9 dog diseases in humans

Content

• Internal parasites of dogs in humans
• Canine Heartworm in Humans
• Skin diseases in dogs and humans
• Anger in dog and human
• Other zoonotic diseases
• Leishmaniasis in dogs and humans
• Contagion of leptospirosis from dogs to humans
• External parasites of dogs in humans
• Preventive measures for dog diseases in humans

In this article by PeritoAnimal we will talk about 9 dog disease in humans. As we will see, they are mainly diseases related to parasites, such as fleas or mosquitoes, being considered vector diseases, as they need the intervention of a third organism to produce the dog's infestation. For all these reasons, prevention is essential. Therefore, if you keep your dog properly dewormed and vaccinated, you will largely avoid the options for contagion and, consequently, transmission.

Internal parasites of dogs in humans

The internal parasites of dogs are mainly responsible for gastrointestinal disorders. Although heartworm or heartworm also stands out, which we'll see in the next section. The parasites of the digestive system that can pass from dogs to humans are as follows:

• Nematodes: these are worms that are widespread in dogs. The contagion is made possible through the placenta, breast milk, ingestion of eggs from the ground, where they can remain for an extended period, or by a rodent contaminated with the parasite that is ingested by the dog. These parasites usually do not produce symptoms in healthy animals, but in younger animals they can cause, above all, diarrhea and vomiting. In humans, they are responsible for a disorder known as visceral larva migrans.
• Giardias: in this case, we face protozoa responsible for profuse diarrhea, as always with greater impact on vulnerable animals. It is considered that some genotypes can infest humans, although contagion is more frequent due to ingestion of contaminated water. Giardia is not always detected by looking at a stool sample under a microscope as excretion is intermittent. Therefore, samples of several days are usually required.
• tapeworms: These are worms among which varieties of greater interest can be distinguished, such as Dipylidium and Echinococcus. Fleas can pass them on to dogs and they can pass them on to humans, although children can also be directly infected by ingesting the fleas. Similarly, tapeworms are transmitted by ingesting eggs found in contaminated food, water or environments.
  The taeniases (Taenia) may be asymptomatic, however, we can sometimes see proglottids (movable fragments) as they contain eggs, similar to a grain of rice, around the dog's anus, which can also cause the area to itch. Echinococcosis, which is rare in dogs, can form in humans hydatid cysts in the liver, lungs and brain.

O contagion of intestinal parasites from dogs to humans it can happen in different ways, but in general it can happen when the animal smells the infested feces, licks your hand and then you use it to scratch its mouth, for example. If the dog with parasites defecates in the house or garden and the feces remain there for some time, you can also become contaminated when you collect them if you don't take the necessary hygiene precautions. The same happens in parks, because when touching land that has come into contact with infested dogs, we can ingest the parasites. Children are usually the most susceptible to this, as they can play with sand and bring their hands to their faces or even eat it.

A correct internal and external deworming schedule is the best prevention against these disorders, especially in more vulnerable animals such as dogs. So, as someone who loves protects, take him to the vet and deworm your pet.

Canine Heartworm in Humans

Within the dog disease in humans, it is important to highlight one that is gaining more and more relevance heartworm disease, or also known as heartworm. In this vector disease, the vector is a mosquito that carries the parasite in its oral organs. So, if he bites your dog, he is capable of infecting him. The branch will pass through different stages of maturation until eventually reaching the pulmonary arteries, the right side of the heart, even the vena cava and hepatic veins. In addition, females release microfilariae into the blood, which can pass to a new mosquito when it bites the dog.

As you can see, the dog cannot pass the disease directly to humans, but they can become infected if a parasitized mosquito bites them. dog acts as a reservoir for the parasite. Although heartworm disease in humans is considered underdiagnosed and asymptomatic, in dogs it can have very serious consequences, as it causes serious damage to fundamental organs such as the heart, lungs and liver, which can lead to death. Its treatment is also risky because of the obstructions that adult worms can cause. Therefore, in this case, prevention is also essential, using products that prevent mosquito bites and establishing guidelines that limit the exposure of dogs to the mosquito, as well as using internal antiparasitic drugs that prevent the worm's life cycle from being completed. It is worth mentioning the importance of double monthly deworming, especially if you live in places where this worm is endemic.

