For the most part, animal disease cannot be transmitted to humans; however, there are some exceptions to this rule. The same applies to diseases that affect a dog; most of them will not affect humans but some of them can. Dog owners need to be aware of these diseases and their symptoms so that they can protect themselves and their families from these dog borne diseases.
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Intestinal Parasites
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Dogs can be affected by many types of parasites, such as heartworm, hookworm and others. Some of them attack the intestines of the dog and three of these can be passed to humans. The parasites that can infest humans are hookworm, roundworm and tapeworm. These three parasites infest a human when their eggs or larvae are ingested by the person. The eggs and larvae of these parasites will be found in the feces and saliva of a dog that is infested. These parasites will usually be transmitted to children because they have a weaker immune system and they are more likely to put their hands in their mouth without washing after they have been playing in dirt in which the eggs are present.
Rabies
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Rabies is rare due to mandatory vaccinations, but it is still worth mentioning because dogs do still get rabies and pass it to humans on occasion. Rabies is transmitted when a human is bitten by a rabid dog. The disease is carried in the saliva of the infected dog. If bitten by a dog that is suspected of having rabies, clean the wound, apply anti-bacterial medications and seek immediate medical attention. The bite does not have to be deep in order to transmit the disease. All the bite needs to do is break the skin and the infection can be passed on if not properly treated.
Ringworm
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Ringworm is a fungus that lives on the skin of the dog and can be passed to humans. The fungus can be transmitted by petting an infected animal or by the fungus getting into the soil around the dog's home through its feces. If a person goes to a beach where someone has had an infected dog, they can pick up the fungus from the sand. In humans, ringworm can cause skin and nail infections and the skin infections will sometimes take the shape of a ring.
Leptospirosis
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This bacterial disease is passed on by direct contact with animal urine. A dog will get this disease from other animals and then pass it to humans. There is now a vaccination for leptospirosis, so it is wise to get your dog vaccinated. This is especially true if you live in an area that has a lot of squirrels or other rodents. Rodents are the main carrier of the disease.
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