A zoonosis, or zoonotic disease, is an infectious disease which can be passed between species from pets to people. They can also be passed from people to pets.
Examples of zoonotic diseases include:
- rabies
- ringworm
- roundworm
- hookworm
- toxoplasmosis
- leptospirosis
This is only a partial list and there are many more zoonotic diseases. However, with a little common sense and some routine sanitation measures, zoonoses (zoonotic diseases) can easily be controlled and you and your family will be safe.
What is the Best Way to Prevent Zoonotic Disease?
There are many ways to help prevent zoonotic diseases.
- Clean up feces found in your yard promptly.
- Wear gloves when handling animal feces.
- Wear gloves when gardening.
- Wash your hands frequently and make sure your children do the same.
- Never handle food or drink without washing your hands first.
- Cover children's sandboxes so that neighborhood cats cannot use them as a litter box.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
- Cook all meat and poultry thoroughly before eating.
- Do not allow your pet to eat raw meat.
- Avoid allowing pets to lick or kiss your face.
- Have your pet's feces analyzed for parasites regularly.
- Make certain all pets are receiving monthly preventive medication for fleas and ticks.
- Make certain all pets are receiving monthly preventive medication for intestinal parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms. Most of the monthly heartworm preventive medications will accomplish this.
- Make certain all pets are current on vaccinations, particularly the rabies vaccine.
Special Considerations in Preventing Rabies
Rabies is a serious zoonotic disease which is invariably fatal once contracted. For this reason, most communities have established laws governing the vaccination of pets against rabies.
- Make certain your pets are properly vaccinated against rabies. Unvaccinated animals exposed to rabies may be confiscated and quarantined or even euthanized if they bite someone.
- There is no accurate test for rabies which can be done on a pet while the pet is living. The only accurate test to determine if a pet or other animal has rabies is a post-mortem test performed on the remains of the animal.
- When outdoors, always restrain your dog on a leash. In most communities, this is mandatory.
- Do not approach strange dogs. Do not encourage your children to approach dogs they do not know.
- Avoid handling wildlife. Wildlife can be unpredictable and can frighten easily, leading to bites and concerns about rabies.
- Keep tight covers on your garbage cans and do not feed your pets outdoors. This will attract wildlife to your property which could be carrying rabies.
If your pet is bitten by another animal:
- Clean the wound thoroughly with an effective disinfectant and plenty of soap and water.
- If possible, confine the animal which bit your pet. Do not get yourself bitten trying to do so.
- Contact your local animal control facility and report the incident.
- Be prepared to show the animal control officer your pet's rabies documentation.
- If the attacking animal is available, the animal control personnel will likely quaratine him if he is not currently vaccinated against rabies.
- If a wild animal is involved, it will likely be euthanized and tested for rabies.
Special Considerations in Preventing Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease which is often found in cats and generally does not cause serious disease for the cat. However, toxoplasmosis can be quite dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn fetuses, particularly if the woman is first exposed to the disease while pregnant.
- Toxoplasmosis is spread through the feces of infected cats, so pregnant women should avoid handling the litter box.
- If absolutely necessary for a pregnant woman to clean the litter box, she should wear gloves and wash her hands frequently after cleaning is completed.
- The litter box should be cleaned daily to prevent toxoplasmosis organisms from maturing to their infectious stage, which generally takes approximately 72 hours.
- Pregnant women should wear gloves when gardening to avoid contact with cat feces which may be present in the soil of the garden.
By following these simple procedures, the risk of zoonotic diseases will be greatly reduced for you and your family. Your family pet will also be safer and healthier.
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