It is important for a good owner to know: do dogs suffer from human diseases?

Many people do not know what can be infected from a dog. Nothing can make you happier than playing with a dog, or going out into nature with a dog. But a dog, in addition to joy, can also bring grief to the house. After all, dogs are a good carrier of infections and parasites, which even family members cannot guess about.

This often happens due to the negligence of the owners themselves. But this does not mean that you should not have a dog. You need to keep an eye on your pet and follow some safety rules.

Is it possible to get diseases through a kiss?

Diseases transmitted through saliva are not a myth and, alas, not just another horror story from the guardians of morality. Kissing transmits many diseases - both primitive and easily treatable, and quite serious and dangerous. Salivary fluid is an ideal environment for pathogenic microorganisms to live and reproduce.

Composition, functions and significance of human salivary enzymes

The most dangerous are the so-called “French” kisses, which involve prolonged contact between the open mouth and the partner’s open mouth, often with the tongue penetrating the oral cavity. Children's kisses on the cheek can be considered absolutely safe from a medical point of view.

Echinococcosis

The causative agent of echinococcosis is a tapeworm, the adult of which parasitizes the intestines of dogs. Helminth eggs are released with feces into the external environment, ending up on animal fur, bedding, household items, plants, and water. If hygiene rules are not followed, a person swallows eggs and becomes infected with this helminthiasis.

Echinococcus larvae migrate from the intestine to parenchymal organs, attach to their walls, form parasitic two-layer cysts and begin to grow. As they increase, they disrupt the functions and put pressure on the affected and adjacent organs, releasing toxic products of their vital activity that cause allergic reactions.

Most often, echinococcal cysts are localized in the liver. When they rupture, anaphylactic shock develops with possible death. The localization of the parasite in the brain is considered particularly dangerous. In most cases, such tumors are inoperable and lead to death.

Bird flu

Bird flu is an acute viral disease that affects the respiratory and digestive organs.

When the disease occurs in chickens, the following symptoms are observed : high fever, lethargy, drowsiness, heavy breathing, diarrhea, decreased appetite, decreased productivity, blue comb and earrings.

Bird flu (plague)

There are no medications for treatment. If a disease is detected in the herd, strict quarantine measures are introduced, and all birds are subject to destruction.

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Diseases transmitted through saliva: list of viral and bacterial infections

What diseases are transmitted through saliva? Pathologies that can be picked up from a banal kiss are usually divided into viral and bacterial. The first includes the following list:

• cytomegalovirus infection;
• Infectious mononucleosis;
• herpes simplex;
• influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections;
• hepatitis B (rare);
• papillomavirus infection.

In addition to them, through a kiss on the lips you can become infected with such bacterial diseases as:

• peptic ulcer;
• bacterial meningitis.

We should not forget that caries, which occurs in almost every 3 people, also has a bacterial origin. To say that it can be transmitted through a kiss is not entirely correct, since in the development of the carious process it is not the microflora that plays a large role, but the level of oral hygiene, the ratio of microelements in the body, excess consumption of carbohydrates, and so on.

However, in children under 3 years of age, the regularity of brushing their teeth is usually poor, and the immune system is not yet able to work at full strength, protecting the baby from the penetration of pathogenic agents. How does bacteria transfer occur in this situation? Here, infection with streptococci from older relatives occurs: the child receives his share of bacteria through a kiss, as a result of which dental problems arise in the future.

Dermatomycoses

The largest group of infections that can be “caught” from animals. Most often these are fungal diseases, various mycoses, and lichens. There are a lot of them, they have the same external manifestations on both pets and humans. It is only important to make the correct diagnosis, since different types and types of dermatomycosis require specific treatment.

How to avoid infection

Most problems with parrots are caused by the owner himself. The reason is improper care, violation of feeding regime, poor living conditions. Regardless of the nature of the illness, the pet requires qualified and timely assistance.

