Can You Get Sick from Your Pets? | Part I

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause stomach illness, with symptoms like vomiting, belly pain, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), and fever. It spreads from animals like chickens, cattle, rodents, and reptiles, even if the animal looks healthy. People can get sick by handling these animals or touching raw pet food.

Reptiles, including turtles, lizards, and snakes, are common carriers of Salmonella. Even pet reptiles that appear healthy can carry the bacteria in their intestines and spread it through their droppings. People can become infected by touching reptiles, their tanks, or their bedding without washing their hands afterward.

Turtles are especially known for carrying Salmonella and are often linked to outbreaks, particularly among young children who might handle them without proper hygiene practices. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling reptiles or cleaning their enclosures to prevent infection.

Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus (not a worm!) that spreads from dogs, cats, horses, and other animals. Infections can cause an itchy, ring-shaped rash on the skin with patches of red, scaly, cracked skin and hair loss near the rash.

People who have close contact with infected animals, like dogs and cats (especially puppies or kittens) and pet rats, are more likely to get ringworm. It can also spread through contaminated bedding, brushes, or other items that have been in contact with infected animals.

Ringworm is highly contagious and can spread quickly in households with multiple pets or children. To prevent infection, wash your hands after handling animals, and keep pets' living areas clean.

Rabies is a deadly virus that spreads through bites or scratches from infected animals. Because most of our pets are vaccinated for rabies, it is rare for them to get it—as long as their vaccines are current.

Rabies is almost always fatal if medical care is not given before symptoms appear. This serious virus is found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, and foxes. Bats cause the most rabies deaths in people here in the United States. Worldwide, dog bites are the main cause.

Vaccinating pets and avoiding wildlife are the best ways to stay protected. That means keeping our pets away from wildlife, too! Each year, vets vaccinate over 40 million dogs and cats in the U.S. Some wild animals are also given vaccine bait to help stop the spread of rabies.

Campylobacter is a bacteria that can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. People usually get sick from eating undercooked food, touching raw meat, or coming into contact with animals, especially their poop, food bowls, or bedding.

Many animals, including chickens, cows, reptiles, and dogs (even healthy ones), can carry Campylobacter without getting sick. People can get infected by handling these animals or their waste. Puppies from pet stores have been linked to some outbreaks.

Symptoms of a Campylobacter infection include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), stomach cramps, fever, and nausea. Symptoms usually start 2–5 days after exposure and often go away in about a week. In some cases, Campylobacter can cause complications such as irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), which can affect the nervous system.