Your pet may be a carrier of one of the many transmittable illnesses that can spread from animals to people. Pets such as dogs, cats, birds, and reptiles may all be carriers of contagious illnesses. If not diagnosed early and cured correctly, these illnesses can have significant effects, so it’s important to check your pet’s health and take them to the vet if you notice a sign of illness or infection.
Contagious Diseases From Animals
Besides the flu, you might catch some other typical diseases from your pet. People with weak immune systems must take more precautions because they may be more vulnerable than healthy people. The following are the most common infectious illness discovered in animals.
1. Rabies
Rabies is a fatal disease of the nervous system that is caused by a virus and spreads through bites. Fever or a headache might be early signs. This can immediately progress into agitation, sleepiness, or confusional symptoms. It is usually too late to cure when those symptoms show up. Rabies can be transmitted from domesticated pets like dogs and cats, but wild animals present a higher risk.
2. Ringworm
The underlying cause of this problem is not a worm but rather a fungal infection of the skin’s top layer. There is a high risk of transmission to people from infected animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and other species. Furthermore, if you have been sweating or have a tiny cut on your skin, you are more likely to get it from touching surfaces that an infected animal or person has touched. Rash symptoms include a red, ring-shaped appearance that can be dry, flaky, wet, or crusty. Ringworm is hard to prevent but responds well to treatment.
3. Hookworms and Roundworms
These parasites are typically found in puppies and kittens. The animal’s feces have eggs or larvae. Hookworm can cause humans to develop painful, itchy skin infections. Some people with roundworms may not experience symptoms, but others, especially children that come into contact with pet feces, may experience eye damage.
Your pet needs to be checked by vets right away if you notice a sudden change in behavior in your pet. Find out more information about the proper treatment your pet might need.
4. Tapeworm
Tapeworms can be spread to dogs and cats when they consume an infected flea. While the majority of people contract tapeworms from contaminated food, children can obtain them by swallowing fleas carrying tapeworm larvae. Tapeworm segments may appear in a human or pet’s feces or around the anal region. These pieces look like rice grains.
To guarantee that your pet is healthy and receives treatment for any problems they might have, book a consultation with a veterinary internal medicine specialist as soon as possible.
5. Psittacosis (parrot fever)
This bacterial infection can be caught by inhaling dried feces or respiratory tract fluids from infected birds, like parrots, parakeets, macaws, and cockatiels. This infection is hard to prevent because it barely shows symptoms in pet birds. Seek medical attention right away if having a sick bird causes you to experience flu or respiratory symptoms.
6. Salmonella
Salmonella is often gotten from ingesting contaminated food, but it can also be transmitted through the feces of infected pets. This infection is most likely spread from chicks and ducklings to humans or through reptiles like lizards, snakes, and turtles. It might also be transmitted by dogs, cats, birds, and also horses. Fever, diarrhea, and stomach ache are possible signs.
Pets hide their discomfort and anguish until it becomes excruciating. Monitor your pet or schedule a vet checkup if you notice any behavioral changes or other signs that appear out of the ordinary.
7. Lyme Disease
This is an infectious bacteria transmitted by ticks. Although your dog can not directly transmit Lyme to you, if your outdoor cat or dog picks up a couple of ticks on their fur, it may be able to do so. Tick attacks can lead to a bull’s- eye rash, high temperature, headache, and muscle or joint pain. Although not everyone infected with Lyme will experience symptoms, the illness can progress into a chronic condition without treatment, leading to inflammation of the nerves and heart, mental changes, and pain.