Can Cats Get Canines Sick? Our Vet Explains Sicknesses & Prevention Suggestions
When you’ve got a sick cat, you might surprise if they are able to unfold the identical illness to your unsuspecting canine. The brief reply is that it’s going to rely on the sickness, however sure, some medical maladies may be handed from a cat to a canine. However, whereas this will happen, it could be comforting to know that almost all of sicknesses are species-specific and don’t unfold from one species to the opposite.
Under, we’ll discover in additional element among the medical issues that may unfold from a cat to a canine to assist empower pet house owners with extra data on the topic.
The 5 Potential Sicknesses That Can Unfold From Cats to Canines
Whereas this isn’t an exhaustive checklist, it’s going to embrace some medical afflictions that may unfold from an affected cat to a canine. A few of these sicknesses may even unfold to individuals, termed zoonotic ailments, so understanding your cat’s sickness to maintain different cats, your canine, and even people secure is crucial!
1. Fleas
Fleas are small bugs that stay by consuming animal blood. Although there are greater than a pair thousand completely different flea species, the most typical one which impacts each cats and canines is the cat flea, known as Ctenocephalides felis felis. These parasites are exterior ones, which suggests they stay outdoors their host however nonetheless feed off them. Whereas they don’t have wings, they’re nice jumpers for his or her small dimension!
Mostly these bugs trigger itchiness, discomfort, and irritation to their hosts and may trigger flea allergy dermatitis, secondary pores and skin infections, and even anemia in extreme circumstances. As well as, fleas are vectors, which suggests they will transmit a pathogen from themselves to a succesful host; some examples for fleas embrace the bubonic plague, cat scratch illness, or tapeworms.
Indicators of fleas could embrace extra scratching, licking, itching, or hair loss. Whereas inspecting an affected host, you may very well see a fast-moving flea, however this isn’t at all times the case. Generally, proof of a flea’s presence is non-existent, or one could discover their fecal materials, which seems as black specks, in a pet’s fur.
Therapy is two-fold. First, the affected animal have to be handled, in addition to every other animals which will come into contact with the affected pet. It will work to get rid of the present fleas and to stop their continued unfold. As a result of species kind (cat vs. canine), age, dimension, weight, and so on. are all vital parts for therapy, veterinary merchandise are really useful. The second a part of therapy is environmental cleansing therapy akin to vacuuming, laundering, or potential pest management measures to stop cross-infections or reinfection.
2. Bartonellosis
Bartonellosis, generally referred to as cat scratch illness or cat scratch fever, is a bacterial an infection because of the micro organism Bartonella henselae. This infectious illness is initially primarily transmitted by contaminated fleas or ticks to an animal by way of the bloodstream, however it may additionally grow to be current if an contaminated animal scratches or bites an unsuspecting topic. Whereas the illness is pretty widespread in cats, it may additionally current in different animals together with canines, people, and numerous home and wildlife species.
Many cats which are contaminated are asymptomatic (don’t present indicators of an infection), however this isn’t at all times the case in different species, akin to canines. Indicators of an infection could embrace fever, vomiting, nostril discharge, swollen lymph nodes, sore muscular tissues, lack of urge for food, and irritation of many inner organs together with the center and eyes. Analysis is reliant on laboratory testing that may decide if the micro organism is current in blood and therapy of antibiotics is really useful for many who have scientific indicators.
Supportive care akin to fluids or ache treatment could also be wanted in some circumstances. Strict flea and tick management is crucial in limiting the chance of the unfold of this illness, and extra concerns embrace not permitting tough play behaviors akin to biting or scratching, trimming a pet’s nails, having vitality shops for enrichment, and having a cat be indoor solely.
3. Gastrointestinal (GI) Parasites
There are a number of inner gastrointestinal (GI) parasites that may initially infect a cat however then be unfold to a canine. Roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms are widespread culprits which are generally known as “worms” however there are different parasite sorts such because the protozoan parasite, Giardia.
Testing in some circumstances could also be achieved with direct examination of the parasite. In different circumstances, a pattern could also be topic to varied checks, akin to examination of an affected fecal pattern that’s examined underneath the microscope for eggs, snap checks, and so on. Generally, no indicators in affected pets are famous, whereas different occasions there could also be diarrhea, weight reduction, or a protruding spherical stomach.
Therapy consists of the right identification of the GI parasite and their subsequent particular therapy. Common, day by day cleanup of the fecal materials, utilizing a disinfectant to scrub the litterbox on a routine foundation, not feeding uncooked meat diets, and making certain management of different intermediate hosts, in order to have good management of parasites are all vital parts for prevention as soon as handled.
4. Mite Infestation
Whereas many several types of mites are species-specific, some varieties may be contagious between species. Ear mites (Otodectic mange) might unfold from a cat to a canine and sarcoptic mange (additionally known as Scabies) are a sort of mite that’s usually extra generally seen in canines, however may also happen in cats. Each of those mites can unfold from one contaminated animal to an uninfected one mostly by way of direct contact.
