Is your dog making you sick?

Here at Rrruffhouse our dog trainers are always seeking knowledge to help dog owners do better. Did you know that you can actually get sick from your dog? Did you know that many times you wouldn’t even know how you got sick or that it was even possible for your dog to make you sick? Well it is true!

The most common diseases associated with dogs that can cause human illness and their symptoms are:

Campylobacteriosis Diarrhea

Dog tape worm ( dipylidium caninum  ) Rice like pieces in feces

Hookworm ( zoonotic ) (ancylostoma caninum ) Diarrhea, weight loss

Rabies Flue like symptoms, general weakness, headache, discomfort, itching at bite site, anxiety, confusion, agitation, hallucinations

Roundworm Diarrhea, visible worms in stool, vomiting, constipation, coughing, bloody stool

Brucellosis Caused from raw feeding, symptoms. appetite loss, back  pain, chills, headache, pain in abdomen, fever, weight loss

Ringworm skin lesions and patches of hair loss with red mark in the center

Giardia Diarrhea

Salmonella Abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, headache, nausea

Bubonic Plague No you didn’t just transport back to the middle ages! Although you cant catch this directly from you pet, you can catch it from a hitch hiking flea. CDC reports an average of 7 human cases per year

Toxoplasmosis Flu like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes

Many studies show the health benefits of dog ownership, dogs not only provide comfort and companionship but several studies have found that dogs decrease stress and relaxation. Dogs have positive impacts on nearly all life stages and influence social, emotional and cognitive development in children and promote an active lifestyle. Dogs have even been able to detect oncoming seizures or the presence of certain cancers, but for all the positive benefits of keeping dogs we need to be aware that dogs can carry germs that make people sick.

Although germs from dogs rarely spread to people, they might cause a variety of illnesses ranging from minor skin infections to serious disease. To protect yourself and your family from getting sick:

Seek routine veterinary care for your pets.

Always wash your hands and the hands of children with soap and water after contact with poop and dogs food.

If you suspect you have any of these please see physician immediately for treatment.