Infectious diseases of dogs are dangerous to humans. What can you get infected from a dog?

Infections that are most often transmitted to humans from dogs.

Campillobacteriosis

This bacterium is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in humans. The infection often occurs in a mild form and the prognosis of the disease is favorable, but among children under one year old, as well as in weakened individuals, severe complications are possible, leading to chronicity of the process or death. Campillobacteriosis is dangerous for pregnant women: transplacental infection of the fetus leads to spontaneous abortion or intrauterine infection of the embryo.

Leptospirosis

Dogs excrete the pathogen in their urine. Leptospires penetrate the human body through the (usually damaged) skin and mucous membranes. Then, through the bloodstream, they are carried throughout the body and enter various organs. In terms of the frequency of deaths and the multiplicity of clinical symptoms, this disease occupies one of the first places among infectious diseases transmitted to humans from animals

Listeriosis

It occurs most often in the elderly, newborns, and in people with immunodeficiencies. In recent years, the risk category has been supplemented by a large group of people dependent on intravenously administered drugs. In them, listeriosis is often fatal. Infected animals release bacteria into the external environment through saliva, feces, and urine. The disease is dangerous for pregnant women.

Pasteurellosis

An acute infectious disease characterized by fever, general intoxication, inflammation of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, arthritis, osteomyelitis. The disease is dangerous due to the development of the septic form, which is the most severe with a high probability of secondary lesions in various organs (endocarditis, brain abscesses, purulent meningitis, purulent arthritis, etc.). Infectious-toxic shock may develop.

Infections caused by capnocytophages

The causative agent of the infection lives in the oral cavity of dogs. Human infection occurs through bites, scratches and salivation. Risk factors for the disease are asplenia (congenital or acquired pathology characterized by the absence of the spleen), long-term use of glucocorticoids, and alcohol abuse. Against the background of these conditions, the course of the infection becomes lightning fast. Capnocytophaga canimorsus causes sepsis, meningitis, infective endocarditis, cellulitis, purulent arthritis and other life-threatening complications.

Rabies

The disease always ends in death. Infection occurs through bites, scratching, salivation by sick animals, or through contact with objects contaminated with infected saliva.

Tick-borne borelliosis

The carriers are ixodid ticks, which become infected by sucking the blood of infected animals. A disease with an acute or chronic course, which may damage the skin, nervous, cardiovascular systems, liver and musculoskeletal system.

Norovirus infection

Scientists know that there is a possibility of transmission of norovirus infection from dogs to humans.

Ringworm

Patches of baldness on the scalp or pink round spots on other parts of the body. A person becomes infected from an animal by stroking its fur. Children become infected with ringworm from puppies they pick up while playing. Direct contact is not necessary - ringworm fungus can persist on objects for a long period of time (from several months).

Toxocariasis

The main source of infection for humans is dogs, especially puppies. Infection occurs through direct contact with an infested animal whose fur is contaminated with Toxocara eggs, as well as through ingestion of soil containing Toxocara eggs.
From the eggs that fall into the mouth, larvae emerge into the stomach and small intestine, migrating through the bloodstream to the liver. There, some of the larvae settle and an inflammatory membrane forms around them. The rest of the larvae migrate to the heart and lungs. Toxocara larvae can be localized in various organs and tissues - kidneys, muscles, thyroid gland, brain, etc. In tissues, the larvae remain viable for many years and periodically, migrate and provoke relapses of the disease.
One of the most serious problems associated with toxocariasis is the relationship between invasion and the development of bronchial asthma.

Giardiasis

The main manifestations of giardiasis are allergic and pathological neurological reactions.

Echinococcosis

It is from dogs that humans most often become infected with echinococcosis, a disease caused by tapeworm larvae (cestodes).
Transmission of the pathogen occurs when a dog licks a person or through contact with the animal’s fur.
The secretions of the infected dog end up on the grass and berries.
Once in the human body, the egg containing the young larva migrates.
The larvae form round or oval cysts filled with liquid, ranging in size from 1-5 to 40 cm and even larger. Most of the larvae are retained in the liver, some end up in the lungs, and some in the kidneys, bones and brain. The larva can get into any organ, and the cyst can burst and release dozens more larvae. Growing, the hydatid cyst pushes aside and compresses the host tissue, which subsequently atrophies and dies.
Complications of the disease: suppuration of the cyst, pleurisy, peritonitis, obstructive jaundice, cirrhosis, pulmonary hemorrhage, cardiovascular failure. The most serious complication is cyst rupture, which is accompanied by severe pain and an allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock).

Dog tapeworm (cucumber)

Scabies

Characteristic signs of the disease are itching and rash, often with the addition of secondary pustular elements due to infection when scratching

By following simple rules, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from infection.

• Acute echinococcosis.
• Rabies.
• Leptospirosis.
• Toxoplasmosis.
• Ringworm.
• Tuberculosis.
• Staphylococcus.
• Campylobacteriosis.

Rabies is considered the most severe, as it almost always leads to death.

