Pets actually carry many zoonotic infectious disease pathogens, including rabies, which many people fear. In fact, these infectious diseases can be completely prevented if the owner regularly vaccinates their pet. The editor has summarized some common zoonotic infectious diseases carried by pets, which owners should not ignore.

Zoonotic infectious diseases can now be prevented through vaccines and other methods

　　1. Infectious Diseases in Dogs
　　The main hosts of the rabies virus are wild animals, but the rabies virus infecting humans is mainly carried and transmitted by dogs and cats. It should be noted that apparently healthy dogs can also carry the virus and transmit rabies. The incubation period for rabies in humans varies, as short as 5 days, or as long as 19 years or more, generally 1–3 months. The higher the virulence of the virus or the larger the invasion dose, wounds closer to the head, or elderly and weak individuals, the shorter the incubation period. Typical symptoms after onset are “fear, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, sensitivity to sound, light, wind, and a sensation of throat constriction,” commonly called “hydrophobia.”
　　Infected dogs initially show behavioral changes, drooping tail, lethargy, reduced appetite, and indifference to owners. About 2 days later, they enter an excited state with altered barking, frantic running, walking with head down and tail tucked, often suddenly biting people and other animals, swallowing foreign objects, not recognizing familiar people, tongue protrusion, excessive salivation, later developing hind limb paralysis, and dying from respiratory center paralysis. The time from onset to death is about 3-7 days.
　　2. Infectious Diseases from Cats
　　1. Toxoplasmosis: Cats easily harbor Toxoplasma. After infection, humans may experience fever, general weakness, conjunctivitis, muscle soreness, joint pain, and lymphadenopathy. Women infected during pregnancy may harm the fetus, causing abnormal development such as hydrocephalus, microcephaly, microphthalmia, consciousness or motor impairments.
　　2. Cat Scratch Disease: Cats can also cause “cat scratch disease,” manifested by the appearance of painless papules near the scratch (bite) site within 1–2 weeks, lymph node swelling, and sometimes suppuration after a cat or dog scratch or bite.
　　3. Be Careful of Pneumonia When Raising Pigeons
　　Pigeons carry many fungi, such as the new Cryptococcus. When people closely contact pigeons, the new Cryptococcus enters the human body through the respiratory tract, causing inflammation in the lungs. Patients show symptoms such as fever, cough, sputum, chest pain, and wheezing.
　　Doctors call respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath caused by pigeon contact “pigeon breeder’s pneumonia.” If Cryptococcus causes meningitis, it will lead to more severe consequences.
　　4. Precautions for Preventing Diseases When Raising Pets
　　To avoid zoonotic diseases, firstly, pay attention to “quality” when buying pets. The pet should look healthy, have a clean area around the anus, no fleas, lice or other external parasites, clean skin without pustules, eczema, or hair loss. When rescuing stray animals, they should be treated for internal and external parasites.
　　Pets should have regular health check-ups and vaccinations to prevent many infectious diseases. Regular bathing of cats and dogs, disinfecting and cleaning feeding utensils and bedding, avoiding allowing pets into the bedroom, and never sharing a bed with pets are recommended. If bitten by cats, dogs, or rodents, rabies vaccine should be administered within 24 hours at a health and epidemic prevention station. Additionally, vaccination should be regularly maintained as prescribed to prevent disease.