Diseases You Can Catch From Pets (and How to Avoid Them)

Quick answer

Pets can pass on some infections to people. The ones most owners meet are ringworm, roundworm and hookworm, Salmonella and Campylobacter (gut bugs), cat scratch disease, toxoplasmosis and, where it's present, rabies. Most are easy to prevent: wash your hands after handling animals, their food or their mess, keep pets vaccinated and on parasite control, pick up faeces promptly, and get any bite or scratch from an animal of unknown rabies status seen by a doctor the same day.

Who is most at risk

Anyone can catch a zoonosis (a disease shared between animals and people), but some groups get sicker more easily:

• Children under 5, who touch everything and put their hands in their mouths
• Pregnant people
• Adults over 65
• People with weakened immune systems, for example from chemotherapy, HIV, an organ transplant or some medicines

If someone in your home is in one of these groups, the habits below matter more, and it's worth talking to their doctor and your vet about which pets suit your household.

The common ones, pet by pet

Dogs and cats

Roundworms and hookworms. Puppies and kittens often carry them. Worm eggs pass in faeces and can survive in soil for a long time. Children who swallow roundworm eggs from sandpits or soil can, rarely, develop damage to the eyes or organs. Hookworm larvae can burrow into bare skin and cause an itchy, wandering rash. Regular worming and prompt poop-scooping cut the risk.

Ringworm. A fungal skin infection, common in kittens and puppies. In people it causes an itchy, red, ring-shaped patch. See ringworm in cats for treatment and cleaning.

Gut infections. Campylobacter, Salmonella and Giardia can pass from pets with or without diarrhoea, and puppies from crowded places are a common source. Raw-fed pets are more likely to shed Salmonella.

Cat scratch disease. Caused by Bartonella henselae, carried mainly by kittens and spread among cats by fleas. In people it usually causes a swollen lymph node near the scratch, sometimes with fever, a week or more later. Flea control and washing scratches promptly help.

Toxoplasmosis. Cats can shed Toxoplasma eggs in their faeces, usually for a short time after first being infected, often by hunting. The eggs take at least a day to become infectious, so cleaning the litter tray daily lowers the risk. Undercooked meat and unwashed garden produce are more common sources than pet cats. It matters most in pregnancy because it can harm an unborn baby.

Leptospirosis. A bacterial infection spread through the urine of infected animals, including rats and dogs. It can cause severe illness in people. Vaccines for dogs are available in many countries; wear gloves when cleaning up urine from a sick dog.

Scabies (sarcoptic mange). Mites from an affected dog can cause itchy red spots on people. They don't usually settle on humans, so it clears once the dog is treated.

Rabies. The most serious. Any mammal can carry it, but dog bites cause most human cases worldwide. It's almost always fatal once symptoms start, yet preventable with prompt treatment. Read rabies in dogs and cats for full details.

Reptiles, amphibians and backyard poultry

Turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, frogs, chicks and ducklings very often carry Salmonella in their gut and on their skin and shells, while looking perfectly healthy. Germs spread to tanks, water, food dishes and anything the animal touches.

• Wash hands thoroughly after touching the animal or its enclosure.
• Don't let them roam in kitchens or near food.
• Don't clean tanks or dishes in the kitchen sink. Use a separate tub or outdoor tap, or clean the bathroom sink well afterwards.
• Don't kiss or snuggle them, especially chicks.
• Health agencies generally advise that children under 5 shouldn't handle these animals at all.

Pet birds

Psittacosis is a bacterial infection that parrots, cockatiels, budgies, pigeons and other birds can carry, sometimes without showing signs. People catch it by breathing in dust from dried droppings or feather dust. It usually causes flu-like illness (fever, headache, muscle aches, dry cough) within a couple of weeks and can lead to pneumonia. Tell your doctor you keep birds if you become ill. Clean cages often, wet down droppings before cleaning to keep dust down, and buy birds from reputable sources.

Small pets

Rats, mice, hamsters and guinea pigs can carry Salmonella and, less commonly, other infections. Pet rodents are mostly a low risk with good hygiene, but treat bites seriously and wash hands after cleaning cages.

Everyday habits that prevent most of it

Wash your hands with soap and running water after:

• Touching or playing with pets
• Handling pet food, treats or chews, including dry food
• Cleaning litter trays, cages, tanks or poop
• Before eating, preparing food or touching your face

Supervise children while they wash.

Keep pets healthy. Regular vet check-ups, vaccinations, worming and flea and tick control protect your pets and you. Take a sick pet to the vet promptly, especially one with diarrhoea.

Deal with poop. Pick up dog faeces straight away. Clean litter trays daily. Cover children's sandpits so cats can't use them. Wear gloves for gardening.

Keep animals out of food areas. No pets on kitchen counters and no pet dishes washed with your own.

Teach children not to kiss pets on the mouth, not to touch other people's or stray animals without asking, and to wash hands afterwards.

Leave wildlife alone. Don't handle wild animals or strays, especially any that seem sick, unusually tame or are out at odd times.

Choose pets that suit the household. A home with a newborn, or someone having chemotherapy, may not be the right place for a reptile or baby chicks right now.

When to see a doctor

Same day, without waiting:

• Any bite or scratch from an animal of unknown rabies vaccination status, including strays and wildlife. Wash the wound for at least 15 minutes with soap and water first, then get medical care that day.
• Any deep bite, a bite to the face, hands or near a joint, or a bite in someone with a weakened immune system

Soon:

• A wound that becomes red, hot, swollen, painful or leaks pus
• A swollen lymph node after a cat scratch
• An itchy, ring-shaped or scaly rash after contact with an animal
• Flu-like illness, cough or fever in someone who keeps birds
• Diarrhoea, fever or stomach cramps after handling a reptile, chicks or a sick pet

Always tell the doctor about your pets. It can change which tests they do.

When to see a vet

Take your pet to the vet if it has diarrhoea, patchy hair loss, itchy skin, fleas, worms in its faeces, or signs of illness such as lethargy or not eating. In a bird, look out for fluffed-up feathers, discharge from the eyes or nostrils and changed droppings. Treating the animal promptly protects your family too.