Can seborrhea spread to humans

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

What Can I Catch From My Dog: A Guide to Staying Healthy

You can get sick from your dog, but its rare. Illnesses can spread through close contact, contaminated feces or urine, or by sleeping in the same bed as your pet. These simple tips can help you prevent getting sick.

Research has shown for many years that dogs have positive effects on the psychosocial and psychical health of their owners. And no doubt that snuggling up with your furry friend at home may seem like the perfect way to end a stressful day.

With that one healthy paw, the other paw must also drop: There is a risk your dog could spread harmful germs, illnesses, and diseases to you. You could catch a stomach bug or a more serious illness.

But you can take several steps to lessen that risk and make sure you and your pet stay healthy.

Short answer: Yes, they can.

Illnesses that pass between animals and humans are known as zoonotic diseases. They can be spread by farm or wild animals, as well as household pets like cats and dogs.

Harmful germs can spread quite easily from household pets, according to 2015 research from stomach bugs, diarrhea, and minor skin infections to more serious health conditions. In fact, the close contact people have with household pets is a favorable condition for a bacterial infection to spread, 2016 research suggests.

A 2012 study based in Finland shows that noroviruses are one of the leading causes of diarrheal diseases among people of all age groups and that these can survive in dogs and be passed along to humans.

Even though infection and the resulting sickness isnt likely, pets do carry germs that can make people sick. You can get these germs and illnesses from dogs in the following ways:

They spread through contaminated food and treats, water bowls, or surfaces.
You pick up your dogs poop and then touch your eyes or near your mouth.
You dog licks your face with their tongue and is carrying an infection.
You sleep in the same bed as your dog.
Your dog gives you cuts, scratches, or bites that break the skin.

There are a handful of viral, fungal, bacterial, and parasitic illnesses that pass between humans and animals, including household pets like your beloved dog.

Some of the possible illnesses that you might catch from your dog include:

Brucellosis

This is a bacterial disease that causes a flu-like sickness in humans. Although rare, it can be spread through contact with animals carrying the bacteria, including dogs.

Symptoms can include:

appetite loss
chills
back or abdomen pain
headaches
lethargy
fever
weight loss

Notably, you could have brucellosis even if your contact with a dog carrying the bacteria occurred months ago. If you get this disease, it can take anywhere from 1 week to 2 months for symptoms to appear.

Its often treated with antibiotics once diagnosed.

Campylobacteriosis

This bacterial infection can be spread to humans via contact with feces from both dogs and cats carrying the bacteria.

A person who gets the bacteria may experience gastroenteritis symptoms, such as:

diarrhea
cramping
abdominal pain
fever

These symptoms can appear 2 to 5 days after exposure. Typically, no treatment is necessary because the symptoms fade away within 1 week.

Leptospirosis

This type of bacterial infection is spread through the urine of a dog that has the bacteria. It can cause symptoms, including:

high fever
digestive discomfort
aches and pains

This condition is rare in the United States and most symptoms are mild, but it can be transmitted from animals like household dogs.

Rabies

This viral disease is rare in the United States due to pet vaccinations only 1 in 3 cases are reported in humans each year. Rabies does spread from dogs to people, though. It can be passed along by bite or scratch.

Rabies can cause a variety of serious effects on the central nervous system, causing flu-like symptoms including fever, muscle weakness, and tingling. You may also feel burning at the bite site. By the time those symptoms appear, its often too late for treatment.

Ringworm

This is a skin and scalp disease caused by a fungus. It can be spread between animals, and through contact it can also be passed from dogs and cats to humans. Ringworm can also be spread by touching an object or surface that came in contact with the fungus everything from bedding and carpeting to clothing, pet brushes, and food bowls.

Symptoms include a scaly, red, circular, itchy rash on the skin. On a cat or dog, the symptoms may be present on hairless areas, with scaling, red, and crusting spots. Skin medications can clear ringworm in 2 to 4 weeks.

Salmonella

Salmonellosis causes symptoms like fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. It can be spread to humans through contact with a dog that has the germ or with the dogs feces or saliva. You can also get it if you come in contact with an item containing the germ and then touch your face or mouth.

This pet illness was linked to a 2019 outbreak stemming from pig ear treats, affecting dogs across the United States. Salmonella germs can be shed in pets stools for 4 to 6 weeks after infection.

One of the most common results of the above-mentioned illnesses may be gastroenteritis, or an upset stomach. This can sometimes be spread between people and their pets, to varying degrees and depending on what underlying infection they may have.

For people and pets experiencing this stomach bug, the symptoms can be similar:

fever
lethargy
nausea
vomiting
abdominal pain
diarrhea, sometimes containing blood
weight loss due to fluid loss

While its not specific to every illness, gastroenteritis may be transmitted between dogs and people through their stool or even saliva. In terms of salmonella and cats, in particular, it may be spread through litter boxes and as they roam through the home.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that some ways dogs can spread the bacteria is when they give people kisses or have stool accidents inside the home. Pet waste from both sick and healthy pets can be a source of infection for people.

