Infectious animal faces

Children love pets and animals are great for helping children form attachments and improve their social skills. But you should follow a few simple health and safety guidelines to keep everyone happy.

Hygiene

Toxoplasmosis and salmonella are two examples of animal-related infections which can be passed on to humans through poor hygiene. Toddlers should be encouraged not to put dirty fingers into their mouths. Do not let a dog or cat lick a child’s face.

Wash your hands

before meals
before handling babies bottles or utensils
before preparing food and after handling raw meat
after you have handled or cleared up after a pet
after changing your baby’s nappy
after doing the gardening

Look after your pet

Worm your pet regularly
Keep the vaccinations up to date
Check for fleas and signs of ringworm (a fungal skin infection) and treat accordingly
Take your pet to the vet for an annual check-up

If your pet does become ill, don’t allow your child to touch or stroke it. If you are pregnant, do not touch it yourself, particularly if the illness involves an upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhoea. These symptoms could indicate a bacterial infection, such as salmonella, which could be passed on to you (affecting your unborn baby too), or your child.
Don’t handle cat litter if pregnant - get someone else to do it.

Infections in animal faeces

Two different infections can be present in faeces – toxoplasmosis (cats) and toxocariasis (dogs).

Toxoplasmosis is a fairly harmless infection, except in early pregnancy when it can cause miscarriage or blindness in the unborn baby, and may even prove fatal once the baby is born. Although it is most commonly passed on through eating under-cooked meat, it can be found in cat faeces. If you’re pregnant and worried, contact your doctor for diagnosis via a blood test.

Toxocariasis is read more