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Should You Care About What The Cat (or Dog) Dragged In? A Doctor's Advice
CNN —
Health officials in Alaska recently reported the first known human death from a virus called Alaskapox.
The man, who died in January, lived in a wooded area and cared for a stray cat that hunted small animals, according to health officials. He had a weakened immune system and is thought to have contracted Alaskapox through contact with animals.
At around the same time, an individual living in Oregon was diagnosed with bubonic plague. Health officials suspect this person was infected by a cat. The individual is reported to be in early stages of the illness, and the patient and close contacts are being treated with antibiotics.
These infections are reminders that diseases from nonhuman animals can sometimes be transmitted to humans. To get a better sense of what such diseases are and what precautions pet owners and animal lovers should take to keep themselves and their animals healthy, I spoke with CNN wellness medical expert Dr. Leana Wen.
Wen is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University. She previously was Baltimore's health commissioner, where as part of her responsibilities, she also oversaw animal control and protection.
CNN: What types of diseases can household pets like cats and dogs transmit to humans?
Dr. Leana Wen: Just as humans can transmit diseases to other humans, animals can transmit diseases to others in their own species. Sometimes, animals can transmit diseases to other species, and that includes humans with whom pets have had close contact.
One way to classify the diseases that can be spread by household pets to humans is by method of transmission, such as the fecal-oral route. Someone who is in contact with the feces of infected animals could get the disease themselves if they don't wash their hands well or if the fecal contents end up contaminating water or food that is then ingested by the human.
These diseases include bacterial infections like campylobacter and salmonella and parasitic infections like cryptosporidium, giardia and tapeworm.
Symptoms can include abdominal cramping, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Depending on the illness, people may need targeted treatment, such as antibiotics or antiparasitic medications. The infections are generally mild, although they can be serious for people with underlying medical conditions and those who are very young or elderly.
There is a specific parasitic infection called toxoplasmosis that is associated with cleaning cat litter boxes or eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with cat feces. Most people with this infection have little or no symptoms, but there is a unique risk to pregnant women because toxoplasmosis can be transmitted through the placenta. Their infants could become infected before birth and then develop serious neurological problems such as seizures, vision loss and mental disability.
A second route of infection is through scratches and bites. Cat scratch disease, for instance, is a bacterial infection spread when a cat scratches or bites a person enough to break their skin. It also can be spread if an infected cat licks a person's open wound. People who are infected can develop swollen and painful lymph nodes, fever and headache.
Many people have heard of rabies, which is a deadly viral infection spread to humans through the bite of infected animals. Rabies is nearly universally deadly. Most domestic animals in the United States are vaccinated against rabies, but this is not the case in some other countries. Thankfully, there are rabies shots that can be taken after suspected exposure.
A third route of infection is through another vector such as ticks, fleas and mosquitoes. Ticks, for instance, can transmit infections that cause Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and tularemia. These diseases spread when a person is bitten by an infected tick that has fed off an infected animal. Dogs that spend time in wooded habitats could have ticks that infect them, and the ticks could also spread the disease to humans.
CNN: What about Alaskapox and the bubonic plague? How could someone contract these diseases from animals?
Wen: Alaskapox is in the category of viruses called orthopoxvirus. There are several viruses in this category that can be transmitted from animals to humans, including mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) and cowpox, smallpox and vaccinia viruses. It's not known how the man who died from Alaskapox contracted it, but a possible route is an infected animal biting the individual or exposure of an infected animal to an existing break in the man's skin.
Bubonic plague is caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium and can be transmitted through a break in the skin, too, if someone has an open wound and who comes into contact with an animal's infectious bodily fluids. It also could be transmitted through the bite of an infected flea.
CNN: What are steps people can take to reduce the risk of contracting diseases from their pets?
Wen: There are several important steps pet owners and animal lovers can take to protect themselves, their family members and their pets.
To begin with, they should ensure that their dogs and cats are fully vaccinated. Vaccines prevent not only many illnesses that can spread from animals to humans, but also diseases limited to the animal but that could be harmful and even fatal. Pets should also be cared for with regularly scheduled checkups.
It's also important to take your pet to the veterinarian if it becomes ill. Try to reduce contact with sick pets in the meantime. Identifying the cause of the illness can prompt quicker treatment for the animal and possible testing and treatment for the human.
There are also commonsense precautions people should take to reduce disease transmission. This includes washing your hands well after handling feces and other waste. Make sure the pet's living area is clean. Keep away from wild animals and animals that are behaving strangely.