As you might expect, those who are most at risk for catching a type of illness from their dog include:

children
people ages 65 and older
pregnant people
immunocompromised people, who have a weakened immune system from medications, illness, pregnancy, or other health conditions like an organ transplant or treatment

The level of risk and who might develop a particular condition may also depend on other factors, including the specific bacteria, virus, fungus, or disease.

With that in mind, its best to stay mindful and contact your veterinarian or medical professional with any specific questions or concerns.

The best way to reduce or eliminated your risk of contracting zoonotic diseases from your dog is pretty simple. As you might suspect, its based on good hygiene and cleanliness practices.

These include:

Clean up the poo: Pick up after your dog in a reasonable timeframe. Dispose of the feces in a sealed bag and avoid touching it with your hands or exposing it to clothing or surfaces you might touch.
Wash your hands: Make sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water immediately after handling a dog or their feces, food and water bowls, or toys where a dogs saliva might have spread germs.
Doggo kisses: Dont let dogs give you kisses on your face, especially not on or around your mouth, nose, or eyes. If you come into contact with their tongue despite your efforts, wash your face.
See the pet vet: Regular checkups with your dogs veterinarian can help identify health problems, including parasites or infectious diseases that can be spread between animals and humans.
Vaccinations: These are important. Ensure that your dog (and you!) are current on all needed vaccinations. For your dog, that would include rabies, distemper, kennel cough, and canine parvovirus.
Prevent bites and scratches: You can help do this by asking before petting another persons dog, avoiding interactions with a dog that seems scared or angry, and not approaching unfamiliar dogs. If you or someone else does get scratched or bitten, immediately wash and disinfect the area. Seek any medical attention as needed.

Can ticks from dogs make people sick?

A 2017 clinical study shows that owning pets increases your risk of being bitten by a tick and potentially being exposed to various tick-borne illnesses. This is because pets may bring ticks onto the property and into the home, and people may engage in more activities outside with their pets in tick-filled areas.

While research is not conclusive on whether pet owners may experience higher rates of tick-borne disease than non-owners, about 20% of pet owners in three states during the 2017 study had a verified tick-borne illness. It makes sense that the more exposure to ticks you have, the higher your risk for one of these conditions might be.

Will I get sick from my dog licking me?

Expert opinions vary on whether dog kisses carry any serious health risk for people. Still, dogs can carry harmful germs, and some can pass through saliva and close contact.

Basic hygiene practices are the preferred ways to avoid these germs, even for those who agree that avoiding dog kisses most of the time is best. You should wash your face with soap and water afterward, before touching your mouth or eyes. Take extra care if you have open cuts or scrapes on your skin where a dogs tongue may lick you.

Can dogs get sick from someone with a cold or the flu?

Human influenza viruses can affect dogs. Research from 2015 indicated this was possible with the 2009 H1N1 strains and H3N2 strains. But even though dogs can get germs from people, it doesnt appear that the dogs actually experience any symptoms.

Can you catch diarrhea from a dog?

The campylobacter and salmonella disease can spread from dogs to people, possibly causing diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Often, these germs can be found in the gastrointestinal tract and feces or diarrhea of dogs with the infection.

As a result, it can be transmitted from contaminated food or water or contact with feces. Preventive measures and basic hygiene are often the best ways to combat the condition in pets and people, as well as regular veterinary visits and pet care.

You can get sick from your dog. Several illnesses can spread through close contact, contaminated feces or urine, or even by sleeping in the same bed as your beloved pet.

But getting sick from your dog is rare, and you can take many commonsense steps to prevent this from happening. This might include washing your hands, limiting close contact if you or your dog is showing symptoms, and keeping your pet regularly vaccinated and seen by a qualified veterinarian.

Seborrheic dermatitis: Signs and symptoms

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Seborrhea in Dogs

What is seborrhea

Seborrhea, commonly called seborrheic dermatitis, is a skin disease that commonly occurs in dogs, and is characterized by an excessively oily, greasy, and flaky skin ^{[1, 2]}. It affects the areas rich in sebaceous glands, either causing them to overproduce sebum (a thick, oily secretion) or developing dryer skin that often flakes off ^[3].

Seborrhea in Dogs

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of canine seborrhea vary depending on its type:

Types of canine seborrhea

Seborrhea oleosa or oily seborrhea ^[3]
Seborrhea sicca or dry seborrhea ^[3]
A combination of both the oily and dry forms ^[3]

In canine seborrhea, it is mostly a combination of seborrhea oleosa and sicca ^{[1, 3]} and its visible symptoms are:

Whitish, scaly, flaky skin (dandruff) on the face, flanks, and along the back, which can be seen on your dogs bedding and the places where it lies ^{[3, 4]}
Redness, inflammation, and itching at the affected part with an oily or dry feel ^[3]
A distinctive odor, caused by the greasy substance exuding from the affected area ^[2]. The odor may worsen with the occurrence of further complications ( especially when occurring due to a secondary yeast or bacterial infection) ^[3]
Hair loss (alopecia) ^[4]
Thick crusted skin ^[4]

What causes seborrheic dermatitis in dogs

Primary seborrhea

In some cases, seborrhea is an inherited disorder (idiopathic or primary seborrhea), and the exact cause cannot be determined ^{[1, 3]}.

