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
June 18th, 2007 at 07:22am
Under Diseases
Although dogs can pass germs to people, you are not likely to get sick from touching or owning dogs. To best protect yourself from getting sick, thoroughly wash your hands with running water and soap after contact with dogs, dog saliva, or dog feces (stool).
Dogs can carry a variety of germs that can make people sick. Some of these germs are common and some are rare. For example, puppies may pass the bacterium Campylobacter in their feces (stool). This germs can cause diarrhea in people. Less often, dogs in urban or rural areas can carry the bacterium Leptospira (lep-TO-spy-ruh). This germ causes the disease leptospirosis (lep-to-spi-roh-sis) in people and animals. Dogs can also carry rabies, a deadly viral disease. Rabies from dogs is rare in the United States.
Some people are more likely than others to get diseases from dogs. 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 diseases from dogs include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS, and people being treated for cancer. Special advice is available for people who are at greater risk than others of getting diseases from animals.
Many groups support the health benefits of pets. These groups provide information on how pets can help people be healthy.
Below, you can learn more about dog-related diseases.
Brucella canis Infection (brucellosis): A bacterial disease rarely associated with dogs.
Campylobacter Infection (campylobacteriosis): A bacterial disease associated with dogs, cats, and farm animals.
Cryptosporidium Infection (cryptosporidiosis): A parasitic disease associated with dogs, especially puppies, cats, and farm animals.
Dipylidium Infection (tapeworm): A parasitic disease associated with dogs, cats and fleas.
Giardia Infection (giardiasis): A parasitic disease associated with various animals, including dogs and their environment (including water).
Hookworm Infection: A parasitic disease associated with dogs and cats and their environment.
Leishmania Infection (leishmaniasis): A parasitic disease associated with dogs and sand flies outside the United States.
Leptospira Infection (leptospirosis): A bacterial disease associated with wild and domestic animals, including dogs.
Lyme Disease: A bacterial disease that can affect dogs and ticks.
Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii): A bacterial disease occasionally associated with dogs.
Rabies: A viral disease associated with various animals, including dogs.
Ringworm: A fungal disease associated with dogs.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: A bacterial disease associated with dogs and ticks.
Roundworm: See Toxocara infection.
Salmonella Infection (salmonellosis): A bacterial disease associated with various animals including dogs.
Tapeworm (flea tapeworm): See Dipylidium Infection.
Toxocara Infection (toxocariasis, roundworm): A parasitic disease associated with dogs and cats and their environment
By Fred
