The doctor called the diseases transmitted from pets

Allergies, infections, and increased anxiety are a short list of unpleasant consequences that pet owners may encounter. Alexandra Fileva, a doctor and expert at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia on November 30 what health threats pet owners should be aware of.

According to the All—Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, almost half of the inhabitants of our country have a cat, and one in three has a dog. Pets protect and cheer you up. But at the same time, their close proximity poses many health risks.

For example, recent studies have shown that sleeping with pets increases anxiety and causes insomnia. Scientists conducted a large-scale survey and found that restless cats and dogs prevent their owners from sleeping normally. And lack of sleep increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. But this is far from the only disadvantage of being close to pets, which is important to consider.

First of all, communication with pets can provoke an allergic reaction. Many people think that allergies are caused only by pet hair, but this is not the case. In fact, the main allergens are proteins. They are found in saliva, urine, sebaceous gland secretions, and in the smallest skin flakes that peel off and settle on surfaces.

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"A person inhales allergens, they get on the mucous membrane of the nose, throat and lungs. If the immune system mistakes these proteins for a threat, an allergic response occurs. To "get rid" of the foreign protein, the body secretes powerful chemicals — histamine, prostaglandins, and others," the expert said.

They cause the classic allergy symptoms: swelling, redness, itching, sneezing, runny nose, and coughing. An allergic reaction can be so severe that a person develops Quincke's edema, which leads to suffocation. This is an extremely dangerous condition that requires immediate medical attention.

It is important for everyone to know that allergies can appear suddenly, even if a person has lived with pets for many years.

"The immune system has a certain threshold of sensitivity — that is, the body can cope with the allergen until at some point its level becomes critical. The immune system is affected by various factors: stress, infectious diseases, and hormonal changes affect it. It is not uncommon for an allergic reaction to occur when a new pet, such as a different breed, appears in the house," warns Alexandra Fileva.

If you have any signs of allergy, you should consult a doctor and in no case ignore this condition — the allergic reaction will not go away by itself.

It is important for cat owners to know that even a trivial scratch can cause health problems.

"Cat scratch disease, or bartonellosis, is a bacterial infection transmitted through scratches or bites from cats. It causes inflammation of the lymph nodes and fever. Any scratch or bite, even the smallest one, should be washed with running water and soap, treated with hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine. If redness, swelling, pain or fever appear around the wound, consult a doctor immediately," the doctor explained.

In general, there will be fewer potential risks from communicating with pets if the pets are properly cared for. Any pet can be a carrier of infection. Even domestic cats and dogs can become infected with helminths, toxoplasmosis, ringworm and rabies. Rodents — hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, and mice — carry hantavirus and leptospirosis— infections that affect the kidneys and lungs.

"Parrots and canaries can infect humans with ornithosis, domestic reptiles with salmonellosis. All these are dangerous diseases for humans. To reduce the risk of infection, after each contact with animals, you need to wash your hands with soap, and with the pets themselves, regularly undergo routine checkups with a veterinarian and do all the necessary vaccinations," the specialist added.

Earlier, on November 5, animal behavior expert Zazie Todd told BBC Science Focus magazine about ways to calm a pet during fireworks. According to her, loud noises can become a frightening experience for pets if they do not understand their source and context. The specialist recommended that dogs be trained to fireworks at an early age, when they are going through a very sensitive period of socialization.

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