Dogs can be our best friends. They offer companionship, comfort, and an exercise partner. Although it is very unlikely, it is possible that you can get sick from germs on your dog. So, it is best for you and especially young children to practice some additional hygiene behaviors after petting or playing with your dog, or touching dog saliva or feces.

The best known and most feared dog disease than can be transmitted to people is rabies. As a responsible pet owner, you are regularly vaccinating your dog against rabies. Because of routine rabies vaccinations, rabies is very rare in the United States. Here are three other diseases that can be communicated from dogs to people.

Campylobacter Infection (campylobacteriosis): A bacterial disease associated with dogs, cats, and farm animals. It causes a mild to severe infection of the gastrointestinal system

Cryptosporidium Infection (cryptosporidiosis): A parasitic disease associated with dogs, especially puppies, cats, and farm animals. It causes a mild to severe infection of the gastrointestinal system, including watery diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Most people get Cryptosporidium infection from contaminated food and water. However, sometimes animals, including dogs, carry this parasite in their feces (stool) and pass it to people.

Dipylidium Infection (tapeworm): A parasitic disease associated with dogs, cats and fleas. For a person to become infected with Dipylidium, he or she must accidentally swallow an infected flea. Most reported cases involve children. The risk of infection with this tapeworm in humans is low. The most effective way to prevent infections in pets and humans is through flea control.

To learn more about dog diseases and their relationship to people, the Center for Disease Control has put together an informative website that provides fact sheets on several diseases, information on the likelihood of their transmission to people, and how they are transmitted. The site also provides additional information about people who may be at increased risk due to a compromised immune system, age, or general health. You can browse the CDC site on Healthy Pets by animal species or by disease and you can also check out their prevention tools and resources.

Diseases From Dogs

Posted by Barbara.