8 Most Common Diseases You Can Get from Your Pet
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella, usually associated with eating contaminated food. Unfortunately, pets can also carry these germs and spread them to humans, causing a wide range of symptoms such as fever and abdominal cramps.
Reptiles (turtles, lizards), poultry (chicken, ducks etc.) and farm animals (goats, cow, pigs) are known to commonly spread the bacteria but dogs, cats or horses may also play host, so make sure you wash your hands after every interaction with your pet.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic infections caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which can be found in cat feces. It can also come from undercooked meat or unwashed vegetables, which means your furry friend is not the only culprit.
If you do have a cat, you should know that most toxoplasmosis symptoms resemble those of the flu: fatigue, headache, body aches, fever, swollen lymph nodes. If you have a strong immune system, the parasite might get neutralized before you have any symptoms.
Toxoplasmosis is particularly dangerous for pregnant women who can pass the infection to the baby through the placenta, which is why they should stay away from the cat’s litter box.
