Health Tip: Dogs May Harbor Disease

— Even man’s best friend isn’t immune to diseases that can make their way to people, the American Veterinary Medical Association says.

The association mentions some examples:

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a microscopic parasite that lives in the intestines. The parasite may be spread when a person or animal comes in contact with the stool of an infected host. People also may be infected by swimming in contaminated water.
Echinococcosis can infect people who come in contact with an infected animal’s stool or contaminated surfaces.
Just like dogs, people can harbor external parasites such as fleas, ticks and mites.
Hookworms and roundworms may be spread by handling an infected animal or when the larvae burrow through the person’s skin.
Dogs can transmit infected ticks. Tick-borne diseases include ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Posted: October 2018