Secondary seborrhea

Most often the condition in dogs is associated with an underlying health problem, in which case it is called a secondary seborrhea ^{[2, 3]}. Some of the medical conditions that may lead to seborrhea include:

Allergies ^{[3, 4]}
Internal and external parasites (like ticks, fleas, and mange mites) ^{[3, 4]}
Hormonal imbalances (such as thyroid disorder and Cushings disease) ^[3]
Fungal and bacterial infections, particularly yeast infections caused by Malassezia ^[3]
Obesity ^[4]
Temperature or humidity changes ^{[3, 4]}
Dietary deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids ^{[1, 3]}
Musculoskeletal pain or disease that prevents the dog from grooming itself properly ^[3]

Dogs more at risk for primary seborrhea

It commonly occurs before the dog is two years old, and progresses all through its life ^[2]. Dog breeds that are genetically predisposed to idiopathic seborrhea are:

English Springer Spaniels ^[5]
German Shepherds ^[2]
Golden Retrievers ^[5]
Dachshunds ^{[2, 5]}
Labrador Retrievers ^[2]
American Coker Spaniels ^[2]
West Highland White Terriers ^[5]
Basset Hounds ^{[2, 5]}
Shar-Peis ^[2]
Doberman Pinschers ^[2]

Another type of the condition, called ear margin seborrhea, is common in dog breeds with pendulous ears including Dachshunds and Cocker Spaniels ^[8].

Is it contagious

Seborrhea is not known to be contagious from dogs to humans or vice-versa.

Diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis

After the initial assessment of your dogs symptoms, a comprehensive physical examination of its skin and internal organ system may be done for identifying all possible underlying causes ^[5]. The following laboratory tests and procedures may help in diagnosing canine seborrhea:

Blood tests like CBC (complete blood cell count) and serum chemistry for determining underlying conditions or electrolytic imbalances ^[3].
Skin culture for confirming underlying fungal and bacterial infections ^[3].
Examination of dead skin layers (scraping) and tissue samples (cytology) ^[3].
Hormone tests for Cushings and thyroid diseases ^[3].
Skin biopsy for infections, cancer, or other disorders ^[3].

Diagnosis of idiopathic seborrhea is made only when no underlying conditions suggesting a secondary seborrhea are found ^{[2, 3]}.

Treatment for seborrhea in dogs

The treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in dogs involves controlling the symptoms, frequent monitoring, and focusing on eliminating the cause ^[4].

Treating with medicated antiseborrheic shampoos

A combination of mild, antiseborrheic shampoos and conditioners is considered to be one of the most effective treatments since it may help in lessening flakes, keeping your dogs skin clean, and alleviating redness or itchiness ^{[2, 4]}. Ingredients commonly found in medicated shampoos include coal tar, salicylic acid, sulfur, propylene glycol, selenium sulfide, benzoyl peroxide, and fatty acids ^[5].

Sprays and moisturizers may be used between baths or after shampooing because it helps prevent loss of water from your dogs skin ^{[2, 5]}. Consult your vet regarding the amount of shampoo and the number of baths that works best for your pet.

Do not use human shampoo on your dog without talking to your vet.

Treating seborrhea in dogs with medication

For treating hormonal imbalance, oral medications may be prescribed ^[4].
If your pets seborrheic dermatitis is caused by an allergic reaction, your vet may first recommend a diet change to find out what food may be triggering the allergy ^[4].
In case the allergy is a severe form of autoimmune response, an immunosuppressive drug like oral cyclosporine may be prescribed ^{[3, 4]}.

As shown in a study, treating idiopathic seborrhea with an oral retinoid may successfully treat it ^[3]. Antibiotic and antifungal therapies may be needed for treating secondary infections ^[2].

Natural home remedies for seborrhea in dogs

Your vet may recommend omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin or mineral supplements in cases of dietary deficiencies ^[2]. Giving natural supplements with digestive enzymes and vitamins A, C, and E may also be beneficial for your dogs skin ^[6].

In addition to strengthening its immunity, herbs like sarsaparilla, red clover, and Oregon grape found in supplements may help in detoxifying blood ^[6].

Applying a topical solution of 50 percent apple cider vinegar mixed with 50 percent water on the affected areas may help with itchy skin due to seborrhea caused by secondary yeast infections ^[7].

According to some dog-owners, a bunch of fresh or dried thyme or rosemary boiled in one liter of water may be used to bathe your pet for a mild seborrhea, whereas coconut oil may also be applied for reducing odor and minimizing allergic reactions.

Consult your vet before trying these remedies.

Prognosis for canine seborrhea

The recovery rate of secondary seborrhea depends on the severity of your dogs condition and how quickly its cause has been pinpointed and treated ^{[3, 4]}. The Idiopathic form on the other hand, is not curable, but with proper treatment it is possible to keep the symptoms in check ^[2].