Safe Pet Guidelines

Pets are wonderful! Anyone who's ever had a pet knows the unconditional love and acceptance we receive is unlike what we generally experience within human relationsips. This is especially important to us when our human contacts diminish, for example, through aging or isolation by disease.

If our immune system is suppressed through disease, age or medical treatments, we become more vulnerable to infections. When this happens, we may become fearful of contact with other living creatures, including our pets. While there are a number of diseases we can catch from animals, very few of them pose a threat to life. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control state that there is no evidence that dogs, cats or non-primate animals can contract the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS) or transmit it to human beings.

Zoonoses--No, it's not what you find on the faces of elephants and kiwis. Zoonoses (pronounced ZO-e-NO-sez) refers to those diseases that can be contracted by humans from other animals. Until recently, zoonotic diseases touched few lives in this country.

Unfortunately, with the AIDS epidemic, the situation changed. Suddenly, we had a tremendous increase in the number of people with suppressed immune systems, a condition which made them more susceptible to all kinds of diseases, including the zoonoses. People need to know about the risks of catching diseases from their pets. Current evidence supports the fact that pets pose a minimal risk.

Initially there was considerable confusion in the medical community about the wisest course of action for the immunosuppressed pet owner. The aim of this organization and those like it is to eliminate that confusion. We will update regularly as new information becomes available.

If you are immunosuppressed and either have a pet or want to get one, you should carefully review these recommendations with your physician and your veterinarian.

THE BENEFITS OF ANIMAL COMPANIONSHIP OUTWEIGH THE RISKS!

PEOPLE AT RISK:

• people with compromised immune systems
• people with AIDS/HIV
• people on chemotherapy
• people who are aged
• people born with congenital immune deficiencies
• pregnant women (a fetus' immune system is not fully developed)

Hygiene

• Wash your hands...a lot! Especially before eating of smoking.
• Keep your pet clean and well groomed. Bathe dogs regularly.
• Keep your pet's living and feeding area clean.
• Kill those fleas! Consult you local exterminator or veterinarian to find out the best plan of attack. You must control the fleas on your pet as well as in the environment for your plan to be effective. Also take precautions against flies and cockroaches.
• Avoid any contact with your pet's bodily fluids, such as vomit, feces, urine or saliva. In the event of an accident, clean up the mess with a disinfectant (one ounce of bleach in a quart of water works nicely) then wash your hands thoroughly. Better yet, wear gloves, or have someone not at risk clean it up.
• Don't let your pet lick a wound on your face. You never know where that tongue has been!
• Keep your pets nails trimmed short. Ask your veterinarian or groomer to show you how. If your cat scratches excessively, consider declawing.

Litter Box

• Keep the box away from the kitchen and eating areas.
• Change the litter box daily. It takes the Toxoplasma parasite at least 24 hours to become infectious. If possible, have someone do it who is not at risk.
• Use disposable plastic liners and change them each time you change the litter.
• Don't dump! If inhaled, the resultant dust could possibly infect you. Gently seal the plastic liner with a twist tie and place in a plastic garbage bag for disposal.
• Disinfect the litter box at least once a month by filling it with boiling water and letting it stand for five minutes. No other disinfecting method seems to kill the Toxoplsma organism.
• Always wash your hands after cleaning the litter box.

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

• Keep vaccinations current.
• At least once a year, take your pet in for a checkup. If your pet shows signs of possible illness, such as persistent coughing, sneezing, losing weight or diarrhea, contact your veterinarian right away.

Animal Bites

Tend to any animal bite right away to help prevent infection. Rinse the wound with cold running water. Disinfect with a "tamed iodine" such as Betadine solution (not Betadine soap). This is readily available at drug stores. After this first aid, always contact your physician.

Diet

The following are ways to prevent your pet from acquiring diseases that can be passed on to humans:

• Feed your pet commercial pet foods only.
• Never feed your pets raw meat or un pasteurized milk.
• Prevent coprophagia (stool eating)! Don't let your pet eat it's own or other animals' feces.
• Keep your pet from drinking from the toilet bowl or rooting through the garbage.
• No hunting allowed (especially for cats.). Cats can catch Toxoplasmosis from eating birds and rodents. If your cat must go outdoors, you might consider placing a double bell on the collar to help scare off potential prey.
• Keep your dog on a leash for walks to help control scavenging.

