They're of greatest concern to young children, infants, pregnant women, and people whose immune systems have been compromised by illness or disease.
Infants and kids younger than 5 years old are at risk because their immune systems are still developing, and some infections that might make an adult just mildly sick can be more serious for them.
But you don't have to give up your family's furry friends either. Pets can enrich your family life, and taking a few precautions can protect your kids from getting sick. Protecting your family from pet-related infections begins before bringing a pet home. For instance, reptiles and amphibians should not be allowed as pets in any household with infants and young children. Also consider the health and age of your kids before getting a pet. A pet that would require frequent handling is not recommended for any immunocompromised child such as a child who has HIV , has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy, or uses prednisone frequently.
Kids with eczema should probably avoid aquariums. Reptiles including lizards, snakes, and turtles and amphibians including frogs, toads, and salamanders put kids at risk for:. Handling and caring for rodents — including hamsters and gerbils — as well as fish can place kids at risk for:. If you're adopting or buying a pet, make sure the breeder, shelter, or store has a good reputation and vaccinates all of its animals.
A reputable breeder should belong to a national or local breeding club, such as the American Kennel Club. Contact the Humane Society of the United States or your veterinarian for information about animal shelters in your area.
As soon as you choose a family pet, take it to a local veterinarian for vaccinations and a physical exam. Don't forget to routinely vaccinate your pet on a schedule recommended by your vet — this will keep your pet healthy and reduce the risk that infections will spread to your kids. You'll also want to regularly feed your pet nutritious animal food ask your vet for suggestions and provide plenty of fresh water. Avoid feeding your pet raw meat because this can be a source of infection, and do not allow your pet to drink toilet water because infections can be spread through saliva, urine, and feces.
Limit young kids' contact with outdoor pets that hunt and kill for food because a pet that ingests infected meat may get an infection that can be passed to people. Watch kids carefully around pets. Small children are more likely to catch infections from pets because they crawl around on the floor with the animals, kiss them or share food with them, or put their fingers in the pets' mouths and then put their dirty fingers in their own mouths.
Also, if kids visit a petting zoo, farm, or a friend's house where there are animals, make sure they know the importance of hand washing. For your pet's comfort and for your family's safety, control flea and tick problems in your pet. Fleas and ticks can carry diseases that may be easily passed to kids. Oral and topical medicines are available for flea and tick control; avoid using flea collars because kids can handle them and become sick from the chemicals they contain.
Check your pet regularly for fleas and ticks, as well as bites and scratches that may make them more open to infection. Keep your pet leashed when outdoors and keep it away from animals that look sick or may be unvaccinated.
These can be bacteria, viruses, parasites, or even fungi. Certain breeds are predisposed to meningitis, which include beagles, Bernese mountain dogs, and pugs. Once meningitis reaches the central nervous system, the prognosis of recovery is not good. Some infections to be aware of that can lead to the development of meningitis in dogs include any kind of infection, rabies, Lyme disease, distemper, or bone infections. Like all viruses and bugs whose sole existence depends on attacking cells, seizes the opportunity of a weakened immune system if the dog is already fighting off a bug.
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For More Information. Test your knowledge. Calcium, in its ionic form, plays a key role in the function of many body systems. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, p. Saunders Co. Meric, S. Breed-specific meningitis in dogs. Bonoguara and R. Home Water Bowl Pet Health Conditions Meningitis Summary Meningitis, strictly speaking, is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that line the central nervous system the brain and spinal cord.
Symptoms and Identification Affected dogs will have symptoms that wax and wane, including severe neck pain, seizures, stiffness, depression and muscle rigidity.
Affected Breeds Beagle pain syndrome is seen only in Beagles. Treatment While there is no cure for this group of conditions, management of the symptoms is possible in the case of beagle pain syndrome and aseptic meningitis. Veterinary Cost The cost of these diseases is almost exclusively confined to their often-expensive diagnosis.
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