What skin diseases can dogs give 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.

5 Skin Conditions Dogs Can Pass On To Humans

If you are like most dog parents, then you frequently give your dog hugs and snuggle up to them.

You might even allow your dog to sleep in the same bed as you.

Did you know there are some pretty serious skin problems that you can get from your dog?

Here are 5 dog skin conditions (plus one painful disease) that dogs can pass onto humans

How Dog Skin Conditions Transfer To Humans

Dogs typically get these skin conditions while playing outside, in dog parks, or while roaming the neighborhood.

However, believe it or not, your dog can actually pass on a skin condition to you without having the skin condition himself!

For example, one way that a dog can pass on a skin condition is by being petted. If someone pets your dog and they have a skin condition, if your dog rubs on you or you pet him, then you have a good chance of getting the skin condition yourself.

Who knew???

Like people, all animals carry germs But pets also carry certain bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi that can cause illness if transmitted to humans. Humans get these animal-borne diseases when theyre bitten or scratched or have contact with an animals waste, saliva, or dander. Source

5 Skin Conditions Dogs Can Pass Onto Humans

#1 Im sure youve heard of people getting Staph Infections, like MRSA, while in the hospital. Did you know that you can get a Staph Infection from your dog? Some Staph Infections cannot be treated with common antibiotics. Dogs pick up the bacteria for a Staph Infection from a person. Then, if your dog bites another person (or, if his saliva simply enters through a cut on the persons hand or some other open wound), the Staph Infection gets passed on to that person as well.

#2 Another skin condition that you can get from your dog is Scabies. Scabies is caused by a mite that is known to hang around kennels and pet shops. Scabies is a red bumpy rash with white flakes and the mites (known as Sarcoptic Mites and Mange) appear to be moving under the skin. Ive had experience with Scabies. When Iwas around 8, my entire family got infected with Scabies. It itches really bad. Our family doctor treated it with a prescribed lotion. A friend of mine also got Scabies from a dog that she rescued.

Here are 3 other dog skin conditions that can be passed on to humans:

#3 Ringworm This is actually a fungus, not an actual worm. (Its highly contagious to humans and other pets.)
#4 Hookworm This can cause abdominal pain, anemia, and diarrhea. (Heres more about how hookworms can infect humans.)
#5 Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Your dog gets this from a tick bite. (My same friends dog also got Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, in addition to the Scabies.)

What About Lyme Disease?

While not a skin problem, another serious medical condition that you can get from your dog is Lyme Disease.

Ifa tick that has infected your dog getsonto your own body, then you would be exposed to Lyme Disease as well. Lyme Disease can be painful and debilitating for both humans and dogs.