Can I Get Sick From My Maltipoo?
The very short answer, yes, but it isn’t very common. There are several diseases that you could catch from your dog, but there are also ways to protect yourself from them. The diseases that you could catch are called zoonotic diseases which is simply put, any disease that you could acquire from an animal. They are:
Rabies
Ringworm
Salmonellosis
Leptospirosis
Campylobacter Infection
Giardia
Cryptosporidium infection
Roundworm
Hookworm
Scabies
Harvest Mites
Although it is possible to contract these from your dog, it is still not very likely. However, this risk does increase for people who have a low immune system due to prior illnesses or conditions including:
Persons infected with HIV or suffering from AIDS
Pregnant women
Patients being treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Elderly people
People with chronic diseases or congenital immune system deficiency
People who have received organ/bone marrow transplants
Ways of Prevention
If you feel like you are at a higher risk of catching a disease from your dog, you can use these methods of prevention to keep you and your dog safe.
Contact
Physical contact is one of the most ways diseases are transferred. Make sure you wash your hands after handling your Maltipoo at any point. You might also want to keep your dog extra clean to ensure they didn’t catch anything themselves. Bathing your dog will also help you maintain a better eye on your dog to notice if anything is wrong.
Don’t skip or put off vet checks. Make a scheduled time to take your dog in at spaced-out times. Also, don’t hesitate to take your dog in if you notice anything wrong with your dog.
After hearing all these risks it might make you think twice before getting a dog but this shouldn’t change your mind. There are even some doctors that recommend their patients get a dog to help them through treatments and help stabilize their mind.
There is going to be a little work involved and some people might not be able to handle it but if you can tough it out, it is likely that your life will be much improved with a furry friend by your side. If you are in search of such a furry friend you can check out our available puppies page.