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| Contagious Parasites |
| Contagious Parasites
Some Parasites Of Pets Can Be Contagious To Humans As well
Contagious, or zoonotic diseases of concern to pet owners. Cat scratch disease -- Also known as "cat scratch fever," this flea-borne infection is typically transmitted from a cat's scratch or bite. Signs include pimples at the scratch site and swollen lymph nodes that may persist for six weeks or longer.
Ehrlichiosis - Transmitted by ticks, this bacterial disease can cause fever, muscle aches, vomiting and other, more serious symptoms. As many as half of all patients require hospitalization. Giardia - People and pets are infected when they drink water containing the parasite Giardia Iamblia. You can also become infected by putting something in your mouth that has come into contact with a pet's stool. Signs include diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea.  Hookworm -- Hookworm's larvae typically move about within the skin, causing inflammation in the affected skin. This is called cutaneous (skin) larva migrans. One type of hookworm can penetrate into deeper tissues and cause more serious damage to the intestine and other organs.
Leptospirosis -- "Lepto" is a bacterial disease spread by contact with urine from an infected animal, including dogs, raccoons, squirrels and skunks. Lepto can cause high fever, severe headache, vomiting and, if left untreated, kidney damage or liver failure. Lyme disease -- Spread by ticks, Lyme disease can cause arthritis and kidney damage in both people and dogs. The number of Lyme disease cases has nearly tripled since 1990, and the disease is now found in every state. Rabies -- This well-known disease is caused by a virus found in the saliva of infected animals and transmitted to pets and people by bites. It is invariably fatal if not promptly treated. Ringworm -- Ringworm is a fungal infection -- not a worm -- transmitted by contact with the skin or fur of an infected dog or cat. Signs include a bald patch of scaly skin on the scalp, or a ring-shaped, itchy rash on the skin. Rocky Mountain spotted fever -- A very serious, tick-borne disease that causes fever, headache, muscle pain, followed by a rash. May be fatal if left untreated.  Roundworm -- Roundworms enter the body when ingested as eggs that soon hatch into larvae. These larvae travel through the liver, lungs, and other organs. In most cases, these “wandering worms” cause no symptoms or apparent damage. However, in some cases they produce a condition known as visceral larva migrans. The larvae may cause damage to tissue and sometimes affect the nerves or even lodge in the eye. In some cases, they may cause permanent nerve or eye damage, even blindness.
Heartworms -- Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the right side of the heart of dogs, cats and other species of mammals, including wolves, foxes, ferrets, sea lions and (in rare instances) humans. Heartworms are classified as roundworms and are filarids, one of many species of roundworms. Dogs and cats of any age or breed are susceptible to infection.
 Otodectes cynotis -- There are several types of mites that can invade the ear canals of dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens. The same mite can affect both dogs and cats. In the puppy and kitten, the most common ear mite is Otodectes cynotis. It is not important in the diagnosis and treatment of ear mites to identify the exact scientific type of mite. Regardless of the exact mite species involved, we usually refer to mites of the ear canal simply as ear mites.
Simple ways to protect your family.
Proven ways to protect your pet. Many zoonotic diseases can be prevented by vaccination. Vaccines are now available to protect against leptospirosis, Lyme disease, rabies and giardia. In addition, twice-a-year wellness exams performed by your veterinarian can help detect and treat zoonotic infections before they become serious, or are transmitted to other pets or people in your household.
Don't forget to take these other steps to protect your pet:
Intestinal parasites are serious threats to pets and family members alike. We know it’s not much fun to pick up your pet’s poop and bring it to the veterinary clinic. However, it’s one of the most important things you can do to keep both your pets and your family members safe and healthy. We would also like to remind you to thoroughly wash your hands after cleaning your cat’s litter pan, cleaning your dog’s stool from the yard, or after gardening. Wash your children’s hands as well when they come in from the yard. Pick up stool from your grass often, and check children’s sandboxes for stool from outdoor cats before they play in it (or better yet, keep the sandbox covered when it’s not in use.) All dogs and cats should have a fecal exam at least once a year. The more a pet is exposed to other pets (at a dog park or training class, for example), the more often testing is recommended. Twice yearly stool checks are a good idea for dogs with high exposure. Outdoor cats, or those who hunt and eat rodents and birds, should be checked or de-wormed frequently. Younger and elderly pets are at higher risk of becoming ill from parasites, so puppies, kittens and senior pets should also be checked more often. |
Toxoplasmosis -- This is a parasitic disease spread by contact with cat feces in soil or litter, although the major route to transmission is contaminated meat. It can cause serious health problems in pregnant women or in people with compromised immune systems.
