Worms and Diseases that can be passed from your Canine
and Feline to you.
Rabies:
Deadly to people as well as many species of animals. Law must vaccinate
all dogs and cats. Raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats are common carriers.
Rodents and rabbits are uncommon carriers. Wild animals cannot be
vaccinated. There is no effective treatment for the disease. Prevention
by vaccination is a must.
Toxoplasmosis:
A protozoan disease carried by some cats. eggs of the parasite (oocysts)
are shed in the cat's feces, and then ingested by other animals (and
people) causing disease. The primary concern in people is the potential
for causing birth defects. Litter boxes should be changed daily and
pregnant women should not be allowed to change the litter box, even
though the stools are not infective until they have remained in the
litter box for 48 hours or more. Ask for a specific handout on this
disease.
Roundworms:
Tuatara cans are the scientific name for a parasite that can migrate
through body tissues and eyes in children from ingesting the eggs,
which can be in the soil or pet's feces. Puppies and kittens should
be routinely dewormed with the appropriate drug 3 times at 2-weeks
intervals to control this parasite.
Hookworms:
Larvae from the soil can migrate through the skin. Signs include
itchy skin and skin rashes. It is self-limiting. The parasite-affecting
pets will not reproduce in humans and therefore dies out without
treatment unless re-infection occurs. Routine deworming of pets eliminates
the potential for soil contamination.
Ringworm:
60% of all kittens are thought to be carriers, even though they
show no clinical signs of the skin disease. It can spread to the
entire family. A fungal culture is recommended for all new cats brought
into a household to screen for this disease. All cases of hair loss
in your cat should be presented to a veterinarian promptly for a
definite diagnosis.
Giarida:
An intestinal parasite carried by dogs and cats that may possibly
be transmitted to humans. The major clinical sign is diarrhea although
carriers may not show any sign of the disease. Routine internal parasite
tests should be performed on all pets at least once each year. This
disease is commonly present in wild animals.
Cat Scratch Disease:
A bacterial infection characterized by slight fever and enlarged
lymph nodes. This disease is usually self-limiting. The most common
causes is a cat scratch. There is no reason to euthanize a cat that
has caused this problem.
Pneumonitis:
This disease is caused by a "Chlamydia" organism and can
cause human eyelid infections (conjunctivitis). Best prevention is
a vaccination of the cat for the disease and good sanitation, such
as washing your hands after handling a cat.
Heartworms:
Heartworms can cause disease in both dogs and cats, and has been
reported in people. It has been confused with cancer n the lungs
of humans. The heartworm has also been found in the eye of humans.
All pets should be on prevention.
