8 Infections That Dogs Can Spread
Bringing a dog into your home can be very rewarding and fun, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. One significant risk you must remember is that dogs can transmit infections to humans.
Bringing a dog into your home can be very rewarding and fun, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. One significant risk you must remember is that dogs can transmit infections to humans.
This is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people with dogs should go to the vet to ensure they're up-to-date on their shots.
Below will go through 8 diseases that a dog may introduce into your home.
Rabies is a nervous system viral infection that is almost always fatal once symptoms begin to show. If a dog has rabies, it may start showing signs such as a change in behavior, confusion, and restlessness. Over time, it may become aggressive towards people and other animals or experience muscle spasms. Once rabies sets in, the disease cannot get reversed. Most often, people are bitten by rabid animals, but dogs or other animals can also get rabies through a bite wound or a mucous secreted by a bat or an insect.
Lyme disease is caused by ticks infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease causes skin, eyes, and joints infection that can last months to years after the tick bites and infects the dog or human. In rare cases, Lyme disease can also cause significant medical problems such as seizures, trouble with the nervous system, and heart inflammation.
Parvo is a viral infection that causes vomiting and bloody diarrhea in dogs. The virus overwhelms the dog's immune system and causes intense dehydration, leading to shock if not treated immediately by a veterinarian. Parvovirus is highly contagious from dog to dog and from dog to human through contact with infected feces or vomit. Most often, dogs are infected by puppies in their litters and other dogs through direct contact with the infected dog.
Brucella is an infection caused by bacteria that throw the immune system into a state called a "cytokine storm," where various external infections are more likely to take hold. Once symptoms develop, the disease may last from a few weeks to months. It can strike humans and animals through bites or scratches, but dogs are most often exposed to contaminated food or water.
Heartworm is a parasite that infects the hearts of dogs, cats, and even humans. The disease is spread through the fleas that live and feed on dogs and can jump onto humans. The worms can grow and live inside the dog's heart and lungs. As they mature, they can cause various problems, including difficulty breathing and heart failure. Dogs are typically infected in warm months when ticks are more active.
Salmonella is a bacterium that can affect dogs and humans through contaminated food. It causes vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain. It is possible to contract salmonella from dogs through bite wounds. Dogs can contract it directly from food or water, or they can get it from people who have been infected by contaminated food. People who handle a dog with salmonella poisoning should be sure to wash their hands afterward.
Leptospirosis is a liver inflammation that dogs can contract through contact with urine or urine-contaminated soil. Once acquired, the disease can cause jaundice, anemia, and death. Symptoms develop swiftly but may take weeks to several months to show. Once symptoms begin, recovery can be rapid in dogs that receive treatment early on, but late symptoms are also common and may not be treated early enough to prevent complications.
T.V.D. is caused by a virus that infects dogs and people, causing genital ulcers and infertility in both dogs and humans. Dogs may be exposed to it through sexual contact with infected dogs. T.V.D. can be devastating for a dog that contracts it because of the difficulty of treating it once symptoms begin to show, making recovery slow and painful at best.
All of these diseases can easily be treated once they are identified. Dog owners should ensure their dogs are up-to-date on vaccinations, including rabies and distemper. The Humane Society recommends regular veterinary visits and keeping a close watch on your dog's health. Always wash your hands after coming in contact with your dog or a toy to avoid spreading the disease.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.