10 Diseases You Can Get if You Sleep with Dogs

Cuddling up with your dog feels good, but it’s not without its problems. Although many viruses or bacteria don’t spread from animals to humans, there are some infections that can spread between people and animals. In this video, we will talk about 10 diseases your dog can pass to you, and guide you on reducing any risks to ensure that you and your pets stay healthy. Ticks Ticks carry many diseases contagious to humans, a few of the more notable being Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Salmonella Salmonella infection can lead to diarrhea and fever in dogs and humans. People usually contract Salmonella poisoning by eating contaminated or undercooked food. Just like their human counterparts, dogs can get Salmonella infection from contaminated food, contaminated water, or a raw diet that is not stored at the correct temperature. The bad news is that Salmonella can be transmitted from dogs to humans. Mites Mites are small, eight-legged bugs. These creatures often feed off your dogs’ skin oils and ear wax. Close contact with other dogs is typically what causes mites to be transmitted to your pet. I These tiny little bugs are transmissible to humans on close contact. The most common is the mange mite, causing human scabies, which as the name implies is very contagious to people. Infected humans usually present with severe itching, skin rash, and red bumps on areas where the mites bite. Rabies In dogs, rabies is a fatal disease, and it is transmitted when one infected animal bites another. It can also be transmitted to humans. Rabies is 100% preventable with vaccination. Campylobacter Some people call it food poisoning. Campylobacter is one of the most common illnesses that cause diarrhea in the United States and Europe. It is an infection often caused by bacteria you can get from contaminated food, contaminated water, or raw or undercooked poultry. Dogs can also be infected. People can get infected through contact with feces from an ill dog. If you become infected, signs and symptoms may include diarrhea, belly pain, and fever. Allergies and Asthma If you re already allergic to dogs or have asthma, you shouldn t allow your pet to sleep in your bed or even in your room. Pet dander circulates in the air of a home that has animals, travels throughout the house, and accumulates on surfaces. Ringworm Ringworm is not a worm, it is a fungus that causes a ring-shaped infection on the skin. It is very contagious and can transmit from dogs to humans. Dogs can catch ringworm either through direct contact with an affected animal or from the environment. Infected dogs usually have scaly patches of skin with hair loss. People and kids can get ringworm simply from touching infected dogs. It looks like a circular, red rash on the skin, and can be quite itchy. Hookworms and roundworms Hookworm and roundworm eggs can be passed in a dog’s stool and infect humans. Hookworms can enter through people’s skin—for example, a person who walks barefoot in sand contaminated with dog feces. Roundworms on the other hand are transmitted by accidental ingestion of fecal matter. To prevent canine hookworm and roundworm infection, deworm your dogs regularly and do not allow children to place dirty objects in their mouths. Can Dogs Spread COVID-19? the World Health Organization states that there is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19 to humans. Leptospirosis Leptospirosis is a bacteria that is found in the urine of infected animals. Our dogs can contract this infection from puddles or bodies of water that is contaminated by infected wildlife. These bacteria can survive in water or soil for weeks to months. Leptospira enters your body through broken skin, ingestion, or your eyes, nose or mouth. Infection in people can cause flu-like symptoms. Tapeworm The risk of infection with tapeworm in humans is very low. For a person to become infected with tapeworm, he or she must accidentally swallow an infected flea. In short, the chance of contracting a disease from your dog is very low if your dog doesn t go outside. If your pet does go outside, the risk increases as they have a better chance of becoming infected with a virus, parasite, or bacteria from another animal from being in a fight, eating the feces of an infected animal, eating a prey animal, or walking in a contaminated area. Most physicians won t tell you to not sleep with your pet unless you re part of the population at the greatest risk, which includes those who have a weak immune system, elderly, or pregnant women. The best way to reduce or eliminated your risk of contracting diseases from your dog is through good hygiene and cleanliness practices. Make sure your dog has no fleas, ticks, illnesses, or parasites, and that he has up-to-date vaccinations.