Ahhh the sun is shining so we increase our playtime outside. The threat of zoonotic diseases, which spread between pets and people, also increases as the temperature rises. We want to help keep your two- and four-legged family members healthy by educating you on these 5 zoonotic diseases.

Hookworm Infection: Hookworms are short (6-12-cm) thick worms that are whitish to reddish brown with a hooked front end. Hook worm Infection is transmitted to puppies and kittens through the mother's placenta and the mother's milk. In dogs, cats and people it is transmitted by ingesting them in feces and from the worms penetrating the skin (often from infected soil). People most at risk are farmers, gardeners, and landscapers, sunbathers lying on sand, plumbers, electricians, exterminators and children playing in potentially contaminated areas.

Prevention:
Promptly remove animal feces from the yard.
Cover children's sandboxes when not in use.
Wear shoes and gloves while gardening.
Wash Hands thoroughly after playing outdoors or exposure to soil (especially dirt under the fingernails).
Deworm puppies and kittens until old enough for monthly prevention.
To help prevent ingestion of infected animals or feces, keep dogs on leashes or in fenced yards and keep cats indoors.
Monitor children playing outside in sandboxes and parks.

Tapeworm Infection:
Tapeworms are worms with a flattened, ribbon like appearance. They are transmitted to dogs and cats by ingesting infected fleas and tissue of infected animals like mice and rabbits. They are transmitted to people by ingesting infected fleas. People most at risk are children under 8 years old.

Prevention:
Make sure all family pets receive strict monthly flea control.

Roundworm Infection:
Roundworms are large (3-18cm) worms that are usually tightly coiled when passed and look like spaghetti. They are transmitted to puppies and kittens by crossing the placenta and ingesting eggs in feces. Adult dogs and cats ingest eggs in feces and in infected animals like rodents. People are infected by ingesting eggs through feces in soil or on pets and ingesting items contaminated with infected feces. Children are most at risk.

Prevention:
Deworm puppies and kittens until old enough for monthly prevention.
Promptly treat infected pets to prevent shedding of eggs, which are hardy and long lived.
Promptly remove animal feces from the yard and litter box.
To help prevent ingestion of infected animals or feces, keep dogs on leashes or in fenced yards and keep cats indoors.
Monitor children playing outside in sandboxes and parks.

Toxoplasmosis:
Involves a protozoan parasite that infects virtually all warm-blooded vertebrates. Cats become infected by ingesting oocysts (egg cells) in feces and in infected animals like rodents. People become infected by ingesting uncooked meat and being exposed to infected cat feces. Everyone is at risk, but especially immunosupressed people, including pregnant women, fetuses and children.

Prevention:
Keep cats indoors to prevent ingestion of infected animals and feces.
Avoid feeding uncooked meat to cats.
Remove feces from litter box daily.
Wash litter box with scalding water or steam.
Wash hands thoroughly after exposure to soil, sand, raw meats and unwashed vegetables.
Wear gloves when gardening.
Cover children's sandboxes when not in use.

Lyme Disease:
Dogs, cats and people become infected from the bite of an infected deer tick. Everyone is at risk.

Prevention:
Provide strict monthly tick control for all pets.
Avoid tick-infested areas.
Keep grass closely clipped to discourage both tick populations and wildlife that often harbor ticks.
Consider vaccinating dogs exposed to infected ticks.