Pets Can Make You Sick

According to researchers in California, documented cases show that sleeping with, kissing and being licked by your beloved pet can possibly make you sick.

The report, published in the February issue of the public health journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, found that seemingly healthy pets can carry parasites, bacteria or viruses that cause mild to life-threatening illness in people.

In one case a 69-year-old man, whose dog slept under the covers with him and licked his hip replacement wound, came down with meningitis. Another incident involved a 9-year-old boy who got plague, a potentially deadly bacterial infection, from sleeping with his flea-infested cat.

Other infections transmitted to people after sleeping with their cat or dog, kissing them or being licked by the pet include: hookworm, ringworm, roundworm, cat-scratch disease and drug-resistant staph infections, the report said.

The authors cite surveys conducted in the U.S., the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands, where between 14 and 45 percent of dogs sleep on or in an owners' bed, while 45 to 62 percent of cats sleep on or in the bed. According to a 2005 study by the American Kennel Club, women were more likely than men to report sleeping regularly with their dogs.

Owners can stay healthy by practicing good hygiene habits, which include washing hands with soap and hot water after handling pets. Also, immediately wash any area licked by a pet.

To prevent and catch illnesses early, keep animals free of fleas and ticks, routinely dewormed, and have them examined by a veterinarian regularly. The authors also discourage owners from kissing their cats or dogs and sharing a bed with them.

While people need to be aware that it's possible to get sick from a pet, the health benefits of ownership far outweigh the risks. Research has shown that besides offering psychological support and friendship, pets help to lower blood pressure, increase physical activity, reduce stress and lift owners' spirits, among other things.