Zoonosis prevention

A zoonotic disease is defined as a disease that can be transmitted from animals to people under natural condiitions. Zoonosis is a problem that can affect all people, however those people at a higher risk include children, elderly, pregnant women, and immuno-compromised individuals, i.e. those with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), organ transplant recipients, and those undergoing chemotherapy. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding zoonosis, please call our office at (972) 398-2111.

Here are some tips to prevent a zoonotic disease from affecting you and your family:

1. Wash hands for 60-120 seconds using an anti-bacterial soap after:

Playing with or petting animals

After handling pet toys, rawhides, or pig ears

Playing fetch with pet

Handling raw or undercooked meat

Playing in the sand

Gardening

Handling any feces

2. Keep sand boxes covered any time they are not in use.

3. Wear gloves any time you are handling feces, urine, vomit, or an infected wound.

4. Pick up pet feces in the yard regularly and dispose of properly.

5. Do not walk in areas soiled with feces without shoes.

6. Do not allow pets to lick you on the face or mouth.

7. Do not ingest lake, stream or swimming pool water.

8. Keep cat litter boxes, pet food, and pet food and water bowls out of the reach of children.

9. Have your pet examined by a veterinarian every 6 months to 1 year; include in these visits a stool exam and a heartworm test.

10. Keep your cat 100% indoors.

11. Keep all pets on a monthly heartworm and intestinal parasite preventative such as Revolution or Heartgard Plus year-round.

12. Practice absolute flea and tick control on your pets and in your household.

13. After any potential tick exposure such as hiking, camping, or picnicking, perform a thorough check for ticks on all people and pets.

14. Do not allow your dogs (or children) to chew on rawhide or pig ear chew toys or eat raw or under-cooked eggs. These items are often contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

15. If you are pregnant or immuno-compromised:

Wear gloves anytime you are handling raw or undercooked meat, gardening, or handling any feces.

Wash your hands for 60-120 seconds using warm water and an anti-bacterial soap after handling raw or undercooked meat, gardening (working with soil), or handling any feces.

Have someone other than yourself empty the cat litter box and incinerate or flush feces once every 24 hours. Clean the cat litter boxes with hot, soapy water once a week and use plastic cat litter box liners. If you have to empty the cat litter box yourself, do it every 24 hours, wear gloves and a facemask, and wash your hands for 60-120 seconds using warm water and an anti-bacterial soap afterwards.

Never eat any raw or undercooked meat.

Keep sandboxes covered when not in use.

Don't feed your cats raw or undercooked meat.

Keep your cats 100% indoors and do not allow them to hunt small birds, rodents or insects.