Seven diseases you can get from your pet

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Every day, your pets bring a smile to your face. Maybe you like watching the antics of your fish swimming around his bowl. You might laugh at your cat getting stuck in objects inside the house, or maybe you enjoy scratching your dog’s ears as he greets you at the door. Pets do bring many laughs and memories, but they can also bring unwelcome sickness.

Here are seven contagious pet diseases you might inherit from your beloved pooch or feline:

Salmonella
Ringworm
Cat Scratch Disease
Lyme Disease
Worms
Toxoplasmosis
Rabies

1. Salmonella

While you usually think of this disease from undercooked meats, you can get it from animals around the house too. Salmonella is a type of bacteria that lives in the gastrointestinal tract. Animals might contract salmonellosis and still appear healthy on the outside. These animals will, however, pass the bacteria into their feces. In turn, they can contaminate other parts of their body, such as their fur.

If you don’t wash your hands after touching an infected animal, the bacteria could easily pass to you. To lower your risk, wash your hands thoroughly, especially after coming into contact with animal feces.

2. Ringworm

Named deceivingly, ringworm actually stems from a fungal infection on the skin. You can get the infection from swimming rooms and locker rooms as well as your infected pets. To spot ringworm on yourself or your pets, look for the characteristic reddish ring that may have a darker edge than the center. Also, watch for itchy, red, or scaly patches on the skin or broken blisters that ooze.