PET ZONE
Another big problem rearing its head is the spread of an antibiotic-resistant strain of E . coli bacteria , which scientists fear are being carried ( and passed on ) by household pets . Experts from the UK Royal Veterinary College and the University of Lisbon tested the faeces of humans and pets in 41 Portuguese and 45 British homes . The project included 114 humans , 85 dogs and 18 cats . Samples were collected from all the subjects and genetically tested for superbugs . 14 dogs , one cat and 15 humans tested positive for strains of drug-resistant E . coli , known to be resistant to multiple antibiotics , including penicillin and cephalosporins . In many cases , the people and pets from the same
As with COVID and many other infections , those most susceptible to getting really sick from bacteria , viruses or germs picked up from the family pet are immunocompromised people , pregnant women , people with HIV / AIDs , people receiving chemotherapy , transplant patients , young children and the elderly .
How often should you deworm your dog ? Vets recommend giving your dog a deworming tablet , such as Marltons WormPro every three months . Of course , if there are signs that your dog is infected , you should administer a deworming tablet as soon as possible . Many worms look like spaghetti or rice . If you see worms or pieces of worms in the stool or on your dog ’ s fur near the tail , or if your dog drags it ’ s bottom along the carpet , there ’ s a strong likelihood it has worms . Speak to your vet if it seems to be recurring very often . Marltons WormPro is an effective deworming tablet for dogs and can be used as a remedy for Ascarids , hookworms , whipworms and tapeworms . They are easy to administer - if your dog doesn ’ t readily eat it , simply cover with some meat and give it as a treat . The tablets are available for small , medium and large dogs and it ’ s important you give the right tablet according to the dog ’ s weight .
As cute as doggy kisses are , humans are not meant to come into contact with some of the bacteria contained in dog saliva and it ’ s best not to let your dogs lick faces . You don ’ t need to stop letting your dog lick you completely , but keep your face and any open wounds off-limits . And if you do get a few kisses , make sure you wash your face properly afterwards . You should also wash your hands after a dog has licked them – eating or touching your face when you ’ ve come into contact with dog saliva or pathogens that may be on the dog ’ s paws or coat is another way that pathogens can enter your body .
Marltons WormPro – Dogs • Small - R79 • Medium- R109 • Large - R129
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household were found to have bacteria with matching antibiotic-resistant genes , implying that that one had contaminated the other . The contamination was almost certainly from pet to human , through the human coming into contact with the pet ’ s saliva .
Where do dogs pick up harmful , zoonotic pathogens ? The problem is they can pick them up from just about anywhere - from licking themselves or sniffing other dogs ( and their mess ); from contaminated food or water ; from contaminated streams or rivers ; from dead animals , bones and even the soil in your garden . While some of these bacteria or viruses can make your dog sick ( usually with diarrhoea or vomiting ), others may infect him or her but cause absolutely no symptoms in the dog , so you wouldn ’ t even know that your sweet pup ’ s kisses caused your tummy bug .
PET ZONE
TWO COMMON MYTHS
1 . “ A dog ’ s mouth is cleaner than a human ’ s mouth .” There is a common myth that a dog ’ s mouth is cleaner than that of a human . This is simply not true – we have different bacterium and germs present all the time ; the difference is that humans practise good oral hygiene , while dogs don ’ t . More than that , dogs lick all the parts of their body , eat the faeces of birds and other animals , and might also eat decaying flesh and other unsavoury things we wouldn ’ t dream of putting in our mouths . 2 . “ It ’ s healthy to be exposed to different bacteria , as it builds up your immunity .” Yes , dogs will expose people to new and different types of bacteria , but there ’ s no evidence that this builds your immunity to any diseases . Humans can ’ t gain immunity from some of the pathogens that dogs carry , for instance parasites , so rather than building your resistance , they will just repeatedly infect you .
The best thing about dogs is that they don ’ t judge or take things personally , so you don ’ t have to worry about hurting their feelings if you get into a habit of washing your hands and face after those cute cuddles !
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46 MARKtoe ! April 2022