Skin diseases in dogs and humans

The most common skin conditions that can be passed from dogs to humans are mange and ringworm. Both are well-known diseases, so they couldn't be missing from this article on dog diseases in humans. Its characteristics are:

• Ringworm: It is a disease caused by fungi, which causes circular-shaped lesions on the skin. Spores in the environment can infect humans and other dogs or cats that live in the house.
• Scabies: in this case, the responsible is a mite that burrows into the skin and produces great itching and areas with sores and alopecia. The mite in the environment can be very contagious, especially, as always, to immunosuppressed animals or people. Obviously, it should be noted that not all types of scabies are considered zoonoses, so the most common and common one in dogs and people is scabies. sarcoptic mange, caused by the mite Sarcopts scabiei.

In the case of these diseases, it is essential to keep the house clean, vacuuming, disinfecting and washing the beds and other items that come into contact with the dog. It is also important to keep the animal under control and take it to the vet as soon as you notice the first symptoms.

Anger in dog and human

Rabies is one of the most important dog diseases in humans because it causes many people's deaths, especially in Asia and Africa. In Central and South America, it is possible to find high-risk regions and others where vaccination programs have already been successfully established. In Europe and much of North America this disease has already been eradicated.

Rabies is a viral disease for which there is a vaccine, which is the only way to fight it. The causative virus belongs to the family Rhabdoviridae, damages the nervous system, infects dogs and humans by contact with saliva of the infected dog, which is given through a bite.

Other zoonotic diseases

In addition to the zoonotic diseases mentioned, humans can also contract leishmaniasis or leptospirosis, and below we'll explain how:

Leishmaniasis in dogs and humans

This parasitic condition has a considerable extent, so it was included in diseases transmitted by dogs to humans. As we mentioned in the case of heartworm, the dog cannot directly infect humans, but acts as a reservoir for this disease, which is also transmitted by mosquito bites.

Symptoms are varied, as cutaneous or general lesions may occur. Given the dog's role as a reservoir, it is essential to establish a treatment, and it is best to follow prevention guidelines that include deworming to repel mosquitoes and also vaccination against leishmania.

Contagion of leptospirosis from dogs to humans

Having completed the review of the main parasitic diseases, we included in the list of diseases transmitted by dogs to people, leptospirosis, a bacterial disease for which there is a vaccine. The symptoms it produces are varied and can affect the digestive system, liver or kidneys. At bacteria spread through urine and can remain in the ground for months. Dogs and humans are infected by coming into contact with it, allowing bacteria to enter the body through a wound or drinking contaminated water. Requires veterinary treatment.

External parasites of dogs in humans

Fleas, ticks andlice are parasites that can easily pass from dog to human skin. Although this change of host does not constitute a disease transmitted from dogs to people, humans can also suffer from the contagion of some diseases. through the bite of these parasites, because, as we have seen throughout the article, they are carriers of several pathologies already mentioned and many more, such as Lyme disease. In general, they produce symptoms such as itching, rashes, sores and even gastrointestinal problems.

Preventive measures for dog diseases in humans

Now that you know what are the most common diseases that dogs transmit to humans, these are the basic prevention measures:

• Internal deworming andexternal, taking into account the most abundant parasites in your area and where you travel with your dog;
• Vaccination calendar;
• Avoid walking at times with greater presence of mosquitoes;
• Proper cleaning, disinfection and deworming of dog seats and accessories, especially if you have more than one;
• Wash hands whenever you manipulate the dog or its accessories. It is necessary to be especially careful with children as they tend to put their hands to their mouths;
• go to the vet in the face of any symptom.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.