I have said repeatedly on this blog, and I firmly believe, that children derive emotional and physical health benefits from pets. I believe that pets help children to learn patience and empathy. Studies have shown that children living with cats or dogs may be less likely to develop asthma, and that pet visits motivate hospitalized children to get well. Pets make wonderful friends and confidantes for people of all ages.

However, the intermingling of children and pets poses risks for both. Here are some guidelines for protecting your offspring and your furry pals.

Unhealthy pets can spread disease to people. Children are most at risk. The diseases range from ringworm to roundworm to rabies.

However, the key phrase in the above paragraph is unhealthy pets. The risk to children from healthy pets is very low. The first guideline for safe interactions between pets and children is therefore to confirm that your pet is free of parasites and disease. Your vet can check your pet for disease by performing a physical exam and running basic tests. Broad spectrum anti-parasite medications can be used regularly to protect your children–and your pet.

Pets occasionally bite or scratch children. I have noted that many child injuries occur when an unsupervised, poorly socialized pet interacts with an unsupervised, poorly behaved child. I therefore recommend that you properly supervise and socialize your pet, and that you properly supervise and socialize your child. It’s also a good idea to keep your cat’s nails trimmed.

Injury can be a two way street when pets and children mix. Last weekend at the emergency hospital I treated several pets who wound up hurt (accidentally, of course) when left with a child. One, a Yorkshire Terrier puppy, wiggled out of a five-year-old’s arms and broke her leg. I expect her to make a full recovery. Another, a Terrier cross, was not so lucky. A child was holding her leash and she broke loose near a busy street. I don’t need to tell you what happened next. The child was inconsolable. For the sake of your pet and your child, do not allow your child to handle your pet unsupervised until he or she is able to do it safely.

Countless other pitfalls exist. Large dogs can knock children over accidentally. Pets can steal potentially toxic (to them) foods from the hands of careless children. For the sake of both children and pets, exercise common sense and practice due diligence.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

• DVM Newsmagazine: Rabies Rate in Cats Four Times That in Dogs
• Despite Controversy There is no Doubt That Vaccines Save Lives
• How is Ringworm Diagnosed?
• What are the Rationales Behind Rabies Vaccine Schedules?
• Study Suggests Hearworm Incidence is Rising

How can you tell if your pet has ringworm?

Sherry
Montgomery, AL

Ringworm is an extremely frustrating syndrome.

Ringworm is not a worm. It is a fungus. The fungus is ubiquitous. It can spread from pets to people, and vice-versa. It also can be contracted from the environment. It is almost impossible to eliminate ringworm from a contaminated area.

The fungi that cause ringworm often cause a red, circular rash on the skin of infected humans. The rash looks like a worm under the skin. This is the origin of the name. In animals, ringworm may cause hair loss, scabbing, red skin, or itching.

A black light can be used to diagnose some forms of ringworm. Microscopic evaluation of specially prepared hairs is used in other cases. The most reliable method of diagnosis involves plucking several hairs from a suspected lesion and using a special culture plate to isolate the fungus. This process can take up to ten days to yield a diagnosis.

It is not possible to diagnose ringworm through visual evaluation of a suspected lesion.

In my experience, ringworm is overdiagnosed in pets. Children often catch the disease at school (or in the garden), and pets often are wrongly held to blame. In my experience, pets are as likely to contract ringworm from people as the other way around.

That said, it is possible for pets to spread ringworm to humans. Any pet with a suspicious skin lesion should go to the vet for a ringworm culture.

Go to my web site for more information on ringworm:

http://drbarchas.com/ringworm

Photo: Caroldermoid. [Note: I am not convinced the cat in the photo has ringworm. Allergies are more likely.]

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

• Can Pets and People Share “Superbugs”?
• How Much and How Often Should I Feed my Dog?
• Why do Pets Twitch When Their Skin is Touched?
• Children and Pets are Good for Each Other. Follow Basic Guidelines so Nobody Gets Hurt.
• Which Ingredients are Most Likely to Cause Food Allergies in Dogs and Cats?

My cat is 1 yr. old and she keeps sores directly
behind both ears, she also scratches this area
alot. She has had this case since she was a
kitten. What causes sores in this area?And could
this be some sort of fungal issue?

Angela
Maysville, GA

Several syndromes can cause skin lesions adjacent to the ears.

In kittens and young adult cats, ear mites are common culprits. Ear mites, as the name implies, infest the ears. They cause excessive ear wax production and make the ears intensely itchy. Affected cats sometimes scratch so fiercely that they traumatize the skin behind their ears.

Ear infections and foreign objects (such as foxtails) lodged in the ears may cause itching and self trauma as well.

Allergies can cause skin problems. Cats that are allergic to food, fleas or environmental agents such as pollen or detergents may develop sores on the face or head. Rarely, autoimmune syndromes can cause sores in the areas you mention.

Finally, skin infections with bacteria or fungus can cause hair loss. In particular, a fungal infection called ringworm often strikes young cats on or near the ears. Ringworm is contagious to people.

Your cat needs to see a veterinarian. In most cases, vets easily are able to sort out the nature of problems such as you describe.

Photo: Mocha’s ears and face look healthy.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

• How Much and How Often Should I Feed my Dog?
• Which Ingredients are Most Likely to Cause Food Allergies in Dogs and Cats?
• How is Ringworm Diagnosed?
• How Can I Determine the Age of my Cat?
• Why do Puppies and Kittens Produce so Much Waste?