zoonoses

Zoonoses

Zoonoses is the term applied to diseases which are transmissable from animals to humans. Most domestic animals, including dogs, cats, birds, horses, and rabbits are capable of transmitting some disease, but the risk is minimal in respect of dogs if the simple hygiene precautions listed below are taken. Rabies is the most serious of the zoonosis. This disease is transmitted by the saliva of an infected animal.

1. Keep pet animals healthy, have any signs of illness diagnosed and treated promptly by a veterinary surgeon. Regular worming with veterinary preparations is extremely important.

2. Groom your pet regularly and thoroughly

3. Do not allow pets to lick childrens faces

4. Insist that everyone washes their hands after handling pets especially if you are nursing a sick dog

5. Feed pets from their own bowls not household crockery

6. Store pet food apart from human food, sterilise knives and chopping boards after handling raw pet meat

7. Wash pet bedding often

8. Treat dogs and the environment regularly for fleas

9. Pick up dog waste from the garden and dispose of it properly

10. Wear gloves when gardening

These simple rules will ensure that your pet will never be a health risk to you or your family. Sore throats, tuberculosis and fleas can be transmitted from humans to dogs as can the diarrhoea-causing bacteria salmonella and campylobacta as well as the fungal skin disease known as ringworm. Hygienic precautions will prevent you from infecting your dog.

The Signs, Treatment and Prevention of Some Zoonoses which Occur in the UK
Disease in Animals	Transmitted by	Symptoms in Humans	Action-in Dogs	Action-in Humans	Prevention
Toxocariasis	Mature worms in canine intestine	Usually none,but migrating larvae may cause problems if, for example, they end up in the eye	Regular worming especially of puppies but also adults with remedy prescribed by veterinary surgeon	None. Condition usually undiagnosed	Regular worming of dogs. Prompt disposal of animal faeces. Wear gloves whilst gardening
Echinococcosis (tapeworm)	Eggs from mature worm in small intestine of the dog are excreted in feces	Hydatid cysts	Regular worming with specific remedy	Medical possibly surgical, treatment when disease is diagnosed	Do not allow dogs to scavenge
Leptospirosis	Via urine of infected dog	Hepatitis, Jaundice	Veterinary treatment	Medical treatment	Dogs-regularly vaccinate Humans-strict hygiene when nursing sick dog
Brucellosis	The causal bacterium may be excreted by bitches at whelping. The condition is very rare in the uk. The most likely source of brucellosis is unpasteurised milk	Intermittent bouts of fever, headache, joint pain	Positive identification by laboratory tests	Medical treatment	Avoid possible sources of infection. Always drink heat treated milk
Sarcoptic Mange	Transfer of mange mite from infected dog	Irritating rash as mite burrows below the skin on hands, wrists,etc. Can also be caught by human/human contact	Treatment by veterinary surgeon. Clean dog's bedding and the environment	Clean environment. Apply an anti-mite lotion to affected skin	Early professional diagnosis of any skin disease on dog
Cheyletiella infection (rabbit fur mite)	Transfer of mite from rabbit to spinal and neck fur of dog, thence to owner-smooth coated dogs most affected	Very irritating rash often on chest and waist area where dog/puppy is held. Mite can penetrate clothing	Identification of mite and bath with veterinary prescription shampoo	None necessary. Rash usually clears when mite is eliminated from dog	Prompt attention to scurf-like deposits on dog skin
Ringworm	The infection can be caught by direct contact with cats, horses and cattle	Non-irritating eroded patches on skin, probably the wrists-not necessarily circular	Positive identification as ringworm by lab tests, followed by specific treatment	Treatment by doctor	Avoid contact with infected animals
Salmonellosis	Salmonella organisms are shed in faeces	Food poisoning, diarrhoea and vomiting	Lab tests to identify bacteria and likely source	Lab tests to identify source of bacteria, ie human or animal carrier	Strict hygiene precautions when handling animals and food
Tetanus	A wound such as a dog bite may become infected with the causal organisms	Fever, lockjaw	None	Medical treatment of bites	Keep anti-tetanus injections up to date
Fleas	From environment where dog/cat fleas are breeding	Typical irritating bite. Possibly a full blown allergic reaction in susceptable individuals	Anti-flea treatment of dog and enviropnment	None necessary, but possibly the application of antihistamine cream	Regular de-fleaing of all animals in household and environment

source: Doglopaedia A complete guide to dog care J.M. Evans and Kay White