Pets and health risks: 5 diseases from pets we should be aware of.

Created By RISC | 4 years ago

Last modified date : 2 years ago

Pets like dogs, cats, rabbits, or birds can reduce our stress. But did you know they can also expose us to health risks? Here are some issues to watch out for. ​

- Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is caused by Bartonella henselae bacteria in cat saliva. You might experience red hives, blisters, and fever. In severe cases, a general infection can cause septicemia in allergic or sensitive people.​

- Ringworm is a fungus from dogs, cats, and rabbits. It can cause skin or hair infections or show no symptoms. The fungus can spread from animals directly or from objects and contaminated surfaces like clothes, sheets, and chairs. A red, itchy, circular rash often forms around a patch of clearer skin.​

- Rabies is a virus found in all kinds of mammals, spreading through bites, scratches, or saliva. Animals can become fierce or lethargic. Human symptoms are also diverse. If your pet dies within 10 days of showing symptoms, contact the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute to get it checked.​

- Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) can come from dogs, cats, and rabbits. Most pets can get these hookworm parasites from their mothers. Symptoms include diarrhea. Pet owners can also get infected through touching or treading on areas with pet stools. Human symptoms depend on the type of parasite.​

- Psittacosis is a fever caught from birds like parrots, parakeets, and so on. Chlamydia psittaci bacteria can spread through inhaling feather dust, dried feces, or respiratory secretions. The illness is like flu with pneumonitis. Birds hang their heads low and are lethargic, tottering, drowsy, with rough feather and diarrhea.​

Pet diseases like these mean you should keep a close eye on your pets and regularly clean their areas in your home. Wash your hands after touching them. Get them regularly checked and vaccinated for your and their well-being.​

Credit: Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, and the Center of Excellence Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases in Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, ​Chulalongkorn University​

Author/Editor: Kotchakorn Rattanama, Researcher, RISC​