Will a Pet Make an Infant Child Sick?

Infants have developing immune systems, making them more prone to infections than older children and adults. Because of this, young infants can become ill when they come into contact with pets due to the germs they carry. Fortunately, with proper sanitation and regular vet care for your companion animals, your young infant shouldn't experience any issues around them. In fact, owning a pet can actually improve your youngster's health in some cases.

  1. Pets and Disease

    • Pets can carry germs, disease and parasites, all of which can sicken an infant. These pathogens include salmonella, hookworms, roundworms, campylobacter, giardia, rabies and ringworm, according to the Caring for Kids website. Pet birds can transmit psittacosis, commonly known as "parrot fever," when infants breathe in their dried fecal matter. Our canine and feline companions can transmit cat scratch disease to a human baby through their saliva and by scratching the little one with their claws, leading to a skin infection and possibly a fever. Pets can also transmit pasteurellosis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria to a baby, according to LiveScience. Those with fleas may even carry the plague.

    Animal Health Care

    • If your animal companions are healthy, they won't pass any zoonotic diseases to your baby. Bring your pets one to two times yearly to the vet for health checkups and have all of their vaccinations for diseases like rabies up-to-date to prevent the spread of illnesses to your infant, recommends CBSNews.com. Put your dogs and cats on a flea-preventative medication to eliminate the possibility of flea-borne illnesses affecting your child. While some topical flea medications also get rid of intestinal parasites in your companion animal's system, your vet may recommend using a deworming medication regularly. For a cat, have your vet trim her nails to keep them dull, preventing accidental scratches of your infant.

    Proper Sanitation

    • Although healthy pets won't pass disease onto an infant, they still can harbor bacteria on their bodies or in their saliva and feces; they may also track in germs from outside. After contact with a pet, thoroughly wash your hands and your child's hands with soap and water, recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If the pet has licked the infant anywhere else on his body, wash this area as well. Bathe pets regularly and have dogs wear booties when going outside to keep their paws clean. Regularly clean your pet's living space, cage or enclosure and remove feces from inside your home and yard.

    Pets Improve Health

    • While pets can make your infant sick without appropriate sanitation practices, when handled properly, they can actually improve the health of your infant. A study published in the July 2012 issue of "Pediatrics" examined the health effects of having pets in the home with infants up to 1 year old. The study found that 30 percent of the babies looked at, who had contact with a cat or dog, had fewer instances of colds and ear infections; they were also less likely to need antibiotics. Another study, published in the May 1999 issue of "Clinical & Experimental Allergy," showed that early exposure of infants to cats and dogs reduced their chances of developing allergies to the pets, and related asthma, later in life.