Hygiene

The cage or enclosure is cleaned regularly. Food, drink and bedding are changed daily, and equipment is disinfected every month. Exotic birds must be kept strictly following the temperature and air humidity recommendations specific to this species. Do not leave the parrot in a draft, place it next to heating appliances or in direct sunlight.

Is it possible to become infected with sexually transmitted diseases through a kiss?

What sexually transmitted diseases are transmitted through saliva?

On the Internet there are many lists with almost the same set of STIs, infection with which is supposedly possible through saliva. Nevertheless, the opinion that sexually transmitted infections can be contracted by kissing on the lips or simply drinking from someone else’s glass is fundamentally wrong.

Diseases of the salivary glands: symptoms and diagnosis

A person can catch chlamydia, gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases by practicing any type of sex, including oral sex (without using a condom). The only exception is syphilis - infection with Treponema pallidum has a small probability if the infected partner has characteristic hard chancre or rashes in the oral cavity, typical of the secondary form of the pathology.

Can human diseases?

Can dogs get human diseases? You can often see the following picture on the street: a mother does not allow her child to pet a stray animal, arguing that “the dog is contagious.” And this is true, dogs often suffer from human diseases and can be dangerous to humans. This rule also applies vice versa: if you get sick, you should take care of your pet and not have contact with it, so that you don’t have to spend twice as much on treatment.

The most common case is when dogs become infected with ordinary seasonal flu from their owner . Some veterinarians, however, believe that pathogens that cause diseases in humans and domestic animals are of radically different nature. But the fact is that due to constant living side by side, viruses are constantly mutating, changing and adapting to new conditions of existence. American scientists have experimentally established that dogs can become infected with the H1N1 influenza virus from their owner, so there is already a precedent.

Sore throat, bronchitis, inflammation and even pulmonary tuberculosis are also dangerous for dogs - a pet can pick up the tuberculosis bacillus on the street.

There are also diseases that are not transmitted by contact, but are equally dangerous for humans and animals. So, a dog can suffer from heart disease, obesity, gastritis, diabetes and even epilepsy. A number of diseases that are curable in humans can be fatal for dogs. For example, they don’t yet know how to treat epilepsy in animals, or even stop seizures. Rabies will also be fatal for the dog; the infected individual will be euthanized.

There are also those human diseases in dogs whose symptoms are difficult to notice immediately: for example, neuroses and obsessive states . Only the owner can recognize the problem and cope with it in this situation: a beloved dog living in comfortable conditions is not in danger of neurosis.

Another serious disease that faithful four-legged friends share with people is cancer . Cancer in dogs, alas, is no longer uncommon. But with proper and timely treatment, there is every chance that the pet will be cured and live a long, fulfilling life.

What can only people and dogs get sick with?

Are there unique diseases that are dangerous only for people and their faithful tailed friends? You can often find the following fact on the Internet: only men and dogs suffer from such a delicate problem as inflammation of the prostate gland - prostatitis . It’s difficult to say how true this is: prostatitis is also dangerous for cats, it’s just much less common in them.

There are other diseases that are dangerous only to people and dogs: attacks of epilepsy and migraines.

What can an animal suffer from when it feels weak:

Differences between a healthy bird and a sick one

The first symptoms of the disease are often:

• weakness, drowsiness, depression;
• itching, peeling of the skin;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• restlessness, pacing around the cage, screaming for no reason;
• swelling of the limbs;
• indigestion, dirty feathers sticking together in the cloaca area;
• shortness of breath, cough;
• sneezing, discharge from the nasal openings;
• unkempt appearance;
• excessive feather loss or feather pecking;
• refusal of food.

The owner of a parrot must be attentive and note the slightest changes in the usual behavior of his friend. The sooner you take measures to help the bird, the higher the likelihood of recovery and the lower the risk of infection to humans or other birds.

How to understand that a parrot is sick

Particular attention should be paid to inspecting the parrot when purchasing it. The look of a healthy bird is clear, clean, and the plumage is neat. The abdomen and the area around the cloaca should not be stained with droppings or hyperemic. The young individual has no peeling skin, extra scales or calluses on its paws. Look at the behavior of your future pet. Excessive aggression, lack of coordination of movements or apathy should alert you.

