Life is a Zoo

By Colleen Sholar, MD

 

Raising kids on farms and around animals has shown to boost immunity and reduce incidence of allergies as well as asthma.  Considering the physical benefits of chores increasing movement, learning responsibility, and the enjoyment we get from animals then it’s no wonder ~66% o US households own a pet.  So, let’s talk about risks like zoonotic diseases and how to avoid them.

 

Dogs and cats are the most common indoor pets.  A common health challenge is allergies.  Those who are allergic to the dander of an animal may have rashes or breathing problems, for some these are manageable with antihistamines, but for others it means Fido may need a new home.  Dogs and cats can also get ring worm, which on them may be seen as a patch of hair loss or a scabbed area, but if you start to grow the fungus on your skin it will probably be itchy, red, raised and scaley.  Round worms and tapeworms can transfer from your pet to you through feces.  Rabies can be transferred through saliva in a bite, and while Idaho does not legally require rabies vaccinations for your pets, it is a good idea.

 

Chickens are popular and functional pets.  There has been a lot of talk about bird flu, and, yes, there are many respiratory illnesses that can mutate to jump from poultry or hogs to humans so we should always be on the lookout for sick birds.  But we should also be mindful of salmonella, campylobacter, e coli all of which can be in poop and so on the eggs and in humans can cause an episode of diarrhea you may never forget.

 

Many families have rabbits, hogs, sheep, goats or steer for their farms as well as a whole host of small indoor animals, so my best advice is to… Wash your hands! Wear farm clothes. Wash eggs and check for cracks.  Cook your meats to proper temperatures.