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Bacteria and parasites can cause health problems for dogs and cats, and their owners.
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Healthy pets mean healthy humans

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Healthy pets mean healthy humans

Bacteria, parasites can cause problems for pets and their owners

Pet owners pay extra attention to their animals for signs of illness or parasites as weather warms, but they may not realize they are also protecting their human family members.

Bacteria and parasites that cause problems for dogs and cats can also spell trouble for their owners, and not just fleas and ticks.

“The things we see most frequently affecting people are roundworms and hookworms, and it’s usually with kids,” veterinarian Dr. Brooke West of West Toledo Animal Hospital said.

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Intestinal parasites are commonly spread through feces, and are often contracted by canines. Some dogs actually eat the feces, but there are other ways.

“Dogs are scent rollers,” Dr. Michael Myers of Hartman Veterinary Hospital in Toledo said. “They may find something outside, and that could contain parasite eggs. They roll in it and it gets on their fur.”

Dogs may then lick their contaminated fur. If owners pet the affected fur and don’t wash their hands, they can be infected as well.

“It’s rarely through saliva by [dogs] licking themselves and then kissing [owners], but it is possible,” Dr. West said, noting many heartworm preventatives also contain preventatives for worms.

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Another common troublemaker is ringworm. Despite the name, ringworm is actually a fungal infection on the skin that is spread by contact with spores. It is more common in cats, and can easily pass to humans.

“It can be found in the soil,” Dr. Myers said. “Kids can also get it from school and other kids.”

A bacterial disease called leptospirosis common in wildlife is spread through urine. Roxanne Snyder, veterinary technician at Country Squire Animal Hospital in Oregon, said it affects the liver and kidneys.

“We saw two cases last year in dogs,” she said, noting there is a vaccine available. “If they have an accident in the house and we clean it up, then we can be exposed to it.”

Even bacteria in healthy animals’ mouths, like pasteurella, can pose problems for humans. Infection is most commonly passed through bites that break the skin, but can sometimes be passed by licking.

“It doesn't happen often, but if a person’s immune system isn't very strong, it could happen,” Ms. Snyder said.

While it might be rare for people to get sick after being kissed by a pet, veterinary professionals typically don’t recommend it.

“It happens once in a while, but I’m not a big proponent of allowing a dog to lick all over your face all the time,” Dr. West said.

Contact Alexandra Mester: amester@theblade.com, 419-724-6066, or on Twitter @AlexMesterBlade.

First Published May 4, 2015, 4:00 a.m.

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Bacteria and parasites can cause health problems for dogs and cats, and their owners.  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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