Are HIV infections transmitted through saliva?

Is HIV infection transmitted through human saliva?

Despite many stories of one partner infecting the other with HIV through saliva, scientific research suggests the opposite. In the entire history of HIV disease, only one incident has been recorded that cast doubt on the safety of an ordinary kiss. It is based on the testimony of one married couple who claimed that they had a protected sex life.

Later it was found out that the husband suffered from drug addiction and could easily share hygiene items with his wife (for example, a razor), use a common syringe for veins (in this case, the virus entered the wife’s body through the blood), and also not use condoms at all . So the real circumstances of the infection still remain unclear, and scientists claim that you can become infected with AIDS through a kiss only if there are open bleeding wounds in the mouth and a very high level of the pathogen in the blood of one of the partners - that is, it is practically impossible.

How is the disease transmitted from dog to person?

Contagious diseases of dogs can be transmitted in various ways, but the most common way is through fur. Play with the dog, pet it, and then you can pick up parasites that are transmitted through the fur. In particular, these are scabies, ringworm, and demodicosis. It is wool that becomes the main cause of human infection. Remember how many times a day you pet your dog, and how often do your children do this?

Another source of human infection from a dog is saliva. Of course - doctors say that dog saliva contains an active substance that helps blood clot. But this is if the dog is healthy. Dog saliva can contain very dangerous infectious agents - tuberculosis, helminthiasis, toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis, giardiasis in dogs, rabies. Owners simply squeal with happiness when their pet licks its face. The dog may also (as a sign of submission) lick his hands. Also, saliva remains on the toys she plays with.

Viruses and parasites can also be transmitted through food. This is a less common source of infection, but the fact remains. Of course, a normal person would not eat the food that a dog eats. But many owners have small children who do not yet understand that they cannot eat from a dog’s bowl. But in medical practice, there are cases where dogs stole food from the table and at the same time contaminated other food products. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to eat foods that the dog has touched.

Stealing food is a favorite pastime for pets. And, in order to do their “dirty deed”, they can jump on the table, climb into the completely uncovered refrigerator. And there have even been cases when dogs opened the refrigerator themselves. Doctors recommend keeping food away from your pets, and if your pet gets creative, it's best to keep the kitchen locked.

Blood, just like food, is not such a common source of infection. But your dog's blood can get on your hands, face, and open wounds. Sometimes dogs that are sorting things out with each other can get into a fight and the owners then separate the pets.

Blood from dog fights can get on your skin. Also, during fights, one of the individuals may accidentally bite a person. But that is not all. Glass on the road, splinters and open wounds on a dog can become a source of infection. Through the same wound, an infection can enter the bloodstream, which, if handled carelessly, can infect a person.

Symptoms of the presence of roundworm in the body

People can notice that something is wrong with the body even 3 days after they become infected. Although it all depends on the number of roundworms: the more there are, the faster the disease will manifest itself. A short time after roundworm infection occurs, a person feels general weakness and quickly gets tired. In fact, worms take away all the useful microelements and vitamins from food, and also poison the body of their owner.

When the parasite damages the intestinal walls, the patient complains of pain in the intestine. I am worried about nausea and vomiting often. Vision problems may begin, as roundworms contribute to improper absorption of vitamin A.

Ascariasis often leads to coughing attacks with bloody discharge. Sometimes parasite larvae can even be found in mucus. A rash may appear on the skin. An allergy sufferer may experience increased body temperature, enlarged lymph nodes, and insomnia.

Symptoms of coronavirus in dogs

There are two types of coronavirus infection in dogs (Canine Coronavirus): intestinal and respiratory.

The respiratory type of coronavirus can be transmitted by airborne droplets; animals are usually infected with this type while in nurseries.

