What are Zoonoses

Zoonozes are infection diseases that can pass from dogs and cats to people. Many bacteria and viruses that infect pets can also cause disease in people. These bacteria or viruses can be passed on in a number of different ways. Contact with your pet itself is one way that disease is spread, but other ways include contact with urine, faces, or respiratory secretions of an infected animal, or contact with other items in the animal’s environment. Disease can also be spread through scratches or bites by an infected pet, or by insects (such as the Lyme-disease tick) that carry the infection from animal to human.

Many known zoonotic diseases are passed from wild animals to pets and then to people. Exposure to pets is steadily increasing as the number of cats and dogs increases in the U.S, Canada and other countries. That is why zoonozes present an ongoing public health concern.

The number of different types of animals kept as pets is also increasing. Exotic pets such as prairie dogs have become popular in many parts of the world. Such animals have brought diseases out of the wild and into human homes. For example, in 2003 on outbreak of monkeypox (a rare viral disease) occurred in people who were exposed to the virus by recently purchased prairie dogs. It was later determined that the prairie dogs likely were exposed to the virus when they came into contact with another exotic species, the Gambian rat, at a pet store.

In addition to exposure to wild animals is increasing as people continue to clear land and build houses in areas that were formerly home to wildlife. Animals such as raccoons and opossums have adapted to urban conditions and are well known to spread infectious diseases such as rabies.

People’s desire to touch wild animals and livestock has resulted in the establishment of petting zoos. Public health officials in several countries including the US, Canada, United Kingdom, are trying to control the spread of disease at these zoos through inspections and rules, including hand washing with antibacterial soap. People with weakened immune systems are much more likely to get diseases from animals, including tuberculosis and food-borne Salmonella infections.

Preventing Zoonoses

There are several preventive things that you can do to minimize the exposure to the infectious bacteria or viruses that cause disease.
First, make sure your pet receives all of the recommended vaccinations for its species. This will keep your cat or dog from becoming infected with certain dangerous diseases and spreading them to other pets and/or humans.
Second, if you are thinking of acquiring a rare or exotic pet, make sure you check all local and regional regulations ot ensure that it is legal to keep the animal as a pet in your home. Also, check with your veterinarian about any possible health risks that might be associated with this particular exotic animal. And always make sure that a new animal receives a basic health check exam to ensure that it is healthy and disease-free.
It is always a good idea to minimize contact between wild animals and your pet. If your dog or cat is housed outdoors, it is more likely to come into contact with wild animals or insects that can spread disease. Take reasonable precautions – for example, if you and your dog go for a walk in an area known to be associated with Lyme disease, always check both yourself and your dog for ticks upon your return home.
Ask your veterinarian about using appropriate flea and tick control products that usually are available at Animal Hospital pharmacies. Avoid contact with droppings from other animals that could spread disease or parasites.
When your pet has an infectious disease, keep it separated from other pets and people in the household, if possible. Hands should always be thoroughly washed after any contact with the sick dog or cat including the contacts with pet’s environment (toys, bedding, food plates).

It may be necessary in some cases to thoroughly clean and sanitize the area, or even destroy some items such as bedding.
Your veterinarian can provide appropriate guidelines depending on the type of infection your pet has.
This article was prepares with the help of vet assistants of our Vancouver Animal Hospital in Dunbar

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