While the majority of canine STDs cannot be transmitted between species (such as via direct exposure to infected blood), some conditions, such as brucellosis, can also infect humans.
Canine parvovirus ("parvo")
The virus is very contagious and attacks the gastrointestinal system, causing fever, vomiting and severe, often bloody, diarrhea.
Some common infectious diseases are canine parvovirus (acute gastrointestinal illness), leptospirosis (bacterial infection), bordetella (a respiratory disease) and canine distemper, which affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous system.
The region is in the midst of an unusual outbreak of canine influenza, a highly contagious virus that can mirror symptoms of “kennel cough,” according to local veterinarians, who first noticed a trend of dogs testing positive in early January.
Can humans catch gastroenteritis from dogs? Usually, gastroenteritis cannot be passed from your dog to you. However, the most common cause of gastroenteritis in humans is a bacteria called Campylobacterosis. Dogs can carry this bacteria and it will infect other animals and people who come into contact with their stool.
The diagnosis of leptospirosis should be considered in any patient presenting with an abrupt onset of fever, chills, conjunctival suffusion, headache, myalgia and jaundice. History of occupational or recreational exposure to infected animals or to an environment potentially contaminated with animal urine.
Since parvovirus B19 only infects humans, a person cannot get the virus from a dog or cat. Also, dogs and cats cannot get parvovirus B19 from an infected person. Pet dogs and cats can get infected with other parvoviruses that do not infect humans. Pets can be vaccinated to protect them from parvovirus infection.
The state has found some evidence of parvovirus — which spreads from dog to dog, strikes in their gastrointestinal tracts and can be lethal.
The signs of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose, fever, lethargy, eye discharge, and reduced appetite, but not all dogs will show signs of illness. The severity of illness associated with canine flu in dogs can range from no signs to severe illness resulting in pneumonia and sometimes death.
On May 5, 2023, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health alerted Minneapolis Animal Control of several positive cases found in Minneapolis. Canine influenza is a highly infectious virus spread among dogs. The virus is not believed to be a threat to humans, although it can infect cats.
Dog chlamydia is not an STD but there are similarities to the human version. Both humans and dogs do not always show signs of infection and can develop more serious problems when left undetected. But the chances of a person catching the disease from their dog are 'extremely rare.
Because kennel cough is contagious to humans, catching kennel cough from a dog is possible. However, the people most at risk are those with an underlying medical condition. Even then, it is still unlikely to develop symptoms.
Dog owners are recommended to wash their hands after any direct contact with their dogs, their products, urine, or feces. Most of the viral and bacterial infections are transmitted from dogs to humans by dog bite; however, other infections caused by protozoa have a fecal oral transmission.
Leptospira enters the host through mucosa and broken skin, resulting in bacteremia. The spirochetes multiply in organs, most commonly the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver. They are cleared by the immune response from the blood and most tissues but persist and multiply for some time in the kidney tubules.
Germs from dogs can cause a variety of illnesses, from minor skin infections to serious illnesses. One of the best ways you can protect yourself from getting sick is to thoroughly wash your hands after handling, caring for, feeding, or cleaning up after dogs.
Stomach Bug
Your unexplained upset stomach could be all Fido's fault. A germ called Campylobacter jejuni causes diarrhea, vomiting, and fever—and it can be spread via cat and dog poop. “Bacteria and organisms in feces can get on our hands and, through day-to-day living, can inadvertently get in our mouths,” says Stull.
While dogs may indeed be man's best friend, it turns out that they also have the ability to harbor one of man's most common enemies – norovirus. A study out of Finland has shown that pet dogs can carry human strains of norovirus and pass them on to people in the household.
Some of the signs of parvovirus include lethargy; loss of appetite; abdominal pain and bloating; fever or low body temperature (hypothermia); vomiting; and severe, often bloody, diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock.
Vomit that looks like white foam or foamy saliva instead of chunky or yellow vomit is often because of excess gas and air in the stomach. In most instances, your dog is throwing up white foam because there's nothing much left in his stomach to eliminate.
The mysterious parvolike illness seen in several dogs in northern Michigan has been identified as canine parvovirus, state officials announced Aug. 24. The confirmation by the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory comes after initial tests failed to characterize the highly contagious virus.