In the same way that you can catch colds and other diseases from humans, illnesses can also be transferred to your body from your pets. While keeping both yourself and your animals healthy will most likely prevent this from ever happening, it is still important to be aware of the different illnesses that you can catch from any animals that you may own.

Ringworm
Rather than being caused by worms, ringworm is actually a fungus that occurs after direct contact with an infected animal. Ringworm typically appears as a skin lesion that looks red and crusty, and is often quite itchy, and while cats are usually the most common carrier of this fungus, dogs can be easily infected too. Since the skin lesion that ringworm produces appears the same on humans as well as animals, it is important to take your pet to the vet immediately if you notice an increasing bald patch that has a red ring around it.

Giardia
One of the most common causes of non-bacterial diarrhea, giardia comes in many different strains, and it is unknown just how many of these are actually infectious to humans. While children are most commonly affected, giardia can occur in people of all ages, but is usually a silent case without any symptoms. The actual organism lives in streams, rivers and lakes, and, when consumed, can remain in the intestines of all mammals and birds. The best way to prevent your pet from contracting giardia is by always keeping clean drinking water with you while you are out, so they do not end up drinking contaminated water.

Hookworm
The hookworm is a parasite that can invade the small intestines of dogs and cats, and, after being passed in their stools, is transferred to humans who come into contact with this area of contaminated dirt. While hookworm is most common in puppies and kittens, it can affect animals of all ages, and there are a wide range of symptoms, from itchy skin infections to abdominal pain and intestinal bleeding, making it vital that you either worm your pet regularly, or perform worm counts if you prefer not to use potentially harmful chemicals.

Cat Scratch Fever
Cat scratch fever is brought about by a bacterium called bartonella, which lives in the stools of fleas. This can often end up in your cat’s claws when they scratch themselves, and, when a human is scratched by these claws, they can contract cat scratch fever. This illness manifests as a fever and swollen lymph nodes, but is easily treatable. The best way to avoid this from occurring is by being vigilant about the flea prevention methods that you use on your cat.

While these illnesses may seem quite frightening, it is not common for people to fall unwell from their pets, as long as they are following basic hygiene. Since children can often be more susceptible to these illnesses, it is important to ensure that you are educating your children on the correct way to handle animals, as well as making sure that they are always washing their hands after interacting with your pets.