Tuesday, February 20th, is Love Your Pet Day! According to the Pew Research Center, more than 60% of Americans own at least one pet. There are so many reasons people have pets, and studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can result in several health benefits; decreased blood pressure, cholesterol levels, loneliness, and anxiety. Additionally, pets prompt opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities and opportunities to socialize with others.
Pets can also come with unique health challenges, and it’s important to maintain regular, life-long vet care for your pet to help keep them healthy and prevent illnesses. One very important vaccine for pets, especially dogs, cats, and ferrets, is the rabies vaccine. Rabies is a virus that can spread from animal to animal, and from animals to humans; it infects the central nervous system and almost always leads to death. Wild animals, including bats, skunks, and raccoons, are the animals that most commonly carry rabies and can pass it on to your pets. If your pet comes into contact with one of these animals, be sure to contact your veterinarian about the next steps. If you find a bat in your home and one of your pets or a family member may have been exposed to it, contact Green County Public Health at (608) 328-9390 about our recommendations for testing it for rabies. If you are bit by a dog or cat or if your pet bites someone else you’ll need to report the bite to local law enforcement. Then you will receive a call from our department to ensure all of the animals involved are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and to talk through the next steps for you and your pet.
Another important health reminder for pet owners is to make sure your pets are treated for fleas and ticks. Additionally, in the spring, summer, and fall, be sure to check your pets for ticks after they’ve spent time outside, especially if they’ve been in wooded areas, tall grasses, or locations with a lot of leaves and brush. Ticks not only pose a threat to your pet’s health, but also your family’s health. Your pets can carry ticks inside that might jump from your pet, but end up biting one of your family members. In Wisconsin, many people are familiar with Lyme disease as one of the most common illnesses spread by ticks, but they can also cause other diseases in humans and animals. Similarly, but less common, fleas on dogs and cats can lead to illness. Again, talk with your pet’s veterinarian about a flea and tick prevention treatment.
So far, we’ve mostly talked about reminders for keeping your pets healthy, but some pets are more likely to make people sick. Certain people are at a higher risk of getting sick from diseases that some animals carry. This can include people with weakened immune systems, young kids, pregnant people, and older adults. Reptiles like turtles, snakes, and amphibians such as toads and frogs can all carry Salmonella. Salmonella is a virus that can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Most people recover on their own, but some people with Salmonella need to be hospitalized. Additionally, backyard chickens can carry the same virus. These pets may not be suitable in households with young children or other people who are at risk for severe illness.
No matter what kind of pet you have, Green County Public Health hopes they stay healthy and happy this year!
— Bridget Zimmerman is the Public Health Educator for the Green County Public Health Department and can be reached at bzimmerman@greencountywi.org or 608-328-9509.