The intestinal species is transmitted only through direct animal-to-animal contact. For example, dogs played, sniffing each other, or through excrement, which they could eat or get dirty in. Quadrupeds also become infected through food, contaminated water and sputum.

Coronavirus infection is common in dogs of any breed, and although it is relatively safe for adult animals, it can often be fatal for young puppies or weakened dogs.

This viral infection develops very quickly, and affects not only the intestinal mucosa, but also the digestive system.

In this case, pets exhibit symptoms such as profuse diarrhea and vomiting. In case of untimely assistance, the animal may die from dehydration and exhaustion. Therefore, coronavirus is dangerous not only for people, but also for some dogs.

Diseases transmitted through human saliva

The possibility of contracting a variety of diseases through a kiss is a very real threat. Often a person does not even think about the health of his partner, “rewarding” her with a whole bunch of hidden infections transmitted through salivary fluid. What diseases are most often spread this way? The most common of them will be discussed in more detail below.

1. Cytomegalovirus infection belongs to the genus of herpes viruses. You can get it from kissing; the incubation period ranges from 20 to 60 days. It is characterized by an increase in body temperature to high levels, a sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. Women also experience damage to the genitourinary system. The disease has a protracted course and is especially dangerous for pregnant patients and newborns.
2. Infectious mononucleosis - like most diseases that are transmitted by airborne droplets, can also infect a person through saliva (popularly called “kissing disease”). In this case, the patient experiences a number of symptoms typical of ARVI (swelling of the nasopharynx, fever, nasal congestion), further aggravated by pain in the epigastric region and an increase in the size of the liver and spleen.
3. Another unpleasant “bonus” that a person can give to their partner when kissing is the Helicobacter pylori bacterium. It is known for its ability to disrupt the integrity of the mucous membranes of the stomach and duodenum, which ultimately leads to the occurrence of peptic ulcers. It should be remembered that the microorganism may not manifest itself in any way in the carrier, but if it enters the body of a patient with reduced immunity, it may actively multiply, releasing toxins in excess quantities.
4. Herpes simplex. Caused by a specific virus. During this disease, multiple blistering rashes are observed on the lips, mucous membranes of the mouth and nose.

Flu and other acute respiratory viral infections are also easily transmitted through kissing. This should be especially remembered by those who consider these diseases to be a common “cold” and are not particularly keen to protect loved ones from possible infection.

Kissing is a great opportunity to demonstrate your feelings to your loved one. However, you should not forget about your own health. If your partner discovers acne, ulcers or other skin defects, as well as signs of dysbacteriosis, you should postpone the mutual exchange of affection and refer him to a doctor to undergo the necessary tests. This will help him find out the causes of a possible pathology and treat it correctly under the supervision of a medical specialist.

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Transmission routes

Indirectly, a person may be involved in the fact that his pet gets sick. It can serve as a carrier of canine influenza. In this case, the owner himself will only be a carrier. For example, you came to visit friends whose dog was sick. Even if there are no obvious symptoms yet, pathogens can spread through airborne droplets. They will get home safely with you and cause your pets to become ill.

In addition, the owner is responsible for the animal’s nutrition and living conditions. Therefore, when talking about whether a dog can get a cold from a person, one can answer positively, but if the owner does not fulfill his obligations. If a pet does not eat well and sleeps in a draft, then a person can become the culprit of his illness.

Prevention and treatment

Prevention of helminthiases

Prevention of helminthiasis involves following certain rules, one of which is avoiding swimming in polluted waters. Although the presence of worms in the body in small quantities is possible, it is necessary to resort to some preventive measures. This will avoid serious helminth infestations. Here are some tips to help you avoid getting infected:

• Compliance with personal hygiene rules. This is especially true for caring for your hands and nails, because the greatest chance of catching worms is when your hands are dirty.
• Timely change of linen and regular wet cleaning of the house.
• Formation of the child's habits of not biting nails and not sucking fingers.
• Wash fruits and vegetables before eating, properly prepare fish and meat dishes.
• Be careful in contact with animals and wash your hands after contact with each of them.
• Avoid swimming in polluted waters, especially near pastures.
• Drug prophylaxis.

