Have you ever been snuggling with your furry best friend and suddenly wondered if they could be passing more than just love and affection to you? As someone who has lived with dogs my entire life, I’ve often found myself wondering about the potential for my four-legged companions to share their germs with me It’s a valid concern for many pet owners, especially when either you or your pup isn’t feeling well
The Truth About Dogs and Illness Transmission
Dogs are often considered man’s best friend, but they can sometimes pass on tummy bugs and other illnesses to their human companions. This isn’t meant to scare you away from cuddling with your pooch, but rather to inform you about the potential risks and how to minimize them.
According to veterinary professionals, there has been an increase in reported cases of dogs transmitting tummy bugs to humans in recent years This is likely due to the close contact many of us have with our pets, as well as the fact that dogs can carry various bacteria and parasites in their digestive systems
What Are Zoonotic Diseases?
Illnesses that can pass between animals and humans are known as zoonotic diseases While many pet owners might worry about this, the actual risk of getting sick from your dog is relatively low if proper precautions are taken.
Several types of illnesses can potentially pass from dogs to humans:
Bacterial Infections
- Brucellosis: A bacterial disease causing flu-like symptoms in humans. Although rare, it can spread through contact with infected dogs.
- Campylobacteriosis: Spreads through contact with dog feces, causing gastroenteritis symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain.
- Leptospirosis: Transmitted through infected dog urine, causing fever and digestive discomfort.
- Salmonella: Can cause fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. It spreads through contact with infected dogs or their feces.
Viral Infections
- Rabies: Rare in the U.S. due to pet vaccinations, but can be fatal if transmitted through a bite or scratch.
Fungal Infections
- Ringworm: A skin and scalp disease caused by a fungus that can spread from dogs to humans through direct contact or contaminated surfaces.
How Transmission Occurs
Dogs can pass illnesses to humans in several ways:
- Direct contact: Through saliva, urine, or feces
- Indirect contact: Through contaminated food, water bowls, or surfaces
- Sleeping arrangements: Sharing your bed with your dog increases the chance of germ transmission
- Cuts and scratches: Broken skin provides an entry point for bacteria
Gastroenteritis: The Common Culprit
One of the most common illnesses that can pass between pets and people is gastroenteritis, which is basically an upset stomach. The symptoms are similar for both humans and dogs:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea (sometimes containing blood)
- Weight loss due to fluid loss
The FDA warns that dogs can spread bacteria through kisses or having stool accidents inside the home. Even pet waste from healthy pets can potentially be a source of infection for people.
Who’s Most at Risk?
Not everyone has the same level of risk when it comes to catching illnesses from dogs. Those most vulnerable include:
- Children
- People over 65
- Pregnant individuals
- Anyone with a weakened immune system (due to medications, illness, or other health conditions)
7 Interesting Trends About Dogs Passing Bugs to Humans
- Increasing transmission cases: There’s been a noticeable uptick in reported cases of dogs passing tummy bugs to their human owners, likely due to closer pet-human relationships.
- Rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria: This growing concern affects both humans and animals. Dogs given antibiotics for tummy bugs may develop resistance to these drugs, which can then potentially be passed on to humans.
- Diet impact: Dogs fed highly processed foods with artificial ingredients are more likely to have imbalances in their gut flora, potentially increasing the risk of passing on tummy bugs.
- Hygiene importance: Practicing good hygiene, like washing hands after handling your dog or cleaning up after them, significantly reduces transmission risk.
- Zoonotic disease awareness: More attention is being paid to the potential for zoonotic diseases to be transmitted from dogs to humans.
- Stress effects: Stress negatively impacts the immune system of both dogs and humans, making both more susceptible to tummy bugs.
- Veterinary check-ups: Regular vet visits help identify potential health issues in dogs, including tummy bugs, reducing transmission risk.
How to Prevent Getting Sick From Your Dog
Despite the risks, there are many simple ways to reduce the chance of catching an illness from your four-legged friend:
1. Clean Up After Your Dog Promptly
Pick up your dog’s waste as soon as possible. Use bags to avoid direct contact, and dispose of the waste properly in sealed bags.
2. Practice Good Hand Hygiene
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after:
- Handling your dog
- Picking up after them
- Touching their food and water bowls
- Playing with their toys
3. Limit Those Doggy Kisses
While it might be hard to resist, try to avoid letting your dog lick your face, especially around your mouth, nose, or eyes. If they do manage to sneak in a kiss, wash your face afterward.
4. Regular Veterinary Care
Keep up with regular check-ups for your dog. Vets can identify health problems, including parasites or infectious diseases, before they become an issue for you.
5. Stay Current on Vaccinations
Make sure your dog is up-to-date on all necessary vaccinations, including:
- Rabies
- Distemper
- Kennel cough
- Canine parvovirus
6. Prevent Bites and Scratches
Teach children and visitors how to interact safely with your dog to prevent bites and scratches. If someone does get scratched or bitten, immediately clean and disinfect the area.
7. Create a Low-Stress Environment
Stress can compromise both your and your dog’s immune systems. Creating a calm, stable environment for your pet can help keep both of you healthier.
Common Concerns Answered
Can I get sick from my dog licking me?
While expert opinions vary, dogs can carry harmful germs that may pass through saliva. It’s best to avoid letting dogs lick your face, especially if you have open cuts or scrapes. If they do lick you, wash the area with soap and water.
Can dogs get sick from humans with a cold or flu?
Research indicates that human influenza viruses can affect dogs, particularly H1N1 and H3N2 strains. However, dogs typically don’t show symptoms even if they contract these germs from people.
