Keep your pets and your environment clean to minimize health problems.
As experts have pointed out, you wouldn’t leave your own dishes unwashed and use them day after day. The same should go for the bowls and plates your pet uses. The message is clear. Dogs and cats need to eat and drink from clean dishes in order to remain healthy. Why is this? As with human mouths, the mouths of pets contain tiny microbes that are transferred to dishes when they eat or drink. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, (FDA), when bits of food or water are left on pets’ plates over days, these microbes can multiply easily. When your pet continues to eat and drink from unwashed bowls that are acting like petri dishes, you increase your chances of becoming infected with disease. And your pets do, too.
So, how often should you wash your pet’s dishes? Every day. It’s one of multiple ways you can help keep yourself and your pet healthy.
How you can get sick from your cat
It’s unfortunate but true: cats are known to carry many diseases that can be transmitted to humans. These include, (but are not limited to), campylobacteriosis, giardiasis, and hookworm. The tricky thing is, sometimes cats don’t show signs of an infection. They can still pass their disease onto you, however. This can cause you to develop a fever, a rash, stomach trouble, and more.
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How can you contract an illness from your cat? You can get sick from your cat when you change their litter box. Simple affectionate interaction with a sick animal can also transfer their illness to you.
How your dog can make you sick
Yes, you can also catch some illnesses from your dog. These include:
- Salmonellosis
- ringworm
- Giardia
- Campylobacter infection
- Leptospirosis
- Scabies
- Harvest mites
- Cryptosporidium infection
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
In order to protect yourself from getting sick, have your dog visit a vet regularly. Keep them clean, have them de-wormed, and pick up their poop and dispose of it appropriately. It’s also a good idea to wash your dog’s bedding often and to use flea and tick preventatives.
Additional ways to stop your pets (and you) from getting sick
By following a few golden rules you can help keep yourself and your pet healthy. Remember, it’s important you:
- Don’t let them drink from the toilet
- Avoid the temptation to feed them raw meat that may contain parasites
- Clean your cat’s litter box daily and wash your hands when done
- Don’t kiss your cat or dog on the mouth
- Keep your living space tidy
Zoonotic diseases, or those illnesses that can pass from animals to humans, are particularly prevalent among household pets. It’s important to keep your furry friends healthy and your household safe from illness. Practice good hygiene to enjoy worry-free living in the same space!
photo credits: Irina Kozorog/Shutterstock.com