Diagnostics

There are several common ways to identify worms:

• linked immunosorbent assay;
• ultrasound and x-ray;
• bioresonance diagnostics;
• blood, saliva and stool tests.

Do dogs get human colds and flu?

The functioning of the human and dog bodies has a lot of similar features, so it is not surprising that both owners and their pets may have a sore throat, runny nose, coughing and sneezing. In humans, symptoms of a cold or flu usually appear after contact with other people or prolonged exposure to the cold, so to determine whether a person can infect dogs, it is worth knowing about the possible ways in which diseases can spread in animals:

• a pet can become infected with bacteria, viruses or fungi from another organism;
• dogs often get hypothermia as a result of prolonged swimming in icy water or constant exposure to a cold kennel in winter;
• The pet’s immune system is weakened, which is why it can become infected even by bacteria brought by a person on shoes or clothes.

Did you know? Dogs suffer from heat more than people, but unlike the latter, they do not sweat over the entire surface of their body. In this case, sweat appears only on the pads of the paws, although in some cases you can feel moisture on the skin at the base of the ears.

In fact, despite the similar symptoms of a particular disease, there are not so many common infectious agents between a dog and its owner, so a four-legged friend cannot get sick from human strains of influenza. With a cold that appears as a result of the owner’s prolonged exposure to the cold, everything is even simpler, since it is often not caused by pathogens that enter the human body from the outside.

You can safely pet and hug your dog during these illnesses, they are not dangerous for him. The same applies to the world-famous covid virus. Despite rumors about its possible transmission from humans to pets and vice versa, confirmed cases of this theory have not yet been made public, so there is no need to panic and try to isolate yourself from dogs or cats.

What are worms

There are many types of helminths, which are divided into two categories - nematodes (roundworms) and flatworms. Worms are parasitic organisms that live in the body of an animal or a person, affecting various organs and tissues, causing specific symptoms and general health problems. Worms vary in size: from a couple of millimeters to tens of meters. Helminths are contagious and their presence in the body is indicated by symptoms identical to those of other diseases (intestines, liver, pancreas, etc.).

Where do parasites come from? The occurrence of helminths in the body is often associated with insufficient hand hygiene, but this is not the only way of their transmission. Different types of parasites pass from one person to another in all sorts of ways. Pathologies that are caused by worms spreading between people are called contact helminthiases.

Today, several dozen causative agents of parasitic diseases are known, however, despite this, the process of infection with them is approximately the same. Eggs and larvae of parasites can enter the body along with food, water, sexual intercourse, etc. Another common method of infection is the ingestion of mature individuals or fragments of the body of the worm. After entering the body, helminths begin to develop and some of them multiply. Certain types of parasites remain at the larval stage and are covered with a protective capsule.

Any type of helminthiasis is characterized by active progression, and the lack of adequate treatment will lead to a deterioration in the patient’s health. In addition, without suitable therapy, a person becomes a source of helminthiasis. The most commonly diagnosed helminthic infestations are ascariasis and enterobiasis. Roundworms and pinworms have effective protection - a sticky shell, thanks to which they are firmly fixed in the organs.

• What pinworm worms look like - symptoms in children and adults, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
• Tapeworms in humans - routes of infection and signs, symptoms and treatment with drugs
• How to remove worms from a dog: means for treatment and prevention

Diseases that can be contracted from a dog

There are two types of threats to humans that can be contracted from a dog. Any disease can affect either one type of carrier or several types. For example, fleas (Ctenocephalides canis) do not bite humans, just as human fleas (Pulex irritans) do not bite animals.

But there are parasites that are harmful to both humans and pets. Also, some helminths can travel on the same fleas. Therefore, timely removal of parasites from the dog’s body can save not only his life, but also your life. So what diseases can you get from a dog?

