If your pet gets sick, you may worry that you or your child may catch the same illness. As well, you might worry about your pet catching an illness from you. This depends on what is causing the illness in either case, and one’s general health, but most of the common illnesses that affect humans do not affect pets in the same way—and vice versa.
Can’t Catch From a PetRespiratory infections (colds, influenza)Kennel cough (except in rare cases)Canine parvovirusHeartwormsCould Catch From a PetTick-borne infectionsScabiesToxoplasmosisSalmonellaRabiesRingwormMRSACat scratch diseasePasteurella multicodaStaphylococcus aureusStreptococcus pyogenes
Can’t Catch From a PetRespiratory infections (colds, influenza)Kennel cough (except in rare cases)Canine parvovirusHeartworms
Respiratory infections (colds, influenza)
Kennel cough (except in rare cases)
Canine parvovirus
Heartworms
Could Catch From a PetTick-borne infectionsScabiesToxoplasmosisSalmonellaRabiesRingwormMRSACat scratch diseasePasteurella multicodaStaphylococcus aureusStreptococcus pyogenes
Tick-borne infections
Scabies
Toxoplasmosis
Salmonella
Rabies
Ringworm
MRSA
Cat scratch disease
Pasteurella multicoda
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus pyogenes
What You Can’t Catch From Your Pet
The viruses that give animals things like coughs, colds, and the flu are different from the ones that cause these illnesses in people, and they don’t spread back and forth between humans and animals.
Some illnesses that affect pets that do not affect humans include the following.
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Common Colds and Upper Respiratory Illnesses
There are several viruses that can cause upper respiratory diseases in cats and dogs. None of these are transmitted to humans but can be very contagious to other dogs or cats.
Of course, there are hundreds of viruses that cause colds in humans, but you can’t usually spread them to your pets either. Dogs generally will not catch human cold viruses, but some experts think that cats might rarely catch some types of human colds.
Canine Parvovirus
This virus causes vomiting and diarrhea, among other symptoms, in dogs and can be very serious or even fatal.
There is an illness known as parvovirus B19, or fifth disease, that can make people (usually children) sick, but it is a completely different virus.The symptoms of fifth disease include a rash, low-grade fever and sometimes cold-like symptoms.
Canine Bordatellosis (Kennel Cough)
This chronic and often severe cough can cause serious respiratory complications for your dog and is highly contagious among dogs. It generally does not affect humans, but those with respiratory disease or immune compromise might be infected.
What You Could Catch From Your Pet
There are several seriousillnesses that you can catch from your pet. Some of these illnesses will make your pet sick as well, but some will not. These are known aszoonotic diseases.
Influenza
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human infections with bird flu viruses (avian influenza) are rare but can occur, usually after close contact with infected birds. Very rarely, human bird flu infections have happened after exposure to other infected animals.
Tick-Borne Infections
You will not get Lyme disease just because your pet has it, but the same tick that infected your pet could infecte you as well.
If you have pets, you should check them daily for ticks and alsocheck yourself and your childrenif you have been outside, especially in or near a wooded area.
Common and Unusual Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Mange or Scabies
“Red mange” is not a concern for humans, but the mange that is also known as scabies ishighly contagious to humans. The symptoms include severe itching, skin irritation, and hair loss in dogs as well as humans. It should be treated as soon as possible to prevent secondary infections.
This is really only a threat to pregnant women (because it can cause severe harm to a fetus) and people withcompromised immune systems. As many as a third of adults have been infected with the disease and are immune to it. It causes no serious threat to healthy, non-pregnant humans.
Those at risk for complications due to toxoplasmosis should not change cat litter, avoid eating any undercooked or raw meat, and wash hands and cooking utensils thoroughly after handling raw meat.
Salmonellais a bacteria that usually does not make animals sick, but it can be found in the feces of some pets, especially those with diarrhea. It is also commonly found on reptiles that are kept as pets.
Reptiles, even turtles, may not be a good fit in households with children under 5, people over age 65 or immunocompromised people. Children under 5 years old are most susceptible to complications from salmonella infection and the most likely to put things in their mouths..
Pasteurella multocida
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
What Is MRSA?
Cat Scratch Disease
Cat scratches may also transmit a fungal infection called sporotrichosis. This is seen more in people who handle many cats, like veterinarians and groomers.
What Your Pet Can Catch From You
As mentioned, you may transmit ringworm or MRSA to your pet, just as they can pass it to you. There are a few other human diseases you can give to your pet as well. This is known as “reverse zoonosis.”
COVID-19
The COVID-19 virus can spread from people to animals, including cats and dogs, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19. The risk of pets spreading COVID-19 to people is low.
In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that 167 animals, both domesticated and captive, were positively diagnosed with COVID-19. Humans are believed to be the cause of the infections.
Mumps
This viral illness can be spread to your dog, but this is an extremely rare event. While formerly a common childhood disease,mumpsis now prevented in humans who get the MMR vaccine. It could be a concern in communities where vaccination rates are low.
Diarrheal Illnesses
As in humans, these may cause diarrhea in cats and dogs, or they may have no symptoms. Research has also shown that dogs may be infected withnorovirus(a cause of human stomach flu) in households where their human companions have had norovirus, and the dog may have symptoms.
If you have a diarrheal illness, be sure to use good hygiene, wash your hands after using the restroom, and perhaps keep your pets out of your bathroom until the illness resolves.
Tuberculosis
Dogs are susceptible to the human form of thetuberculosisbacteria,Mycobacterium tuberculosis.They may have respiratory or digestive symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
Pets are great companions, but it is important to keep them healthy. Make sure their shots are up-to-date and they are well cared for. You will keep them and your family healthier that way. If you are concerned about a minor virus, such as a cold, being passed between your family and your pet, don’t be. But if you have any fear that your pet may have something more serious that could be transmitted, contact your vet and your healthcare provider.
21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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