Can You Get Sick From a Dog? Diseases & Prevention

Dog ownership brings joy, companionship, and unconditional love into our homes. However, like all animals, dogs can carry germs and bacteria that may pose health risks to humans. Understanding which illnesses dogs can transmit and how to prevent infection is essential for keeping your family safe while enjoying the benefits of pet ownership.

What Are Zoonotic Diseases?

Zoonotic diseases are illnesses that pass between animals and humans. They can be spread by farm animals, wild animals, and household pets like cats and dogs. These diseases can range from mild infections to serious health conditions, depending on the pathogen and the individual’s immune status.

Research from 2015 and 2016 shows that harmful germs spread quite easily from household pets, causing everything from stomach bugs and diarrhea to minor skin infections and more serious health conditions. The close contact people have with household pets creates favorable conditions for bacterial infections to spread.

How Do Dogs Transmit Illnesses to Humans?

Understanding transmission routes is crucial for prevention. Dogs can spread illnesses to humans through multiple pathways:

• Contaminated food and treats, water bowls, or surfaces
• Picking up dog feces and then touching your eyes or mouth
• Dog licks to the face when carrying an infection
• Sleeping in the same bed as your dog
• Dog bites, scratches, or cuts that break the skin
• Direct contact with infected saliva, aerosols, contaminated urine or feces

Common Diseases Dogs Can Pass to Humans

Bacterial Infections

Salmonella is a bacterial disease dogs can contract from eating uncooked meat, eggs, or treats. In humans, salmonellosis causes fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, and spreads through contact with infected dogs or their feces and saliva. A notable 2019 outbreak linked to pig ear treats affected dogs across the United States, with salmonella germs potentially shedding in pets’ stools for 4 to 6 weeks after infection. The FDA warns that dogs spread the bacteria through kisses or stool accidents inside the home.

Campylobacter is a bacterial disease causing diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps in humans. Puppies are more likely to spread this infection than older dogs. Symptoms appear 2 to 5 days after exposure and typically fade within one week, often without treatment.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection spread through the urine of infected dogs. Humans become infected through contact with the urine of affected dogs or through contact with contaminated soil or water. Most people experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache, and abdominal discomfort that resolve on their own, though severe cases require medical treatment.

Brucellosis is a rare bacterial disease causing flu-like sickness in humans. Spread through contact with animals carrying the bacteria, symptoms include appetite loss, chills, back or abdomen pain, headaches, lethargy, fever, and weight loss. Symptoms can take 1 week to 2 months to appear and are typically treated with antibiotics.

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is caused by a type of staph bacteria affecting both people and dogs, causing skin infections and other symptoms.

C-difficile (Clostridioides difficile) is a bacteria commonly causing diarrhea in people and can cause illness in dogs.

Capnocytophaga germs can make people sick if they are bitten or if the dog’s saliva gets into an open wound or sore. Most dog bites do not lead to infection, but precautions are especially important for people with weakened immune systems, those taking immunosuppressive medicines, those without a spleen, or those with alcohol use disorders.

Parasitic Infections

Toxocariasis is an infection caused by a dog parasite passed in dog poop. The disease can cause fever, coughing, eye problems, and liver inflammation.

Giardiasis is a parasitic infection dogs can transmit to humans, typically causing gastrointestinal symptoms.

Roundworms and Tapeworms are parasites dogs can carry and potentially transmit to humans through contaminated feces or soil contact.

Fungal and Other Infections

Ringworm is a fungal infection dogs can transmit to humans through direct contact.

Sarcoptic mange is another zoonotic condition dogs may transmit.

Tick-Borne Diseases

Lyme disease is transmitted through infected blacklegged ticks that hitch a ride on dogs’ skin or fur and come into contact with people. This disease can cause serious illness in humans and is a significant concern in tick-endemic areas.

Viral Infections

Rabies is a rare but serious viral disease in the United States due to pet vaccinations, with only 1 in 3 cases reported in humans annually. However, domestic dogs are responsible for up to 99% of rabies virus transmission to humans globally according to the World Health Organization. Rabies spreads through saliva in bites or scratches or through direct contact with mucous membranes of infected animals. The virus causes fever, generalized pain and tingling, and neurological symptoms once it progresses. By the time symptoms appear, treatment is often too late, making prevention through vaccination critical.

Research from 2015 indicates that human influenza viruses can affect dogs, with H1N1 and H3N2 strains being possible transmission vectors. However, dogs that contract these viruses from humans typically do not experience symptoms, making reverse transmission a one-way phenomenon in many cases.

