Kissing pets can be dangerous to your health

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For many, pets become full-fledged members of the family. But even then, one should not forget that a pet remains an animal, and animals can be carriers of dangerous infections.

For example, cats can spread pathogens such as giardiasis, salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis, and campylobacteriosis through the fecal-oral route. To minimize the risk of infection, it is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning the cat litter box.

Even scratches, which are a common “decoration” of cat owners, pose a threat. Bartonella henselae bacteria can be transmitted through such wounds.

Dogs can transmit even more infections because they are often outdoors and come into contact with other dogs, including strays.

In most cases, owners do not contract dangerous diseases from their pets, but certain behaviors can increase the risk of such cases. Dutch scientists found that half of pet owners allow their pets to lick their faces, and 18% let dogs in their beds. 45% of cat owners said they let their cats “walk” on the kitchen sink and countertops.

Kissing animals is also dangerous. For example, a Japanese woman developed meningitis after regularly kissing her dog's face. The disease was caused by Pasteurella multicoda, an infection that is most often found in the mouths of cats and dogs.

Children are even more careless, as they can put their hands in their mouths after contact with a pet.

People with weakened immune systems are mainly at risk. These include the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic diseases related to the immune system. To protect yourself, you need to follow several rules of behavior with pets:

• Always wash your hands after contact with your pet, its toys, tray or bowls;
• Do not allow the animal to lick your face or open wounds;
• Supervise children playing with pets;
• Do not let pets on kitchen surfaces;
• Do not forget about veterinary prevention of zoonotic infections and diseases.