Steering Clear Of Pet Health Hazards: How Not To Get A Pet-Transmitted Disease

I grew up with horses and had many pets — from budgies to goats and from snakes to ferrets — later in life. My lifelong wish, though, had always been to have a dog. First my parents didn't let me have one, then I ended up traveling, and then I got into a relationship with someone who didn't like dogs. When I became single again, I knew it was time to finally make that wish come true. I got a puppy, and for 16 years she was the most loyal friend imaginable. So yes, I know all about the benefits of having pets first-hand.

The CDC says that pets reduce your blood pressure, bring down cholesterol and triglyceride levels, help you ensure you get enough exercise, and, in some cases, offer you new social opportunities. Social-minded pets like dogs and cats ensure that you're never lonely. Children raised with pets have stronger immune systems and a lower risk of developing allergies. For people with disabilities, therapeutic animals can be literal life-savers, and some animals help guard us and our homes from invaders. 

Still, if you're a pet owner or considering getting a pet, it is also important to be aware of the health hazards that can endanger both you and your animals. What are the top pet health hazards, and how can you keep yourself and your beloved friend safe?

Watch Out For Ticks!

You have almost certainly heard of Lyme Disease, the most common tick-borne disease. This disease can cause debilitating symptoms including serious inflammation, limb numbness, paralyzed facial muscles, confusion, headaches, and vision loss if it isn't treated in its early stages. Contrary to popular belief, ticks don't jump out of trees. They do climb up from bushes and grass, and though you may be taking precautions that make tick bites less likely while you are out and about — precautions such as tucking your pants into your socks — your cat, dog, or other pets that roam the great outdoors probably aren't. When your furry friend comes indoors, and you cuddle up with them, any ticks that might have come onto their body may transfer to yours. I was infected myself once, something that might have come from my dog. 

Contacting your healthcare provider for testing and treatment early will minimize your chances of ending up with permanent complications greatly. 

READ How to Protect Pets From the Sun

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Though most infected people won't be aware they have it, toxoplasmosis can cause flu-like symptoms, vision problems, and even brain damage. Besides eating undercooked meat, contact with cat feces is one of the prime modes of transmission. How do you avoid getting toxoplasmosis if you have cats? Here are some tips:

• Wear gloves while gardening, a piece of advice that also applies to people who don't have cats, as cat feces are probably still found in your garden. 
• Don't touch stray cats or kittens.
• Fetuses and people with weak immune systems are especially at risk of severe vision issues and brain damage, the most extreme consequences of toxoplasmosis. If you are pregnant or immunocompromised, either avoid cleaning your cat's litter box altogether and have someone else do it, or at least wear gloves while doing it. 
• Keep your cats indoors to minimize their risk of being infected, in turn reducing your chance of ending up with toxoplasmosis.