A 2012 Finnish study shows that noroviruses—one of the leading causes of diarrheal diseases among people of all ages—can survive in dogs and be passed along to humans.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Certain populations face elevated risks from zoonotic diseases transmitted by dogs:

• Children under 5: Developing immune systems make young children especially vulnerable
• Adults over 65: Aging immune systems increase susceptibility to infection
• Pregnant women: Pregnancy-related immune changes increase risk
• People with compromised immune systems: Those with conditions like cancer, diabetes, or HIV are at higher risk
• People taking immunosuppressive medicines: Chemotherapy and other immune-weakening drugs increase vulnerability
• People without a spleen: The spleen plays a crucial role in fighting infections
• People with alcohol use disorders: Alcohol affects immune function and overall health

Diseases Dogs Cannot Transmit to Humans

It’s reassuring to know that not all canine illnesses pose risks to human family members. Illnesses common among house pets that cannot spread to people include distemper, canine parvovirus, and heartworms.[10] Dogs generally do not get colds, flu, norovirus, or rotavirus that they can then pass on to people. This means you can safely comfort a sick dog without fear of catching their specific canine ailments.

Prevention Strategies

Protecting your family from zoonotic diseases requires a multi-faceted approach combining hygiene, pet care, and awareness:

Basic Hygiene Practices

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling your dog, especially before eating or touching your face
• Avoid touching your face or eyes after picking up dog waste
• Clean surfaces that may be contaminated with dog feces or saliva regularly
• Wash food and water bowls separately from human dishes
• Practice good hygiene when handling raw pet food or treats

Pet Care Best Practices

• Keep vaccinations current, especially rabies vaccines
• Schedule regular veterinary visits to monitor your dog’s health
• Use preventive treatments for parasites and ticks as recommended by your veterinarian
• Maintain good nutrition and exercise to support your dog’s immune health
• Seek prompt veterinary care if your dog shows signs of illness

Household Safety Measures

• Avoid sleeping in the same bed as your dog if you have a compromised immune system
• Discourage face-licking behavior, especially if you have open cuts or sores
• Keep your home clean and sanitized, paying special attention to areas where your dog spends time
• Store dog food and treats properly to prevent contamination
• Consider additional precautions if household members belong to high-risk groups

When to Seek Medical Attention

Contact a healthcare provider if you develop symptoms following close contact with a dog, especially if you experience diarrhea, vomiting, fever, unexplained rashes, or respiratory symptoms. Be sure to mention your dog ownership and any symptoms your pet may have experienced. If you’ve been bitten or scratched by a dog, especially a stray or unknown dog, seek immediate medical attention to assess rabies risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I catch diarrhea directly from my dog?

A: Yes, campylobacter and salmonella bacteria can spread from dogs to people, possibly causing diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. These germs are found in the gastrointestinal tract and feces of infected dogs and can be transmitted through contaminated food, water, or direct feces contact. Preventive measures and basic hygiene are the best ways to combat the condition.

Q: Is it safe to let my dog lick my face?

A: Dog licks to the face when the dog is carrying an infection can transmit illness. This risk is especially high for young children, elderly individuals, and people with compromised immune systems. It’s safer to discourage face-licking behavior, particularly if you have open cuts or sores.

Q: Can my dog get sick from my cold or flu?

A: Human influenza viruses can affect dogs, particularly H1N1 and H3N2 strains. However, dogs that contract these viruses typically do not experience symptoms, so while transmission is possible, it’s a one-way street in most cases.

Q: How can I reduce my risk of zoonotic infections?

A: Regular hand washing, maintaining good pet hygiene, keeping vaccinations current, scheduling regular veterinary visits, and practicing proper food handling are the most effective prevention strategies.

Q: Is rabies the only serious dog disease humans should worry about?

A: While rabies is serious, other conditions like leptospirosis (which can require medical treatment in severe cases) and some parasitic infections also warrant attention. However, with proper vaccination and preventive care, serious infections are relatively rare.

Q: Can healthy dogs transmit diseases to humans?

A: Yes, pet waste from both sick and healthy pets can be a source of infection for people. Some dogs can be asymptomatic carriers of diseases like salmonella, making prevention practices important regardless of your dog’s apparent health status.

Q: Are certain dog breeds more likely to transmit diseases?

A: Disease transmission risk is not breed-specific but rather depends on the individual dog’s health status, vaccination history, and exposure to pathogens. All dogs can potentially carry and transmit zoonotic diseases.

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Author

medha deb

 

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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