What germs do stray dogs tend to carry?
What germs do stray dogs tend to carry?
Stray dogs can easily come into contact with various pathogens due to their harsh living environment and thus carry various germs. However, some stray dogs may just carry viruses in their bodies without developing any disease, so they do not show any symptoms. Rabies virus, leptospirosis, canine distemper virus and canine microvirus are the viruses that stray dogs are more likely to be infected with, and these viruses have a high lethality rate, while some others are zoonotic diseases. Therefore, if you are going to adopt a stray dog, it is best to take it to the veterinary hospital for a thorough examination first.
The chances of stray cats carrying viruses and parasites are much higher than those of domesticated dogs, which is related to their living environment. Rabies virus, leptospirosis, and worm disease are all viruses that stray dogs are more likely to carry, some of which are zoonotic. Therefore, before adopting a stray dog, the best thing is to take them for physical examination and treatment to ensure that they are in good health. Below is an overview of the germs that stray dogs are prone to carry.
What are the germs that stray dogs tend to carry
Stray dogs are susceptible to a variety of pathogens due to the special nature of their living environment, so they may carry a variety of viruses and bacteria. Here are a few viruses that stray dogs are prone to carry.
1. Rabies virus. The living environment and diet of stray dogs may expose them to the rabies virus. These dogs are usually not vaccinated against rabies or are more susceptible to contracting and spreading rabies because they are not immunized regularly. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that can be transmitted to humans through animal saliva. If you are bitten by a stray dog, you should go to the hospital for rabies vaccination to avoid infection.
2. Leptospirosis. The living environment of stray dogs is usually harsh, and they may be in unhygienic environments for long periods of time, such as garbage dumps, sewage, etc. These environments are breeding grounds for pathogens such as leptospirosis. This is a zoonotic bacterial disease that is spread mainly through contact with infected water or soil. If a stray dog carries this pathogen, there is a high risk of infection after a person comes into contact with it or comes into contact with an environment contaminated by them.
3. Canine distemper virus. Stray dogs may carry canine distemper virus, which is a highly contagious virus that can be spread through airborne, droplet and direct contact transmission, and is highly lethal to dogs.
4. Canine microvirus. Stray dogs can also carry the canine microvirus, which can be transmitted through urine, feces, saliva, and the digestive tract. And it’s a virus that’s especially deadly to canine pups, and adult dogs can be infected as well. If a person comes into contact with a healthy dog after being exposed to an affected dog, contagion may result.
In addition, stray dog feces may contain parasites or bacteria such as mange mites, worms, fungi or other bacterial infections. These parasites and bacteria can be transmitted to other animals or humans through contact, as in the case of encopresis. Encystment is a disease caused by the larvae of the fine-grained echinococcus tapeworm, and is spread primarily through contact with dog feces or other material containing the eggs of the worm. Stray dogs may carry this parasite and humans may become infected if they come into contact with contaminated environments or eat contaminated food.
Therefore, in order to minimize the health risks posed by stray dogs, personal protection, such as wearing gloves and coveralls, and proper tools should be prepared when rescuing stray dogs. Necessary examinations, such as blood, stool and skin checks, should be conducted before taking stray dogs home to ensure that they are not carrying viruses or diseases. Domestic pets should also be vaccinated regularly against zoonotic diseases such as rabies.