Other Capnocytophaga germs can also be found in human mouths and can cause illness in some people who have the bacteria in their own mouth. People who have weak immune systems get this type of infection more often than healthy people.
People with these conditions should speak with their doctors about how to safely interact with cats and dogs.
The Capnocytophaga germs that are common in dogs and cats can be spread to people through a bite or after close contact with dogs or cats. Infections are more often linked to dog bites or dog contact.
Most contact with dogs and cats does not lead to a Capnocytophaga infection or any illness, even after a bite. But, you should take precautions if you have contact with animals, especially if you have a condition that puts you at higher risk of infection. Related Links
See the Preventing Dog Bites page for information on how to prevent dog bites and what to do if you are bitten, regardless of your health status.
How to keep pet dogs healthy
Keeping your dog healthy helps to keep you and your family healthy. To learn how to stay healthy around dogs, visit the Healthy People section.
If your dog becomes sick or dies soon after purchase or adoption, take your dog to the veterinarian promptly and inform the pet store, breeder, or rescue organization about the pet’s illness or death. Make sure to tell your veterinarian if the pet was adopted internationally. Thoroughly clean the area your pet lived in.
- It is not recommended to keep dogs tied up outside. Tying dogs outside is illegal in some areas. In addition, dogs that are tied up are more likely to bite than those roaming freely in a fenced yard.
Talk to your veterinarian about:
To further reduce the chances that a tick bite will make your dog sick:
- Run your fingers through your dog’s fur with gentle pressure to feel for any small bumps.
- Looks for ticks in the following areas:
- In and around the ears
- Around the eyelids
- Under the collar
- Under the front legs
- Between the back legs
- Between the toes
- Around the tail
The Spread of Disease Through Pet Blood
At this time, the risk of the transmission of disease from pets to humans via exposure to blood is low. For example, the four most common types of diseases spread from human to human via blood – HIV, MRSA, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C – are not found in pets, including dogs and cats. In addition, at this time there are no major diseases carried by dogs and cats that currently spread to humans by exposure to blood.
The fact that as of this moment the risk of disease transmission from pets to humans via blood is low doesn’t mean that will always be the case. One of the alarming facts about viruses and bacteria is that they can mutate and change over time. Indeed, viruses and bacteria can mutate seemingly “out of the blue.” In other words, even though pet blood might not contain more dangerous pathogens today, that can change without notice.
You should avoid direct contact with pet blood. If you come into direct contact with pet blood, even blood from our own dog, cat, or other pet, you need to wash it off immediately. If you somehow get pet blood into a wound on your skin, you need to wash it off immediately. You need to apply an antibiotic after washing.
Odds are that you will not face a medical issue. However, if you start to feel ill, do not automatically presume that exposure to pet blood is not the reason. Again, while the odds of your becoming ill after exposure to pet blood is low, it’s not impossible based on the information provided a moment ago. If you feel ill, make an appointment with your doctor. Explain to your doctor the contact you had with pet blood and the nature of your symptoms. Your physician can then decide what testing or steps need to be taken to attempt to identify the issue at hand.