Pet and Animal Safety

Your pet may be your best friend and faithful companion, but Fido and Fluffy can sometimes carry bacteria which may be harmful to you and your unborn baby. However, there's no need to ship your furry, scaly, or feathered friends off to the pound just because you have a baby on the way. With some extra precautions and safety measures, you can maintain a healthy and happy relationship with your best friend throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

Some of the most common bacteria carried by animals include:

• Dogs: Campylobacter, Salmonella



• Cats: Toxoplasma gondii, Campylobacter, Salmonella



• Birds: Campylobacter, Salmonella, Chlamydia psittaci



• Reptiles: Salmonella



• Farm animals: Listeria, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium

Campylobacter are bacteria that can be found in the intestinal tract of animals, in untreated water, unpasteurized milk and raw milk products, raw or undercooked meat and poultry, and raw shellfish. Infection causes fever, stomach cramps, muscle pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. While the bacteria themselves cannot cross the placenta and do not directly harm your baby, the dehydration resulting from the symptoms can cause miscarriage or preterm labor.

Chlamydia psittaci are intracellular bacteria that live within the respiratory system of birds and cause chlamydiosis, or parrot fever. You can become infected by inhaling the dust, dander, and nasal secretions of infected birds - especially parrots and turkeys. The flu-like symptoms that result from infection, including respiratory problems, pneumonia, muscle and joint pain, general malaise, and fever, range from very mild to life-threatening and are often misdiagnosed as influenza. C. psittaci can cause miscarriage or stillbirth. To prevent infection, have your vet examine your bird for signs of the bacteria, always wash your hands thoroughly with hot water after handling the bird or its cage, and avoid cleaning the bird cage. Running filters in your house can also help remove bird dust and dander from the air.

Cryptosporidium is one of the most common causes of waterborne diseases in humans in the United States and is found in the fecal matter of infected individuals and animals. You can get cryptosporidiosis from drinking infected water, changing a diaper or litter box, or eating unwashed, contaminated fruit. Infection causes watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, low-grade fever, dehydration, and weight loss. The symptoms of infection can cause miscarriage or preterm labor in pregnant women.

If you live or work on a farm, avoid working with silage (partially-fermented fodder) or at least wear gloves and wash your hands well after contact; avoid handling stillborn animals; and don't drink untreated water (if your water comes from a roof tank, well, bore, lake or stream, be sure to boil it well before drinking it).

Listeria bacteria are found in soil, ground water, plants, and animals. They can survive harsh conditions such as refrigeration, preservatives (such as salt), and oxygen deprivation; however, they are easily destroyed by cooking. Foods often associated with listeriosis include unpasteurized milk and raw milk products, raw and smoked seafood, and any ready-to-eat processed foods such as hot dogs and luncheon or deli meats.

Pregnant women are 20 times more susceptible to listeriosis than other adults, probably due to their weakened immune systems, and make up 27 percent of all cases. Exposure to the listeria bacteria can cause fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, upset stomach, and sometimes confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions. If the bacteria cross the placenta, they can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and health problems after birth.

Salmonella bacteria are spread through direct or indirect contact with the feces of animals and humans. Foods most often involved with salmonella poisoning include unpasteurized milk and raw milk products, raw or undercooked meat, raw or undercooked eggs, raw sprouts, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and cream desserts and fillings. Infection causes headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, chills, fever, and vomiting. The dehydration caused by these symptoms can result in miscarriage or preterm labor.

Toxoplasma gondii, or T. gondii, is a parasite cats pick up from the stool of other infected cats or from eating raw, infected meat. The cats then shed the parasite in their stool, which you may come into contact with when changing the litter box or touching contaminated ground soil. Avoid contact with both of these during your pregnancy; however, if that's not possible, be sure to wear gloves and wash your hands well after. You also should avoid eating under-cooked meat, touching your eyes or mouth with your hands if they are contaminated, or handling or eating raw vegetables from a garden where the soil has been contaminated.

If you have been infected with T. gondii previously, you probably developed immunity to the parasite - between 10 and 20 percent of women of childbearing age are immune. A simple test will determine your susceptibility. Symptoms of toxoplasmosis include a low-grade fever with a rash, muscle aches, headache, and possible swelling of the lymph nodes. If you are infected while pregnant, it can cause mental retardation, learning disabilities, and blindness in your baby, as well as stillbirth or preterm labor.

Pregnancy is a time to focus extra care and attention to your health and safety, and contact with pets should be included in your vigilance. Always remember to wear gloves when there is a chance you'll come into contact with any fecal matter, wash your hands thoroughly, cook your meat well, and wash all raw fruits and vegetables.