TAKING CARE OF PETS

Dog hygiene
Risk of transmission from contact with dogs is low and may be further reduced by simple precautions.
Dogs should be seen by a veterinarian on a regular basis.
Dogs should be treated promptly for diarrhea.
Dogs should be vaccinated for rabies.
Dogs should be treated to prevent heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis).
Effective flea control requires treatment of affected dogs, their environment, and other animals they contact.
Dogs should be fed high quality commercial food.
Dogs should not eat raw meat or eggs. Raw meat may have higher rates of Campylobacter and Salmonella in their stools
Dogs should not be allowed to eat garbage, feces, or hunt.
Dogs should not be allowed to drink non-potable water (e.G, surface water or toilet water).
Dogs should be inspected for ticks regularly.
Dog owners should wash their hands following contact with or cleaning up dog feces.
Groups at high risk for serious infection from pets include: Persons with waning immunity (e.G, older adults); children less than five years old; pregnant women and immunocompromised patients with AIDS, those without a functioning spleen or taking immunosuppressive therapy
To avoid infections, people at higher risk should take particular precautions with any animal contact.
They should do thorough and frequent hand wash
They should avoid contact with animals and their environment (e.G, pens, bedding and manure).
HIV positive patients should carry following precautions
When obtaining a new pet, they should avoid animals aged 6 months (or 1 year for cats)
They should be cautious when obtaining a pet from pet-breeding facilities, pet stores, and animal shelters, because of highly variable hygienic and sanitary conditions.
They should avoid stray animals.
They should avoid contact with any animal that has diarrhea.
They should seek veterinary care for animals with diarrheal illness, and a fecal sample from such animals should be examined for Cryptosporidium, Salmonella and Campylobacter.
They should wash their hands after handling pets, including before eating, and should avoid contact with pets' feces.
They should avoid contact with reptiles (e.G, snakes, lizards, iguanas, and turtles) as well as chicks and ducklings because of the risk for salmonellosis.
They should wear gloves during aquarium cleaning to reduce the risk for infection with Mycobacterium marinum.
They should avoid contact with exotic pets (e.G, nonhuman primates).