When contact between humans and animals, migration of helminths is quite likely.

Most often, worms migrate from our smaller brothers, which can be divided into tapeworms (cestodes) and roundworms (nematodes). Tapeworms pose a real threat to human health:

• Cucumber tapeworm provokes dipylidia. In this case, intestinal function is disrupted, allergies develop, and fatigue appears. You can get sick by swallowing the saliva of a sick animal (kissing it) and poorly observing sanitary standards.
• Echinococcus affects the liver, kidneys, lungs, brain, and causes cyst-like seals in any of the internal organs. It is asymptomatic for a long time; treatment often requires surgical intervention. The larvae are transmitted through the pet's feces, from there they get onto the fur and various objects, infecting others.
• Pork tapeworm- one of the most dangerous diseases. Affects the small intestine, brain, and immune system. A dog becomes ill by eating contaminated raw meat or drinking water from an open reservoir, and people become infected through close contact with a sick pet.

Roundworms:

By petting your pet, you can easily become infected with that set of helminth larvae , with which he is rich. They settle on the owner’s hands, face, as well as on clothes and interior items.

The tick easily passes from the skin of an animal to the skin of its owner through direct contact, through clothing, and bedding. Simply stroking an infected dog can cause demodex or scabies.

All dogs, without exception, are infected with helminths, and the likelihood of infestation is associated with compliance with hygiene procedures and living conditions for pets. You can protect yourself only by strictly observing all sanitary and hygienic standards:

1. Every three months, prophylactically anthelminthize your pet.
2. Contact a veterinarian if your dog’s behavior causes alarm (lethargy, hair loss, constant attempt to scratch places that bother him).
3. Wash your hands with soap after close contact with him or with the utensils from which he eats.
4. Clean the premises daily using disinfection.
5. When walking your pet, try to protect it from communication with other animals, especially homeless ones. Do not allow them to smell feces, street food, drink water from a puddle, or dig in the ground.
6. Never feed raw meat or fish. The fish must be boiled, and the meat must be doused with boiling water or kept in the freezer for at least a week to destroy helminth larvae.
7. Treat the fur with various flea repellents.
8. Conduct anthelmintic prophylaxis for members of the entire family.

Follow these requirements and take good care of yourself and your pet, then nothing will threaten your health.

Zooanthroponoses are just such a common name for diseases common to humans and animals. Some of them only cause discomfort, while others can lead to serious disruptions in the functioning of the body and even death. The list of such diseases is quite large, and this became the reason that dogs began to be accused of infecting people with all possible and impossible diseases such as klebsiella oxytoca.

In order to fairly assess the damage that a dog can cause to other people, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the list of these diseases, knowing their symptoms, methods of prevention and treatment.

Symptoms: larvae can settle in the liver, spleen, kidneys and even the brain. Infection of the liver and spleen is accompanied by fever, skin rash, cramps, abdominal pain, and headaches. In the brain - pain in the eyes, changes in behavior.

Prevention: compliance with basic hygiene rules; Puppies at 2 weeks of age should be vaccinated by a veterinarian.

Echinococcosis

Symptoms: the disease may not produce symptoms for many years, during which the larva lives and grows. After some time, a person develops symptoms depending on the location of the larvae. The liver is characterized by jaundice, the kidneys are characterized by impaired renal function, blood in the urine, the lungs are characterized by difficulty breathing, coughing and hemoptysis, and the brain is characterized by mental disorders.

Prevention: maintaining good personal hygiene, frequent hand washing, washing items that have been in contact with the dog at high temperatures.

Giardiasis

Symptoms: similar to those of food poisoning: lack of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, fever.

Prevention: compliance with personal hygiene rules.

Leptospirosis

A viral disease that is transmitted from dogs by spirochetes of the L. Canicola or L. Interrogans family. Leptospirosis is transmitted only through contact with the urine of an infected animal. Spirochetes enter the human body through damaged skin and mucous membranes.

Symptoms: Depends on the lesion. Kidneys: vomiting, increased thirst, diarrhea with blood; liver: infectious jaundice.

Prevention: protective vaccinations for dogs; observance of personal hygiene rules for people.

Demodicosis

A skin disease caused by mites that feed on the secretions of the sebaceous glands of the hair follicles in dogs.

Symptoms: purulent acne on the body, local baldness of the head.

Prevention: compliance with personal hygiene rules, limiting contact with sick animals.

Scabies

A disease caused by members of the tick family. Affected dogs experience patchy hair loss. The scabies mite passes to people during direct contact, as well as through things and clothing.

Symptoms: rash with severe itching; for allergy sufferers it can easily be confused with an allergy.

Prevention: limited contact with a sick animal, compliance with personal hygiene rules, washing things at high temperatures.

Dermatophysis

A fungal skin infection caused by the fungi Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidormophyton, which feed on keratin in the human epidermis. From an infected animal, a person becomes infected through direct contact.

Symptoms: redness of the skin, itching, papules and blisters with yellowish scabs. Nails and scalp are also affected.