Children who are helping out with cleaning litter boxes or picking up after their dogs should be reminded to wash their hands well. Kids should also be reminded to avoid kissing their pet's mouth and reduce activities that could result in accidental bites. They should be sure to wash their hands after going to friends' houses with animals and visiting farms with petting zoos. And it's important to clean waste outdoors, including in your own yard, and not to let kids play in areas with animal feces.
To lower the risk of fleas, it's important to maintain good hygiene and reduce rodents in and around the animal's living space. To decrease tick-borne illness, look carefully for ticks after going to wooded areas and remove ticks right away after spotting them.
CNN: Does it mean no one should have animals?
Wen: Certainly not. People seek animal companionship for many reasons. For many people, having a dog or cat is essential to their own well-being and mental health. There are simple steps everyone can take to reduce the risk of animal to human disease transmission. Individuals who should take additional care include those who are immunocompromised, babies and pregnant women.
Remedies For Kitten Eye Infections
Cats and kittens can get an eye infection known as conjunctivitis. In people, this condition is commonly known as pink eye and has a variety of causes.
In cats, it is often caused by viruses like feline viral rhinotracheitis—a herpes virus that only cats get. Other causes include:
Even though the primary infections are often viral, cats sometimes get secondary bacterial infections that also require treatment.
Symptoms of a kitten eye infection include:
Minor viral cat eye infections may not need any treatment at all, but there are things you can do to make your cat more comfortable. More severe eye infections may require a visit to the vet for evaluation or antibiotics.
Remedies and Treatments for Kitten Eye InfectionsLysine Supplements
Lysine is an essential amino acid — an organic compound that helps to form proteins — that can help both cats and humans who have herpes viruses to avoid outbreaks and heal from them faster. Use lysine supplements as a treatment for outbreak prevention and outbreak management in cats.
Lysine is available for cats in the following forms:
At-Home Eye Exams to Identify Problems
Looking at your cat's eyes regularly can help you identify problems before they get moderate or severe. To give your cat an exam, look at their face in a brightly lit room. Roll down your cat's eyelid with your fingers. Make sure the lining is pink and healthy-looking. It should not be swollen. A red or white color is a sign of a problem.
Make sure the eyeballs themselves look healthy. Look for any murkiness or cloudiness in the eyeball, which could be a sign of infection. Make sure your cat's pupils are equal sizes and the area right around the eyeball itself is white.
Clean Your Cat's Eyes
Clean any discharge from your cat's eyes. Use a cotton ball dipped in water to gently wipe the corners of the eyes. Use a different cotton ball for each eye.
If your cat has long hairs that could poke their eyes, cut the hairs to help prevent scratches that could lead to infections. It's always safest to ask a professional to do this so you don't injure the eye.
Continued When to See a DoctorMinor kitten eye infections due to herpes may clear up on their own, without treatment. However, if you're not sure what may be wrong with your cat, it's always a good idea to take them to the vet, especially when they have eye problems. When eye problems go untreated, they can potentially lead to vision problems or even blindness.
The veterinarian will give your cat an exam and prescribe the appropriate antibiotic or steroid treatment, depending on the diagnosis. Your doctor may also show you how to administer the medication so you can do it at home.
If your cat has the herpes virus, they will probably get another eye infection in the future. However, if it was only a bacterial infection, it should not reoccur. Your cat's eye infection should start to get better after a few days of treatment. If it does not, let your vet know, but do not stop the treatment until your vet tells you to.
WebMD Medical Reference
SourcesSOURCES:
American Journal of Veterinary Research: "Effect of oral administration of L-lysine on conjunctivitis caused by feline herpesvirus in cats."
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: "Cat Grooming Tips."
Mayo Clinic: "Pink eye (conjunctivitis)."
Mount Sinai: "Lysine."
People's Dispensary for Sick Animals: "Conjunctivitis in cats."
U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Amino acids."
Veterinary Centers of America: "Conjunctivitis in Cats."
© 2022 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.Remedies For Cat Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, can develop in any pet. Some cats are naturally more likely to develop UTIs, like male cats, overweight cats, or cats with diabetes. However, the infections can affect any cat throughout its lifetime.