Adopting New Pets

New pets present more of a risk because the health history of a new pet is usually sketchy at best. All new pets should be examined by your veterinarian, who may want to run some tests to screen for diseases and parasites. Puppies and kittens are more likely to be infected with diseases, especially if they have diarrhea or are strays. Be cautious around them.

Pets To Avoid

Some animals have been found to be more likely to carry diseases which could spread to humans:

• Stray Animals
• Animals With Diarrhea
• Exotic animals
• Sick Animals
• Wild Animals
• Monkeys

Cats

Toxoplasmosis: Cats can carry Toxoplasmosis and transmit it to people through their feces. This fact has made many "at risk" people wary of cats. But people also get this disease from eating inadequately cooked meat or from contact with dirt that has been contaminated with cat feces. Many of us are already infected with this organism, and recent studies show that most people with HIV disease that develop Toxoplasmosis are actually developing a "reactivation" of something they already had, but that didn't make them sick until their immune system deteriorated.

Thus, removing pet cats from "at risk" households will have little effect on the number of new cases of Toxoplasmosis seen with HIV disease. It is still very important to prevent the cat from becoming infected by following good hygiene habits and safe pet guidelines.

What is Toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Who gets it?

All species of animals, including humans.

Why are cats blamed for Toxoplasmosis?

Cats are the only animal species to shed the infectious stage in their feces. All animals however,can disseminate Toxoplasmosis if their infected meat is eaten.

How do cats get it? By eating rodents, raw meat, cockroaches, flies, or by contacting infected cats, infected cat feces, or contaminated soil.

What are the chances of my getting an infection?

Good, if your cat is allowed to hunt or is fed raw meat.

How will I know if my cat has Toxoplasmosis?

You probably won't since most infected cats show no symptoms, although sometimes there is transient diarrhea, or more rarely, other symptoms, such as pneumonia, hepatitis or neurological disease.

Should I worry about getting Toxoplasmosis from my pet cat?

Chances are unlikely you will acquire the infection from your cat, but caution is advised for high risk groups.

Should I test my cat for Toxoplasmosis?

Probably not--test results in cats are questionable and interpretation controversial. In fact, a positive, healthy cat is probably safer than a negative cat since it has already been exposed and is immune. A negative, healthy cat is probably susceptible to infection, and thus prevention is most important.

How do I prevent my cat from getting it?

Don't feed your cat raw meat, prevent your cat from hunting and keep your cat indoors.

How do I get it?

Rarely from an infected cat. Most commonly through ingestion of undercooked meats, unwashed fruits and vegetables, congenitally (in utero), or by not washing your hands after gardening or handling soil.

What happens if I get Toxoplasmosis?

It depends... If you are healthy--probably nothing, or flu-like symptoms such as fever, malaise or lymph node enlargement and/or soreness. If you are pregnant, and if and only if it's your first exposure--birth defects and possible fetal abortion/death. If you have an immunocompromised system-- possibly life-threatening central nervous system disorders.

Who needs to worry?

• People with compromised immune systems
• People with AIDS/HIV
• People on chemotherapy
• People who are aged
• People with congenital immune deficiencies
• Pregnant women (a fetus' immune system is not fully developed)

How do I know it I have been exposed to Toxopalsmosis?

You can get tested for it--consult your physician.

What if I have an immune system problem such as AIDS or I am on chemotherapy?

Most cases of Toxoplasmosis seen in people with immune system disorders are due to a reactivation of a previous infection. If you test positive for Toxoplasmosis, your physician may put you on a preventative therapy. If you test negative, be more cautious regarding prevention.

What if I am pregnant?

If you test negative and become infected with Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, you risk having a baby with birth defects. If you test positive, you already have had it, and therefore have built up antibodies to protect you and the fetus from a new infection.

Once infected, can I get it again?

It's very unlikely. After the first infection, it's like chicken pox--you don't get it again. But if your immune system becomes suppressed, an old infection can become reactivated. Since 15-50% of the U.S. population (depending on where live) has already been exposed, most cases of Toxoplasmosis in people with AIDS are a reactivation.

How can I prevent it?

Cook meats well, wash hands after handling raw meats, wash vegetables, wear gloves while gardening. Keep your cat healthy, and use caution around litter boxes. Always practice good hygiene.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Both these viruses are different from the human (HIV) virus. Both are contagious among cats, but neither has been shown to infect humans, nor has the human virus been shown to infect cats. However, these diseases suppress the cat's immune system, making it more susceptible to other diseases which it could pass on to you.

