Pets can be a source of comfort and companionship at any time, but especially duringcancer treatment. Research has shown that pet therapy can be beneficial during chemotherapy if appropriate safety precautions are taken. A pet can decrease feelings of loneliness, promote a sense of well-being, and even reduce the need for pain medications.
Knowing more about pet-related infections or illnesses and taking safety precautions can help reduce your risk for pet-related diseases. Read on to find out more.
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Causes
Diseases can be transmitted from pets to humans in a variety of ways, including:
Understanding Zoonotic Diseases
We don’t often think of catching diseases from pets, but the simple fact is that as many as 60% of known infectious diseases can be passed from animals to humans.Calledzoonotic infections, these diseases are spread through bites, scratches, and contact with the saliva or feces of pets and other animals.
People undergoing chemotherapy are more prone to these infections due to the drugs' immune-suppressive nature, which lowers the number of white blood cells needed to fight disease.
Around 30 to 40 infectious organisms can be spread from animals to humans, the vast majority of which are rare. However, the more common types are around us every day and tend only to cause disease when our immune system is severely compromised.
Cat-Borne Infections
Dog-Borne Infections
As with cats, your dog can inadvertently spread infection when you are scratched, bitten, or come to contact with their feces. Exposure to eggs of the dog’s tapeworm (echinococcosis) is known to cause severe liver disease.While rare in the U.S., experts believe that over 1 million people have been infected worldwide.
Bird-Borne Infections
Prevention
There are several ways to avoid getting infections from your furry, scaled or a feathered friend:
Summary
Knowing more about how to protect yourself from pet-related illnesses can help you enjoy your pets even through cancer and its treatment. Make sure they have their shots, see their vet regularly, try to avoid handling urine and feces, and wash your hands regularly to help reduce your risk.
13 Sources
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