Dogs can be loving and loyal pets, but they do carry various types of bacteria and germs that can sometimes spread diseases to humans. However, dog lovers shouldn’t become overly concerned with disease or infection if they take care of their pets. Regular cleanings, shots, visits to the vet and healthy diets dramatically reduce threats of bacteria.
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Bordetellosis
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Bordetellosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella Bronchiseptica and is transmitted by infected aerosols, droplets of water carried by the dog's breath, according to the Go Pets America website. Symptoms of the disease include respiratory problems, pneumonia, abdominal pain and watery diarrhea. In extremely rare extreme cases it can cause Guillan-Barre Syndrome, leading to paralysis. Dogs carrying this bacterium suffer from kennel cough, but should not be affected if they’ve received their annual vaccines.
Leptospirosis
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Leptospirosis is an infectious organism which is more common in the summertime when your dog is in contact with the outdoors and animals like raccoons that can transmit the disease. The germs are usually spread through infected water bowls, puddles, streams and damp grass. Usually, only people with jobs relating to animal care, like vets, contract the disease. Once ingested, the flu-like symptoms include muscle pain, vomiting, headache and fever. If left untreated meningitis, kidney failure and liver disease can develop.
Salmonellosis
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Salmonellosis is a bacterium found in mammals and reptiles and is spread through feces, saliva and bodily fluids. It can be passed to humans but is usually a result of not washing your hands properly after cleaning up after your dog. Once infected, the symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting for about 24 hours while the body flushes the bacteria out.
Rabies
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Rabies is a serious disease that can be spread through contact with infected dogs. Worldwide, more than 50,000 people die each year from rabies, mostly in countries where rabies vaccination is not available, according to the KidsHealth website. In the United States there are only about 7,000 cases in animals each year according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If bitten by an infected animal, symptoms include, tingling, twitching, fever, headache, loss of appetite, hallucinations, seizures and eventually death. Treatment includes getting shots of the human rabies vaccine.
Ticks
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Ticks are small insects that feed on blood. Once infected, ticks can cause serious health problems like Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Symptoms include, fever, fatigue, eye rash, aching muscles and joints which can eventually spread to the nervous system and heart, according to eMedicineHealth. Rocky Mountain spotted fever also causes a rash on the body. Both diseases can be fatal, but both are treatable.
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