stool). Therefore, people can also get salmonellosis if they do not wash their hands after touching the feces of animals. Reptiles (lizards, snakes, and turtles), baby chicks, and ducklings are especially likely to pass salmonellosis to people. Dogs, cats, birds (including pet birds), horses, and farm animals can also pass Salmonella in their feces.

Some people are more likely than others to get salmonellosis. A person’s age and health status may affect his or her immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. People who are more likely to get salmonellosis include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS, and people receiving treatment for cancer. Special advice is available for people who are at greater risk than others of getting this disease from animals.

How can I protect myself from salmonellosis?

After contact with animal feces (stool), wash your hands with soap and running water.
Wash your hands with soap and running water after touching reptiles or any objects and surfaces that a reptile has also touched.
If you have a compromised immune system, avoid contact with reptiles, baby chicks, and ducklings.
If you have a compromised immune system, be extra cautious when visiting farms and contacting farm animals, including animals at petting zoos.

By Fred Add comment

Animal Safety Tips for Infants and Young Children

June 22nd, 2007 at 07:25am Under Animal Safety

Infants and children less than 5 years old are more likely than most people to get diseases from animals. This is because young children often touch surfaces that may be contaminated with animal feces (stool), and young children like to put their hands in their mouths. Young children are less likely than others to wash their hands well. Objects such as pacifiers may fall to dirty surfaces and then be placed in an infant’s mouth. For some animal diseases, young children are more likely than others to get very sick.

Tips to protect infants and young children from getting sick while handling animals:

Children younger than 5 years old should be supervised while interacting with animals.
Children should not be allowed to kiss pets or to put their hands or other objects into their mouths after handling animals.
Childrens’ hands should be washed thoroughly with running water and soap after contact with animals.
Handwashing prior to breast feeding or preparation of formula is
strongly recommended.

Although this section focuses on how to protect children from diseases from animals, many groups support the health benefits of animals for people, including children.

CDC recommends that infants and children under 5 years old avoid contact with the following animals:

Reptiles (lizards, snakes, and turtles)
Amphibians (frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders)
Baby chicks
Ducklings Petting zoos
Additionally, children less than 5 years old should be extra cautious when visiting farms and having direct contact with farm animals, including animals at petting zoos and fairs.

By Fred Add comment