Widespread indicators embrace intense itching, hair loss, crusting, and secondary infections. Analysis is most frequently achieved by way of sampling areas to look at the mite underneath the microscope. Therapy by way of prescription treatment to kill the particular kind of mite is accessible. If there’s a secondary an infection, antibiotics could also be wanted, and medicated baths or ear cleaners can also be indicated.
5. Ringworm
Do you know that this isn’t really a worm, however slightly, a fungus? This pores and skin situation can be known as dermatophytosis, for the fungi (dermatophytes) that trigger the situation. Their fungal spores, initially discovered within the outside surroundings, may also unfold by way of direct contact with an contaminated animal akin to one other cat, in addition to from contaminated objects akin to bedding.
Indicators of an an infection embrace an space of hair loss with redness, scaling, or crusting. The affected animal can also exhibit extra grooming or scratching. As well as, brittle or damaged nails with contaminated nail beds can happen. In individuals, a attribute spherical, raised purple lesion is commonly seen, however this isn’t the standard presentation present in cats. Testing to substantiate ringworm could embrace the next: a Wooden lamp that may fluoresce with mild in some infections, a microscopic examination to search for fungal spores, a fungal tradition, PCR testing of hair for dermatophyte DNA, or a biopsy pattern to be evaluated.
Therapy usually consists of a mix of oral antifungals and topical remedy, in addition to environmental decontamination and cleansing to stop reinfection by way of the fungal spores. If doable, till the cat is cured, isolation of the contaminated feline from any non-infected animals is good. As well as, it is necessary for any human petting or coping with the affected animal to scrub their palms after contact.
6. Rabies
Rabies is a viral illness that impacts the nervous system of any potential mammalian species. Transmission is by way of an contaminated animal’s saliva and mostly happens by way of a chunk however might additionally happen if an affected animal’s saliva is transmitted to a different by way of an open wound or by means of the eyes, nostril, or mouth of one other. Typically wild animals akin to raccoons, bats, coyotes, and so on. are most certainly the species for rabies to initially happen in.
In lots of components of the world, a rabid canine is usually a widespread supply to contaminate others however, extra lately in America, cats are the most prevalent home species contaminated. It’s because some house owners could not vaccinate them for rabies as often as they do canines, and the cats may be uncovered to rabid wildlife. For an affected animal, the virus travels by way of the nerves to the mind, and indicators of an infection could embrace extra drooling, bother swallowing, seizures, staggering, paralysis, fearfulness, or aggression.
As soon as indicators are current for rabies, there isn’t a therapy obtainable, however the excellent news is rabies is solely preventable by means of correct vaccination.
7. Kennel Cough
Bordetella bronchiseptica, additionally generally known as “kennel cough”, is a really contagious micro organism that causes respiratory illness with irritation within the windpipe (trachea) and bronchi. Whereas usually extra acknowledged with canines, this micro organism can have an effect on each cats and canines, and much more attention-grabbing is that it may unfold from one affected species to the opposite. It may be unfold immediately, akin to with grooming one another, but additionally within the air with coughing or sneezing.
Moreover, a contaminated surroundings (environment, bedding, meals bowls, and so on.) can also permit for the unfold. If seen, indicators could embrace coughing, sneezing, eye and nostril discharge in addition to fever, inappetence, and lethargy. In additional extreme types of sickness, bother respiratory can also be current. When indicated, therapy consists of particular antibiotics, and pet-safe cough medication, and in rarer but harsh sicknesses, hospitalization could also be wanted for additional care.
Whereas a vaccine will not be solely foolproof, it may assist restrict the severity of the sickness if contracted; as well as, many boarding and grooming amenities require it.
Prevention Suggestions
- Consciousness. Data is highly effective, and understanding can permit for one to take management of the scenario for all of their pet’s profit.
- Observe good hygiene. This consists of routinely washing one’s palms after interacting with their pet. As well as, routine washing or cleansing of the bedding and supplies one’s pet frequents or makes use of can also be useful in limiting some sicknesses between species.
- Common cleansing. Common and routine cleansing up of cats’ fecal materials (making certain canines don’t eat it).
- Preventative care. Good preventative care is instrumental in conserving many sicknesses at bay. Work together with your veterinarian to make sure your pets are correctly vaccinated and obtain good preventative measures for parasites akin to fleas, intestinal parasites, and so on.
- Vet checkups. Have well being considerations or medical modifications investigated promptly.
- Be secure. When relevant, quarantine a sick pet from others till healed. Guarantee secure, but efficacious correct cleansing protocols for a probably infectious agent at hand.
Conclusion
Whereas most pet ailments are species-specific, there are some that may be handed from a cat to a canine. Due to this, for that subset of particular well being circumstances, it’s vital to have consciousness, good preventative care, and immediate medical consideration as integral parts in your toolkit to make sure the very best well being on your pet.
Featured Picture Credit score: Reshetnikov_art, Shutterstock