Can I catch diarrhea from my dog?
Campylobacter and salmonella can spread from dogs to people, potentially causing diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. These germs are often found in the gastrointestinal tract and feces of infected dogs.
Can ticks from dogs make people sick?
Owning pets increases your risk of tick bites and potential exposure to various tick-borne illnesses. Pets may bring ticks into your home, and spending more time outdoors with your pet in tick-filled areas increases exposure risk.
When to Contact a Professional
If your dog shows signs of illness, contact your veterinarian right away. Similarly, if you develop symptoms that might be related to your dog’s illness, consult your doctor. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
The Bottom Line
While it is possible to catch bugs from your dog, the risk is relatively low if you practice good hygiene and keep your pet healthy. The benefits of having a dog—companionship, stress reduction, increased physical activity—far outweigh the small risk of illness transmission.
I’ve had dogs my entire life and rarely gotten sick from them. By following the simple precautions outlined above, you can enjoy all the love and happiness your dog brings while minimizing any health risks.
Remember, a healthy pet usually means a healthy human companion too! Regular vet visits, proper hygiene, and a balanced diet for your dog are your best defenses against any potential illness transmission.
So go ahead and enjoy life with your furry friend—just maybe keep the face licking to a minimum and wash your hands regularly!
You can’t get a cold or the flu from your dog
“The viruses that cause common colds have, over time, become specifically adapted to living in people — not dogs,” explains Dr. Long. “This means that the common cold cant be passed between you and your dog.”
The same goes for the seasonal flu that we prepare for every year. In fact, dogs have their own version of the flu, called canine influenza. And this type of influenza is specific to infection with dogs — so you dont have to worry about picking up the flu from your dog either.
And, since were in the middle of a pandemic, youre probably also wondering if your four-legged friend can give you COVID. Right now, the CDC says that theres “no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19” — the risk is likely to be very low.
Your dog’s feces can contain infectious germs
Just like in humans, germs that cause diarrhea in dogs are highly infectious. And some of these germs can also cause illness in humans.
In addition, some parasitic worms that can infect both you and your dog — including roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms — can shed their eggs in a dogs feces.
This means that if your dog is infected with a parasite or germ that causes diarrhea, youre at risk for infection while cleaning up after your pet.
The three most common illnesses that spread from dog to human through fecal transmission are:
- Gastrointestinal bugs – including Salmonella, Campylobacter, Giardia, which can cause gastroenteritis in humans
- Parasitic diseases – including giardiasis, toxocariasis, cutaneous larva migrans, echinococcosis and dipylidiasis, which can cause symptoms from diarrhea to cysts and lesions in various organs
- Drug-resistant bacteria – including metronidazole-resistant C. difficile and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, which can be difficult to treat
How pets transmit diseases to humans
FAQ
Can a dog get the flu from a human?
There are also many diseases which have both human and canine forms, but which cannot pass between species. A good example of this is influenza. A dog cannot get the flu from a human and vice versa. Those that remain are known as canine zoonotic diseases. These are diseases which can pass from a dog to a human.
Can dogs get sick from humans?
Pets can pass diseases to people in a process called zoonosis. But can we pass germs to our dogs and make them sick? Yes, we can! Dogs can indeed get sick from humans. That said, while dogs can catch germs from us, this is less common than pets making us sick. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can all be shared between animals and people.
Can dogs pass bacterial infections to humans?
Campylobacteriosis is another bacterial infection that dogs can pass to humans. It is often contracted through contact with dog feces, and it can also be transmitted through consuming contaminated food or water. Symptoms in humans include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and nausea.
What diseases are common between dogs and humans?
Among communicable diseases between dogs and humans, we now highlight one which is becoming increasingly more important. Filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by a roundworm infection. One particular type of canine roundworm called Dirofilaria immitis is known as heartworm. It is particularly dangerous as it can result in acute heart failure.
Are dogs contagious to people?
While serious viruses like parvo and distemper can easily spread between dogs, they are not contagious to people. Is Influenza Zoonotic? Can people give their dogs the flu?
Can dogs spread rabies to humans?
And while we’re talking worst-case scenarios, canines (and other animals) can spread the deadly rabies virus to humans. Dogs typically contract rabies after being bitten by an infected wild animal or a domestic animal (such as a dog or cat) that has contracted the disease.
Can people get bugs from dogs?
Yes, “dog bugs” like sarcoptic mites (canine scabies), ticks, fleas, and the fungus that causes ringworm can get on humans, although not all can live on humans indefinitely. Sarcoptic mites cause scabies in humans, but they cannot reproduce on human skin. Ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease, while fleas are generally harmless but can bite. Ringworm is a fungal infection that can be transmitted through direct contact.
Can a dog pass a bug to a human?
Dogs generally cannot catch human viruses due to species-specific pathogens. Similarly, dogs rarely transmit viruses to humans. However, zoonotic diseases like rabies or certain parasites can transfer between species. Maintaining good hygiene, regular veterinary check-ups, and vaccinations help prevent infections.
What is the disease that dogs can pass to humans?
Can dogs bring bugs into your home?
Yes, dogs can inadvertently bring bugs and pests like fleas, ticks, and even bed bugs into your home. While some insects, like fleas and ticks, live on the pet, others, such as bed bugs, may only briefly hitch a ride in your dog’s fur or on items they contact, such as their bedding or leash. Regular grooming, preventative flea and tick treatments for your dog, and maintaining a tidy yard can help prevent pests from entering your home.