7 Common diseases that you can contract from your pets

Every responsible pet owner ensures the best of health and hygiene along with the love and care for the welfare of the animal. Regular visits to the vet for periodic checkups and preventive steps are very essential for a healthy lifestyle of both you and the pet. Here are seven common diseases that may infect your pet during its lifetime and how you can prevent them and save your own self from contracting the disease.

1. Cat scratch disease

This disease was discovered back in the 19th century and is caused by the Bartonella henselae bacterium. this disease is also known as the cat scratch fever since cats are the reservoir for this particular bacterium. Mostly kids are affected by this disease following a cat scratch or bite. Kittens possess this bacteria in the blood while it is uncommon in adult cats. 40 percent cats have this bacteria and it is very difficult to diagnose if the cat is infected.

The symptoms of this disease include lymph node swelling,fever, fatigue, headaches and appetite loss. The best possible way to avoid this infection is by being careful around cats so that they do not bite or scratch you. If this happens then wash the scratch immediately and don't let the feline lick any wound that you might have.

2. Hookworms

These are parasitic worms that have a mouth shaped like a hook that they use for sticking to the host. Hookworms greatly infect kittens or puppies and are less common in adult pets. It is important that the pet owner gets his or her feline or dido dewormed from time to time so as to avoid the infestation of this parasite. Hookworms can even infect human if they are exposed to animal feces. Kids who play in the dirt are most prone to this disease. Hookworm infections have several forms depending on the medium of contact. Hookworms can leave skin infections and if ingested they can damage the intestines resulting in blood dysentery.

3. Leptospirosis

The spiral shaped leptospires bacteria is the cause of this disease. Mostly dogs get infected with this bacteria while certain cat cases have also been cited. The transmission of this disease takes place through the urine or any other body fluid of the dog apart from saliva. Humans are infected through contaminated sources like soil, plants etc. Pets can be vaccinated against this bacteria to prevent its occurrence.

4. Psittacosis

This condition is caused due to Chlamydia psittaci, a bacteria found in birds usually. Even pet birds carry this disease and frequently pass it on to humans. The diagnosis of this condition in a bird is very difficult, however certain visible signs include discharge from eyes, swelling, shivering, strenuous breathing, diarrhea and weakness.

The transmission of this disease to humans occurs through bird droppings that turn aerosolized with time. The most effective way of prevention is by cleaning the bird cage regularly and carefully. Also leaving the cage spacious is very important since overcrowding can increase the susceptibility level of this disease.

5. Lyme Disease

Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacteria responsible for the occurrence of Lyme disease. This bacteria is spread by the means of tick bites. An infected tick after biting an animal when jumps to a human, the human host can get infected if the tick bites.

The symptoms of Lyme disease include rashes and fever. They may also suffer from muscle or joint pain including severe headaches. Some people only show symptoms of fever and do not suffer from the rash. Some infected people do not even show the symptoms of Lyme disease.

The best way to prevent the occurrence of this condition is by avoiding areas that are tick infested or too dirty and dense particularly in summer and spring. wearing light clothes can also make it simpler for a person to spot any crawling ticks instantly before it finds an opportunity to bite the human host. Applying insect repellents can also help to a certain level in reducing the risks of being bitten by a tick.

6. Salmonellosis

Salmonella bacterium is the cause of this disease. People contract this disease by consuming contaminated food that carries this bacteria like eggs, chicken etc. Dogs, cats, horses, birds and other farm animals have this bacteria in their feces. Infected individuals may suffer from symptoms including stomach pain, fever, diarrhea etc during the first few days. These symptoms persist until a weeks span and then vanish.

To protect oneself from Salmonella its best to keep clean, regularly wash hands and disinfect them.

7. Toxoplasmosis

The parasite Toxoplasma gondii is the reason behind the occurence of this disease. Cat feces are the source of this parasite and hence those who are exposed to cat feces run at a high risk of contracting this disease. The symptoms of this disaese include swollen glands, flu and muscle ache. This disease is particularly harmful for pregnant women since it can damage the fetus or even abort it at certain instances. To stay safe it is very important to disinfect hands and clean them always.