Cats, dogs, ferrets, pocket pets, birds, and reptiles all have certain diseases or parasites that are referred to as zoonosis .  This means that these diseases or parasites are transmittable from animals to people.

Intestinal Parasites:
Intestinal parasite from dogs and cats can spread not only to other animals but can also spread from animals to people.  Parasitic eggs or larvae are passed in the feces of infected animals and contaminate the dirt, grass, or other objects in their surroundings. Every year, thousands of people are infected with skin rashes, intestinal disease, blindness, coma, or death.  Many Pediatricians do not believe that their clients with young children and pets are aware of the risk of zoonotic disease. Roundworms, the most common parasite found in pets, can migrate to the eye and cause blindness in children.  It is estimated that approximately 700 children are blinded every year.  It is important to provide a clean environment for the health of your pets but more importantly, for the health of you and your family.  The following steps can be taken to minimize this risk:

• Wash hands with warm soap and water after handling pets
• Keep your pet's surrounds clean and pick up feces right away
• Visit your veterinarian regularly and bring a fresh fecal sample for testing
• Deworm your pet on a regular schedule using a broad spectrum dewormer recommended by your veterinarian

Rabies (required for Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets):
Rabies is one of the world’s most publicized and feared diseases.  Rabies attacks the brain and central nervous system and it transmitted to all warm blooded animals, including humans.  Death usually occurs within days of the onset of symptoms.  Infected animals may withdraw and avoid contact with people, then become unnaturally aggressive.  It is spread mainly through the saliva when bitten by an infected animal.  Currently, the only way to test for rabies in a suspicious animal is post-mortem.  This means that the test can be performed only after the animal is dead.  Rabies vaccination is vital and mandated by law, not only to protect your pet, but for you and your family.

Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci) (Birds):
Also known as parrot fever, it is a pneumonia caused by a bacteria Chlamydia.  Birds often do not show any signs of illness.  Infection to both humans and other birds is through inhalation of dried secretions such as feces.  In people, infection can cause illness ranging from mild influenza like symptoms to life-threatening pneumonia.  Psittacosis is thought to be highly infectious to other birds and has a high fatality rate in young birds.  All new birds should be tested for Psittacosis and isolated until the test results are available.  The test is simple and consists of taking a choanal and choacal swab (from mouth and feces). 

Ringworm:
Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin caused by dermatophytes (plants that live on the skin).  It is very contagious and can cause dry and usually round areas on a persons' skin.  It may be itchy and it may be dry and scaly or wet and crusty.  For animals, there is also a loss of hair in the area.  It is important to clean and disinfect the contaminated environment.  Ringworms affect most all animals and can spread from animals to humans.

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