Can My Pet Make Me Sick?

All exotic pets — even those that appear outwardly healthy — have the potential to carry and spread contagious diseases that can impact human health. This type of disease is called a zoonosis, zoonotic disease, or zoonotic infection.

Some zoonotic diseases, such as psittacosis, mycobacteriosis, and pentastomiasis, are serious threats to you and your family. These diseases can be difficult to detect without regular health screenings and specific laboratory tests. Since many zoonotic diseases are easily passed through feces, we strongly recommend having at least one fecal parasite exam performed on your pet every six months, and whenever your pet is showing any signs of illness.

This information is intended for informational purposes only. Please seek advice from your physician if you have a health concern.

How to Reduce Your Risk

• Have your exotic pet examined by a veterinarian every 6–12 months. A fecal parasite exam or other disease-specific tests may be needed to check for zoonotic diseases. Laboratory testing is the only way to identify certain infections.
• Always wash your hands with hot, soapy water after handling your pet, its cage, water bottle, food bowls, and toys, and after cleaning its litter box or coming into contact with urine or feces.
• Do not allow your pet access to the kitchen, dining room, or any area where food is prepared. Do not allow pets near bathroom sinks, tubs, or areas where infants are bathed. Consider keeping your pet caged or limiting which areas of the home it can access.
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling a pet, its cage, or its equipment. Do not kiss your pet or share food or drink with it.
• Do not use the kitchen sink, kitchen counters, or bathroom sinks and tubs to bathe your pet or clean its cage, dishes, or toys. Dispose of waste water and fecal material in the toilet rather than household drains. If a sink or bathing area is contaminated, clean with a chlorinated cleansing powder and rinse thoroughly before use.
• Children under 5 should be closely supervised around pets. If you have young children, speak with your physician about steps to minimize risks associated with pet ownership.
• Always supervise children when handling pets to ensure they do not place their hands or objects a pet has contacted in their mouths.
• Immunocompromised individuals should avoid contact with pets.

This information is not meant to discourage pet ownership. With a few exceptions — such as in households with infants or immunocompromised individuals — most people have a low risk of acquiring a zoonotic disease from their pet. That risk can be reduced even further by following these simple precautions and scheduling regular wellness exams where your pet can be examined and tested for diseases of concern.