Ever wonder if it’s possible to pass the flu onto the family dog and vice versa?
Or whether cleaning out the cat box can make you ill? Or if it’s safe to pick up bats?
Answers to these animal-related questions and more can now be found online via a new website created by researchers from the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College.
Professor Scott Weese have started a “Worms & Germs Blog” to educate people about zoonotic diseases.
Those are illness that can be transmitted between animals and humans as well as to provide general information about topics related to animal health and pet care.
Professor Weese says during the summer months a lot of families visit petting zoos and if they are run well, there are very few risks.
However some of these zoos have animals that can carry diseases that can be passed one to young people especially if they don’t wash their hands after coming in contact with the animal.
Weese says the special blog also carries information about some of the different risks that exist on the farm and what farmers should do to try and reduce those.
He says it all comes down to basic stuff like hygiene, washing you hands and avoid hand face contact to avoid becoming infected with some farm based illness