Prevention: monitor the condition of the dog’s skin; Avoid contact with infected animals.

Rabies

An acute infectious disease that affects the central nervous system and, if untreated, leads to death in 100% of cases. A person becomes infected through the bite of an infected animal or through contact with its saliva. A sick animal exhibits fearfulness, irritability with violent fits, it can rush at people for no reason, bite, eat inedible objects, there may be hoarse barking, convulsions, difficulty swallowing, an unsteady gait, and fear of water. In the silent form of rabies, the animal cannot swallow food and general paralysis develops.

Prevention: the dog needs to be vaccinated. After a bite or contact with an infected animal, a person should consult a doctor for rabies vaccinations.

Although the list of zooanthroponotic diseases is quite large, and the symptoms are often hidden or poorly expressed, most of them can be avoided. So, following preventive measures, timely response to manifestations of diseases and proper treatment will help prevent serious health problems for both you and your pet. And then your coexistence will be comfortable and safe.

There are diseases that are grouped under the general name of zooanthroponoses. These are animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

There are about 150 of them, but most are distributed only in hot countries. However, several diseases can be contracted from your own dog.

Diseases transmitted from dogs to humans

This disease occurs with the following symptoms:

• nausea,
• stomach ache,
• headache,
• vomit,
• weakness

One of the most terrible diseases that can be contracted from a dog is rabies. This is an acute viral infection that irreversibly affects the central nervous system. The disease is incurable and once its symptoms appear, death is inevitable.

In this case, the incubation period of the disease can last from 12 days to a year. Rabies is transmitted through bites or simply saliva, which enters the bloodstream through microcracks or scratches in the skin. If your dog or you are bitten by an unknown dog, you should immediately consult a doctor and get vaccinated.

In the summer, and with them tick-borne encephalitis, which is very dangerous for people. The virus can enter a person’s bloodstream if a tick is accidentally crushed while removing it from a dog. The disease will be signaled by an increase in temperature to 39 degrees, severe headache, chills, nausea, and vomiting. The disease affects the central nervous system and brain and can lead to paralysis and even death of a person.

It is also transmitted by ticks, which is much more common than encephalitis. Borreliosis affects the skin, cardiovascular and nervous systems, and the musculoskeletal system. You can also get this severe infection from a dog. The infection can enter the human body through the nose, eyes or mouth, or lesions on the skin.

Leptospira affects the kidneys, liver, and membranes of the brain. Even death is possible.

Prevention of zooanthroponoses, diseases that can be transmitted to humans from a dog

1. First of all, you need to carefully monitor your dog: do not allow it to eat anything from the ground outside, do not allow it to drink or swim in ponds with standing water.
2. Every year, give your dog a full range of vaccinations against all dangerous diseases, deworm it every three months, treat its fur against ticks and fleas every summer, or wear a special collar.
3. After any interaction with your dog, you should always wash your hands with soap.
4. Also, you should not encourage your animal to try to lick your face.
5. Teach children to always wash their hands after interacting with a dog and prohibit hugging and kissing the animal.

During the season of epidemics of influenza and respiratory diseases, owners of four-legged animals are acutely concerned about whether people can infect dogs.

The pet is always near the sick person: lies next to him, sniffs, licks the sick person’s face. The question arises: how great is the danger for our pets, and can a healthy dog ​​become infected with the flu from a person?

First, let's try to figure out what the flu is. This is an acute infectious disease caused by the influenza virus that occurs in the respiratory tract. It is dangerous because it leads to complications and sometimes death.

Animals get sick in two ways:

1. Infection occurs from viruses, bacteria, and various fungi.
2. The disease is caused by hypothermia with reduced immunity.

In our case, we are interested in the first path. When someone in the family gets sick, he becomes a breeding ground for the virus.

According to veterinarians, the influenza virus or other respiratory viral diseases are not transmitted from people to their animals, just as dog diseases are not transmitted to people.

Dogs have their own illnesses. One of these was discovered in 2004, the canine influenza virus. The symptoms are very similar to those in humans:

• high temperature rises;
• cough appears;
• there is passivity and loss of strength;
• no appetite.

If a dog has a moderate or mild form of the disease, only the upper respiratory tract is affected; in a more serious form, pneumonia also develops.

In most cases, dogs are characterized by a moderate form. However, because it is caused by a pathogen, all dogs susceptible to the virus become infected.

Symptoms of influenza are expressed in a severe cough, sometimes even with vomiting, as if the animal had choked on a foreign body and it was stuck in the throat. Copious mucus is secreted from the nose, and during sleep the runny nose intensifies to the point of gurgling in the nose. Sometimes even discharge from the eyes begins. An increase in temperature to 40-42 °C is also noted.

The rate of spread of the disease is very high, especially in places where dogs gather, so to avoid infection, it is better to avoid them. The source of the disease can also be a person, acting as a carrier. This disease spreads by airborne droplets and can travel on clothes and shoes, but a person will not get sick, but the likelihood that a dog will get sick is quite high.