Here’s how to avoid catching a virus, parasite or disease from your pup.
Can you get sick from a dog? Some diseases aren’t species-specific and can transfer between animals and humans. Although rare, humans can sometimes contract these zoonotic diseases from dogs.
While there are a number of zoonotic diseases, several are fairly common and can pose a risk to you or your family. Being aware of the signs and knowing how to prevent them is key to keeping your family safe.
7 Dog Diseases That Can Be Transmitted to Humans
1. Rabies
According to the World Health Organization, domestic dogs are responsible for up to 99% of rabies virus transmission to humans. The rabies virus is spread through saliva in bites or scratches, or through direct contact with the mucous membranes of infected animals.
Symptoms of rabies in humans include fever, generalized pain and tingling, and neurological symptoms once it progresses.
Rabies treatment is limited, but prevention is available in the form of vaccination in both dogs and people. Rabies vaccination in dogs is considered a core vaccine according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). For humans, rabies vaccination is typically only recommended to those working in an animal health, welfare or research field.
2. Leptospirosis
A very common illness in animals, leptospirosis in dogs is acquired through direct contact with another infected animal, or by ingesting contaminated water or soil. Affected dogs can show signs such as lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, fever and abdominal tenderness. Following the active infection, dogs can become carriers of the disease for many months, or even years. Yearly vaccination in dogs is a proven and effective prevention strategy.
Like dogs, humans become infected when they come in contact with the urine of an affected dog, or through contact with contaminated soil or water. Most people experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache and abdominal discomfort, and they usually resolve on their own. However, leptospirosis in humans can turn severe and require medical treatment, so it’s recommended to monitor the situation closely.
3. Giardiasis
Caused by the protozoa Giardia lamblia, giardiasis (or giardia) is a waterborne intestinal disease that most commonly affects dogs frequenting the outdoors, drinking from populated streams or lakes. Spread to humans can occur when people come into contact with an infected dog’s feces and don’t immediately wash their hands prior to eating or drinking.
Dogs infected with giardiasis usually exhibit loose, watery diarrhea, but sometimes show no signs of the disease. In rare dog-to-human transmissions, people can exhibit similar intestinal upset symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps and bloating. Following a diagnosis, treatment in both dogs and humans involves a short course of medication.
4. Roundworms
Toxocara canis is a roundworm species commonly found in puppies and adult dogs and is responsible for causing visceral larva migrans (VLM) in humans, a condition that in rare cases can lead to blindness.
In dogs, infection occurs by ingesting the roundworm eggs or larvae, which can then continue their lifecycle in the digestive tract before traveling to the lungs, liver and heart. This species of roundworm can survive many years in untreated dogs, leading to a higher chance of passing to people.
Like dogs, human infection occurs when the eggs are ingested. The yards of infected dogs, as well as local parks and sandboxes, are common areas where roundworm eggs may be found. Because of these common infection sites, children between the ages of 1 to 6 are most affected by VLM. Symptoms include abdominal pain, coughing and wheezing, and the condition can be treated with medication.
Toxocara canis can be prevented with regular oral deworming treatments for dogs.
5. Tapeworms
Dipylidium caninum is a common tapeworm species that use dogs as their host and can infect humans. Fleas are the intermediate host for this tapeworm, and transmission can occur either from encountering the feces of infected dogs or through contact with or ingestion of a carrier flea. Infection typically occurs in children and is often seen in children 6 months old or younger.
While infected people usually don’t show symptoms, they may experience abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. Since symptoms are uncommon, diagnosis often happens when parents notice small worms in their children’s stool and seek medical attention and treatment. Using a preventive dewormer in dogs is an effective tool against the spread of tapeworms in the home. Additionally, protecting your dog with routine flea prevention in your dog can help stop the tapeworm lifecycle.
6. Ringworm
A common fungal infection in dogs, cats and humans, dermatophytosis is caused by dermatophytes such as Microsporum canis. These dermatophytes invade the skin through direct contact and cause an inflammatory response. In humans and their pets, that response looks like itchy, ring-shaped lesions commonly known as ringworm.
Diagnosis is typically made visually, though a healthcare provider or veterinarian may take a sample of the skin lesion to confirm. Treating a dog and/or person with ringworm is simple and usually done topically, though for a severe infection you may also need to take an oral treatment.
7. Sarcoptic Mange
Sarcoptes scabiei, the mite that causes sarcoptic mange (or canine scabies), is highly contagious and easily transmissible from dogs to humans. The adult female mite creates a burrow in the skin where she lays eggs that then hatch and mature over the course of a few weeks.
In dogs, symptoms include severe itching, hair loss and dermatitis (skin irritation and inflammation). Telltale skin patches are often found on the face, legs, and stomachs of affected dogs. The infection affects puppies and older dogs most commonly.
Repeated contact with an infected dog can result in transmission to their human caregivers. Symptoms in humans are often less severe than their canine counterparts, but itching and dermatitis are common. Preventives and effective topical treatments are available for both people and pets, and infestations generally clear up quickly when addressed.
Who Is Most at Risk for Zoonotic Disease?
Children, older adults and people with compromised immune status are more at risk of contracting a disease, virus or parasite from their dog.
How Can I Avoid Getting Sick from My Dog?
Taking some basic precautions can go a long way toward preventing zoonotic spread and keeping you and your family safe:
- Closely monitor your dog for illness and be aware of common signs of zoonotic diseases.
- Use regular prevention products, including flea preventives and oral dewormers.
- Vaccinate your dog as recommended by your veterinarian.
- Wash your hands regularly, especially after playing with your dog and/or before eating.
