Health Concerns For Kids With Dogs – Myths And Realities

Topic: Dogs and Kids

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There are a great many misunderstandings floating around in what is often considered "common sense" or "general understanding" with regards to health concerns between dogs and humans. There are diseases, parasites and conditions that can be transferred between dogs and humans and vice versa, and since children are less concerned about hygiene and cleanliness they are often a slightly greater risk of developing these conditions. The good news is that other that a few very serious health conditions that are relatively rare overall there are few of the transmittable diseases that should be an issue. Generally dogs that are routinely vaccinated, treated for worms and parasites and are carefully monitored for health conditions pose absolutely no risk to children with regards to disease transmission.

Fleas

Perhaps one of the most common issues with dogs and kids, or adults for that matter, is fleas. Of course this is also true for cats and kids or any other domestic mammal species and children. Since dogs are much more interactive with children and may often sleep with kids in the same bed, fleabites can be an issue. Some children, just like some dogs, are much more sensitive to fleabites than others. The good news is that fleas don't live on people like they do on dogs; they just jump on, bite and jump off. The bad news is that the bite can be very itchy and, with continued scratching by the child, can become infected. Treating fleas on the dog year round using a topical, once a month flea treatment, treating the carpet and bedding as well as flea management in the yard is the best way to prevent this problem from getting started. Antibacterial sprays to treat the bites on the child as well as anti-itching creams and lotions can be effective to minimize the problem, however full flea treatment of the dog, other pets and the house will be essential to prevent the problem from getting worse.

Worms

Dogs can be infected with several different types of worms including hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, tapeworms and heartworms. Of these five different types of worms, humans can commonly, under the right conditions, become infected with only two kinds, those being the hookworm and the roundworm. Kids are especially prone to these types of infections because they tend to not wash their hands after playing outside or with the dog. This includes washing their hands after playing with the dog toys, in soil where dogs have been or even when they have been handling the dog's bedding.

Roundworms can only be a problem if the child somehow ingests roundworm eggs or very, very rarely the larva. This typically happens when a child is playing in soil where roundworm eggs are present, usually through contaminated dog feces being in the soil at some point in time. These eggs can remain dormant in the soil for months or even years under the right conditions, waiting to be ingested by a suitable host. When the roundworms develop in the human body they migrate into the tissue and sometimes even into the eye where they can cause blindness. This condition is very rare and with proper, routine worming of the dog or dogs as well as teaching the child good hygiene when playing with animals or outdoors there is no need for concern.

Hookworms get into the body through the skin, typically when children run barefoot through contaminated areas. The small larva moves through the tissue and cause an itching sensation, inflammation and potential build up of scar tissue. Keeping the dog wormed and the area free from any fecal material is essential to prevent hookworms from becoming a problem. Kids that routinely wear shoes or sandals all summer will also have almost a zero possibility from exposure to hookworms even if they are present since the worms have no direct contact with the skin.

Ringworm

If you live on a farm you are likely very aware of ringworm since it is common in many domestic livestock species as well as cats and dogs. It is a zoonotic condition, which means it can pass between animals and humans. Ringworm is actually a fungus that infects the skin and causes a red, irritated and crusty looking circular patch that can quickly spread over the entire body. In pets it causes hair loss and it can do the same in humans. Ringworm is highly contagious between pets and people as well as people and pets, so early treatment with anti-fungal shampoos and medications as well as eliminating contact between kids and pets until it is fully treated is important.

Leptospirosis

A very rare condition, Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can be transferred from dogs to humans through infected drinking water, kids swimming in water where infected dogs or animals have been or through direct contact with the infected dog's saliva. Typically this is very unusual and areas where Leptospirosis is problem the dogs will be routinely vaccinated. Kids are far more likely to get this disease from swimming in or drinking untreated water when out camping or hiking, especially if wild animals such as raccoons, coyotes or skunks that have the bacteria have drank from the water supply. The condition results in flu-like symptoms and the bacteria is easily diagnosed by a blood test. It is treated with antibiotics and when treated there are usually no long-term health risks.

Dog Saliva and Scratches or Bites

Children are often likely to get scratched or perhaps even accidentally bitten by a dog in a game of tug a war, or even just with the dog getting over excited. These types of minimal dog bites and scratches typically aren't problematic themselves however the saliva can contain bacteria that may result in infections and inflammation. Children should learn to wash any cuts or slight scratches immediately with soap and water and treat with an antibacterial spray to prevent any possible irritation or complications. Keeping the dog's toenails trimmed as well as teaching the dog not to jump, mouth or grab at the children with his or her mouth is also an essential part of preventing these types of accidental problems.

Rabies is often mistakenly considered the most serious condition that can be passed from a dog to a person, however with modern vaccinations and increased awareness of the condition rabies in humans is very rare. Since most dogs are vaccinated for rabies plus there is also a vaccination for humans it is not the life-threatening condition that it once was for either people. Usually in dogs rabies is a fatal disease so routine and regular vaccination is essential.

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