Tuberculosis bacillus (or Koch bacillus). A very common disease in our time, which many experience very hard, and the disease tends to be chronic. The disease itself manifests itself in the lungs and lymph nodes. This is an inflammatory process that is accompanied by swelling and a dry cough. The infection is transmitted through saliva and animal bites.

Helminthiasis (Helminths). Parasitic organisms that enter the body in the form of a cyst. The protective shell of helminths can withstand very low temperatures. And when the cyst gets into a suitable environment, it hatches into an adult, which attaches to the wall of the stomach and begins to reproduce.

Rabies . A viral disease that affects the nervous system. The nature of the disease is that in the brains of animals affected by the virus there are special inclusions of “Babes bodies”. They range from 1 to 27 microns. Rabies is transmitted to humans through a bite.

Toxoplasmosis . When asked whether you can get toxoplasmosis from a dog, you can safely answer yes. Most often, these parasites enter an animal through unprocessed food, and then through saliva and bites to humans. In this case, an infected person experiences headaches, high fever, and high blood pressure, which soon leads to blindness, cardiac arrest and damage to the nervous system. But a person may not even be aware of the infection for a long time, and toxoplasmosis develops in a latent form.

Leptospirosis . Caused by Leptospira. This is an infectious disease that is accompanied by severe headaches, muscle pain and joint problems. The disease gradually progresses into a severe form with an elevated temperature, like the flu. All this may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. You can become infected through saliva and blood. Although most often due to insufficient heat treatment of the affected products.

Scabies . A skin disease caused by the scabies mite parasite. The female parasite crawls under the skin and lays eggs. At the site where the eggs are laid, unbearable itching begins, which is accompanied by small redness in the form of pimples. Carriers of scabies mites are animals that spread the parasite to areas of the skin on their fur.

Cucumber tapeworm . A parasite that enters the human body through unprocessed food or saliva. Adult tapeworms rarely inhabit the human body. Most often it develops from a cyst that is accidentally ingested when it comes into contact with an animal. In this case, tapeworm parasitism is accompanied by headaches and dizziness. The skin becomes pale and appetite decreases. At the same time, appetite decreases, but even if the patient forces himself to eat, he does not gain weight and there is itching in the anus.

Tick-borne borreliosis .
A virus that is transmitted through the bite of an Ixodid tick. The disease penetrates through the blood and affects all organs connected by blood vessels: heart, nervous system, muscles, etc. As a result, antibodies begin to work against the body, and not for good. When the pathogen dies, it releases a huge amount of poison into the blood, causing a deterioration in the condition.

Pediculosis

The presented disease is very delicate, since we are talking about pubic lice. In the vast majority of cases, the infection is transmitted through sexual contact. Although experts say that you can become infected even if you lie naked in the same bed or simply caress each other.

If you do not want to “catch” pediculosis, then you should adhere to a number of simple rules:

• Change underwear daily, bed linen once a week.
• Follow all hygiene rules.
• Before putting on clothes, they should be steamed thoroughly. To do this, you can use a steamer or a regular iron.
• Do not give your comb or hats to other people.

Chlamydia

In the vast majority of cases, the infection is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person during unprotected sexual intercourse.

True, there may also be a household way of transmitting the infection.

It is possible to become infected if you share the same bathtub, towels, or washcloths with a sick person. Thus, chlamydia reaches both the mucous membranes of the genital organs and the mucous membrane of the eyes. In the second case, you can catch chlamydial conjunctivitis.

Top article: How to cure chlamydia with folk remedies?

Mycoplasmosis

Contact and household transmission of mycoplasma infection is quite rare. Despite this, he is not excluded.

Anyone can become infected:

• through the toilet seat;
• the infection is transmitted through dirty hands;
• through the use of shared utensils;
• through bed linen and towels;
• very often people catch an infection in the sauna, swimming pool and even the gym;
• through the use of household items.

Top article: Ureaplasma in women and men - causes of infection

Despite the fact that mycpoplasmas do not tolerate the environment well, it is quite easy to become infected through household means. That is why a person is often moved into a separate room or even an apartment during treatment.