Animals
during Pregnancy – What You Need to Know To Prevent Infection
If you work with or live
with animals, there are some precautions you should take when you are
pregnant. This is because all animals
have germs, and they can transmit illnesses to you and possibly to your unborn
baby and young children.
No matter what kind of
animal(s) you have, here are some tips to apply to any animal or pet,
especially when you are pregnant:
* Follow good hand hygiene
practices to reduce the chances of being infected.
* Do not allow your pet to
be in contact with any food surfaces, or where you wash or store your dishes.
* Also, avoid kissing your pets or allowing
them to "kiss" you on the face.
* Avoid cleaning pet
supplies and cages in your kitchen sink.
If you use the tub to clean anything, disinfect afterwards.
In what follows, you will
learn about the risks posed by specific animals or pets, and what precautions
you should take with each of them.
1. Dogs
* Ensure that your dog's
vaccinations are current.
* Make sure that your dog
has been dewormed.
* Ensure that your dog does
not jump on your abdomen when you are pregnant.
* Do not touch your dog's
feces.
2. Cats
* Toxoplasmosis is the most
common infection that can occur. You get
it from coming in contact with a parasite in your cat's feces.
* Cats can contract it after
eating infected rodents, hence a good reason to have only indoor cats. They can
also contract it before they are born, if the mother cat is exposed to it.
* You can have your cat
tested by your veterinarian to determine if he has been exposed to the
bacteria.
* Infection with
toxoplasmosis can result in miscarriages, and birth defects such as blindness.
* You do not need to get rid
of your cat. You can still pet and enjoy
your cat. Just make sure that someone
else in your household cleans the cat's litter box.
* If you do have to clean
the litter box, make sure that you wear gloves to avoid contact with the
feces. Then wash the gloves (or use
disposables) and your hands thoroughly afterwards.
* Toxoplasmosis can also be
transmitted through soil, so be sure to wear gloves if you are gardening. Also, be sure to wash your hands well after
you are done gardening.
* You may want to cover your
other children's outdoor sandbox to ensure outdoor cats cannot use it as a litter
box.
3. Birds
* Birds can transmit
infections such as salmonella and other germs.
* Ask someone else to clean
your bird's cage.
4. Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, and Other Rodents
* These pets can become
infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), when they are at breeding
facilities or at the pet store. The
common house mouse carries this same virus.
* It is a threat to pregnant
mothers, as it can result in miscarriages and various birth defects.
In order to reduce the risk,
it is best to stay away from rodents of any kind – domestic pets or wild. This is because the virus can be transmitted
via the feces, urine, saliva, and nesting materials of these animals.
* If you have a pet rodent,
be sure that you do not change its cage.
In addition, keep it in an entirely separate section of your home where
you do not spend time.
5. Amphibians and Reptiles
* These include salamanders,
frogs, snakes, lizards, turtles, etc.
Unfortunately, these are not safe pets to have during pregnancy or the
first five years of your child's life when your child's immune system is still
developing.
* They carry risk of infection
from salmonella, which they carry on their skin and can be passed in their
feces.
* In the past, pet
constrictor snakes have killed unattended babies and young children.
6. Cattle
* If you own cattle, you
likely own a ranch or a hobby farm. Cattle can carry the E.coli (Escherichia coli)
bacteria, which is passed through their feces.
* Ensure you wash your hands
thoroughly after being in contact with cattle.
Also, be sure to wash fruits and vegetables well, as they may have been
exposed to contaminated soil. During
pregnancy, you may want to avoid drinking well water, if there is any risk that
runoff from your farm animals has contaminated your well.
In summary, you must use
common sense when handling any animals during your pregnancy. Some animals such as amphibians and reptiles
pose more risk. By making wise decisions
now, you can ensure that you increase the chances of having a healthy baby.
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