Even though it would be difficult to part with your loving cat, it is probably best not to keep an FeLV or FIV positive cat if you have an immunosuppression problem yourself. If you do keep your cat, be extra careful about following the other safe pet guidelines.

Cat Scratch Disease

Cat Scratch Disease has been reported in people with AIDS (PWA). This is a bacterial disease that can be acquired from the scratch of a cat and is not the same as a cat scratch which can get secondarily infected. This disease is not completely understood, and there may be other sources of infection. It appears to be most commonly acquired from kittens, and thus declawing an older cat will unlikely change the risk of the disease. In general, this disease is still very uncommon in PWAs and is treatable. The present recommendation is to keep your cat's nails trimmed, monthly. If you get scratched by a cat, clean the wound with a tamed iodine solution such as Betadine, and call your physician for further advice. Do not let your cat lick any wounds you may have, as this is another way the disease appears to be spread. Declawing is an option you may consider, but this will be more likely to prevent frayed furniture than Cat Scratch Disease.

Fish

Watching Fish swim has been shown to lower one's blood pressure. However, be cautious around the aquarium water since several people at risk have been shown to have acquired unusual infections from the water. Be especially careful if you have cuts or sores on your hands.

Dogs

Although dogs are considered man's best friend, be sensible and follow safe pet guidelines. Dogs do carry some diseases that could be spread to you, and are probably more risky if they drink out of the toilet.

Birds

Birds can carry some diseases that can be transmitted to people, but are considered safe pets, especially if you are careful. All new birds should be checked by an avian veterinarian.

Mycobacterium Avian

Mycobacterium Avian is a disease seen in PWAs, but is not typically transmitted to people directly from a bird. The infection is found everywhere in the environment, and as the immune system deteriorates, one becomes prone to this infection.

Questions about birds

Can Bird diseases make me sick?

Diseases such as Mycobacterium Avian Tuberculosis Complex (MAIS), psittacosis (parrot fever), salmonella, and allergic alveolitis are the primary diseases associated with pet birds that can potentially be transmitted to humans.

Should I worry about acquiring infections from my bird?

There is less chance of acquiring an infection from a bird than from a mammal, although a bird actively shedding the agent may transmit the disease.

What are the chances that my bird has one of these infections?

That depends on many things: The species of bird, it's source, age and general health status may dictate the likelihood of carrying an infection. A veterinarian experienced in avian medicine should be consulted to evaluate your particular situation.

Should my bird be tested?

Yes. All newly acquired birds in the parrot family should be screened for psittacosis. Your veterinarian is better able to evaluate other diseases for which your bird should be screened.

How do I prevent my bird from getting these diseases?

Never expose your bird to other birds (including pigeons and other wild birds) that have not been tested and quarantined for 45 days. Avoid casual contact such as going to the pet store for wing clips and nail trims. Ideally birds should be cared for at home rather than in a boarding facility.

Who can acquire these diseases?

Individuals with compromised immune systems are at highest risk, but any individual with increased contact with birds could become infected. Currently there are no known cases of transmission of psittacosis from a bird to a person with HIV, but the potential exists.

What if I have an immune system problem such as AIDS or I am on chemotherapy?

Then you could be considered at risk and the above information may be applicable. Other individuals at risk include: people who are elderly, those with congenital immune deficiencies or diabetics. Neonates as well as the fetus during pregnancy are at high risk also.

How do I get these diseases?

These diseases are transmitted by direct contact with stool and nasal discharges or breathing dried, powdered droppings. Breathing feather dander is the cause of allergic alveoliitis if you are sensitive to bird protein.

Which avian species are most likely to cause or transmit these diseases?

Imported birds are most likely to carry MAIS. Cockatiels have the highest incidence of psittacosis. Regarding allergic alveolitis, any bird can transmit this disease; however, cockatoos, cockatiels and amazons that produce more "powder" than other birds would be more potentially irritating.

How do I locate a veterinarian who has experience with birds?

Contact your state or local veterinary medical association or the Association of Avian Veterinarians at P.O. Box 811720, Boca Raton, FL 33481: telephone: (407) 393-8901.

We would like to acknowledge Pets Are Wonderful Support, Education Department PO Box 460489, San Francisco, CA 94146-0489 (415) 824-4040 for this information.

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