A UTI affects the cat's urinary (peeing) system. This includes the bladder (organ that holds pee) and urethra (tube that pee comes out of). This bacterial infection can lead to symptoms like:
A UTI develops when bacteria enter the urinary tract, pass through the urethra, and reach the bladder. It can be caused by age, lack of proper hygiene around the genitalia, or abnormal pH levels (acidity or alkalinity in liquid) in the cat's diet. However, it may also be caused by more serious conditions like bladder stones (hard deposits in the bladder), injuries, tumors, or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
Remedies and Treatments for Cat Urinary Tract InfectionUrinary tract diseases are common in cats and can cause discomfort and distress. If left untreated, a UTI can lead to partial or complete blockage of the urethra. This can lead to kidney failure or rupture of the bladder, which could be deadly.
Depending on the severity of the infection, a cat UTI can be treated using at-home remedies and treatments.
Cranberries
While cranberries are known as a UTI treatment in humans, they can also be used to treat a cat UTI. The acidity of cranberries can lower the pH of your cat's urine, which can help treat a UTI and stop it from coming back.
Many cranberry juices are high in sugar. Instead, you can find cranberry capsules (pills), supplements, or powder to add to your cat's diet.
Before giving your cat cranberry, you should first test the pH levels in your cat's urine. While the acidity of cranberries may help with some UTIs, in other cases, it could make the condition worse. Only provide cranberry supplements if your cat's urine is too alkaline.
ContinuedApple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can also lower the pH in your cat's urine, eliminating and preventing any harmful bacteria. Add half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your cat's food each day. To reduce the bitter taste, you can mix it in with chicken or beef broth. Just make sure the broth doesn't contain onions, as this is toxic to cats.
Like cranberries, apple cider vinegar is only effective if your cat's urine is too alkaline. You can test your cat's pH using at-home kits or diagnostic cat litter, as well as through a reliable test given by your veterinarian.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
While these two supplements are often used for arthritis joint pain management, glucosamine and chondroitin can also reduce the symptoms of a feline UTI. Glucosamine can help replace a compound in the lining of the cat's bladder wall. Chondroitin helps prevent this compound from breaking down.
Combining these two supplements can rebuild the bladder wall and prevent further damage from bacteria. This reduces inflammation and other UTI symptoms. For every 10 pounds of your cat's weight, you can give the cat 100 milligrams of glucosamine and 50 milligrams of chondroitin.
Marshmallow Root
Marshmallow root can kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the lining of the bladder to help fight off a UTI. It also acts as a diuretic — a drug that helps the kidneys flush out urine or other fluids — which increases the flow of urine and flushes out the bladder.
According to a study, marshmallow root contains mucilage (a sticky substance made by plants), which can soothe membranes and provide a barrier to support the lining of the bladder.
Bone Broth
In addition to treating the pH level and strengthening the bladder wall, an important part of treating a cat UTI is to make sure that your cat stays well hydrated. This will help flush out the bladder and avoid the buildup of harmful bacteria.
To make sure your cat is staying hydrated, you can introduce tasty fluids like bone broth. Not only will this provide necessary hydration, but bone broth also contains nutrients and minerals that can help fight the infection. The amino acids (organic compounds that form protein in the body) found in bone broth, including glycine, and arginine, have been shown to reduce inflammation.
Continued When to See a VetThese at-home treatments and remedies may be effective for clearing up minor infections, but more serious infections need to be treated by a professional animal doctor.
If your cat is experiencing mild or moderate symptoms, you can try these remedies to relieve their symptoms. If their symptoms show no sign of improvement in a few days, talk to a veterinarian. If your cat seems to be in pain or is unable to pass urine, see a vet immediately. This could be a sign of urethral obstruction, which can be fatal if not treated within 24 to 48 hours.
A vet may be able to prescribe antibiotics to target the harmful bacteria. Be sure to give your cat the full dose of prescribed antibiotics to prevent the UTI from returning or becoming resistant to treatment.
Even if you're pursuing professional treatment, these remedies can be effectively used alongside antibiotics to strengthen the bladder and balance your cat's pH levels. Some can also be used as a daily supplement to prevent the UTI from coming back. Remember to check the urine pH prior to starting some of the remedies to make sure you don't make the problem worse.
WebMD Medical Reference
SourcesSOURCES:
American Veterinary Medical Association: "Feline lower urinary tract disease."
Cornell Feline Health Center: "Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease."
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care: "L-Glycine: a novel antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, and cytoprotective agent."
Journal of Ethnopharmacology: "Aqueous extracts and polysaccharides from marshmallow roots (Althea officinalis L.): cellular internalisation and stimulation of cell physiology of human epithelial cells in vitro."
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine: "STRESS, MALENESS LINKED TO URINARY TRACT DISORDERS IN CATS."
VCA Animal Hospital: "Glucosamine Chondroitin Combination."
© 2022 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
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