What are the risks from your pet?

The first thing to do is not to panic.  The benefits that pets bring far outweigh any risks. Nevertheless, there are some diseases that we can get from pets so it's important to reduce the risks.

Hygiene

Diseases can be spread from pets to people in many different ways.  It’s advisable to wash your hands thoroughly after touching your pet, its toys or food and when you are cleaning up after them.  Keep the tools you use to dish out their food separate from your own food utensils and store their food away from yours.  If you have a look at What is Infection page you'll see how you can wash your hands effectively.  Hard surfaces (especially hand touch sites like work surfaces and door handles) can be cleaned and disinfected using ordinary household products.

Contact with your pet

Millions of bacteria are carried in human and animal saliva. It's best not to let pets lick you, especially around the mouth – just think where that tongue could have been!  Hands can be easily cleaned after they have been licked (see above).

Exercise

Exercising and playing with your pet is good for you as well as your animal friend.  It has been shown that exercise can lengthen your life –  that's why pets and people exercising together is a win-win situation.

The risks to healthy people are very low, even from animals with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, some people with suppressed immune-systems, wounds, ulcers, or who are post-operative may be more at risk of infection. Please discuss this with your vet and doctor if you are worried.