Human Health Concerns

 

Dogs and Kids

 

A common scenario is for a couple with a dog to be worried about how it will adjust to a new baby. From a dog's point of view a baby is noisy, smells funny and usually means a significant loss of attention. Here are some tips:

• Don't give the dog extra time or attention while waiting for the baby - it will only make the loss worse and more associated with the baby's arrival. If anything, decrease time spent with your dog.
• If any house rules are going to change, such as access to rooms or furniture or the location of feeding dishes, do this before the baby is born. This is also the best time for a refresher obedience course.
• When the baby is brought home allow the pet to gradually get used to the sound and smell of this new little person.

 

Most serious problems occur when the infant turns into a toddler that can chase and pull ears and tails. Even an attempt to pat will usually mean pulling a handful of hair. Realize that this will happen and get your dog used to it by being a bit rougher when you groom or handle him. Teach your child gentleness and respect for other living creatures.

Some dogs have personalities that enable them to adjust well to children. Others, especially fearful or dominent dogs, will have more problems. Regardless who came first, kids and pets are a great combination - but they should ALWAYS be

supervised! Just as two well mannered children can have a fight and kick and bite, even the best dog can get annoyed or hurt and snap back!

 

Pets need to be taught to respect children, but children should also be taught to respect pets!

 

Pregnancy and Cats

 

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of cats that can be of some concern to pregnant women. It is a relatively common parasite that can be carried and shed by cats in their feces. It can cause mild flu-like symptoms in people. But, if a woman that has

never been exposed to toxoplasmosis previously, acquires the infection during pregnancy, it can cause birth defects, stillbirths and miscarriage.

 

This DOES NOT mean that you must get rid of your cat if you are pregnant. It does mean that there are some precautions you should take. First, ask your doctor about having a blood test done to see if you've already been exposed or not - if you have then you don't need to worry. If you haven't then fortunately it can be easily avoided. Here are some tips:

 

• Keep your cat free of infection by feeding only cat food (no raw meat) and keep him indoors so hunting is eliminated. Keep any children's sandboxes covered.
• Since FRESH feces pose very little risk, clean the litter box and change cat litter daily. If possible, someone other than the expectant mom should have this responsibility.
• Do not eat raw or undercooked meat. Any vegetables that could come into contact with cat feces (do any cats "go" in your garden?) should be washed well.
• Wear gloves and wash hands after changing litter, working in the garden or handling raw meat and vegetables.

 

It should be noted that the main risk to pregnant women is contact through undercooked meat and unwashed vegetables. Petting your feline friend and even handling fresh cat feces poses very little risk.

 

Cat Scratch Disease

 

Bartonellosis is caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae. It is also known as Cat Scratch Disease or Cat Scratch Fever and is an infectious disease of humans. The cat becomes infected with the causative organism, but it does not appear to produce any disease in the cat. Very little is known or understood about the role of the cat as a reservoir for this disease.

 

This is generally a mild disease in humans. Many people experience fever, chills, and lethargy which last only a few days. Unless the skin test is performed or the organism is cultured, it may be diagnosed as influenza. However, the more severe forms of the disease will produce very high fevers, marked lethargy, anorexia, and swollen lymph nodes, usually in the axillae (armpit) or groin. The lymph nodes may enlarge to the point of rupturing or they may need to be opened surgically to establish drainage and relieve pain.

 

In many cases, the disease is self-limiting and requires little or no treatment. It runs a course of several days to several weeks and then subsides. In others, antibiotics, pain medication, and bed rest may be indicated.

 

The cat is likely involved because many (but not all) cases of CSD are preceded by a cat scratch. Our best understanding of the cat's involvement is as follows:

1. The cat is almost always a kitten; adults are rarely involved.
2. The cat appears to be contagious for only about 2-3 weeks.
3. Declawing does not appear to decrease the transmission. The organism lives in the cat's mouth and can be
   transmitted to the paws by grooming.

One should be very concerned about a family member having CSD. However, indefinitely banning cats from one's household is generally not warranted. It has been shown that less than 10% of family members scratched by the same cat develop the disease. In addition, there has not been a person recorded as having had the disease twice.

 

PREVENTION

At present, there is no available test to determine which cats carry the CSD organism. General considerations are as follows:

1. Declawing is not generally considered useful since the organism may be transmitted by contact alone.
2. When a kitten is involved, the likelihood of spreading the organism decreases as the kitten matures.
3. Euthanasia is not indicated because the involved cat is usually healthy.
4. If a cat does scratch or bite, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and, if indicated, contact a
   physician.

5. Always contact a physician whenever an immune-deficient person receives any animal scratch or bite