Can my dog carry bacteria harmful to babies? Vet tests & cost?

I am sure that was a very lovely surprise! Of course there are no guarantees what s/he chewed on but many dogs do this without us even knowing and without any long-term concerns. I think you are right to keep your dog from licking your child for a while, just in case, as well as monitoring your dog for diarrhea. Be aware that peroxide can cause vomiting in dogs. If you would like something topical to spray on, you could try something like this: Finally, it would be a good idea to discuss checking for internal parasites with your vet as these can easily be transmitted to children. They can typically screen for them with a simple stool test. I hope this is helpful!

Histoplasma is a fungus that can be found in the environment and specifically areas with bird and bat excrement. It is not generally spread directly from one animal to another, but certainly your other dog may have been exposed if they have been in the same areas. As far as human transmission, the biggest concern would be something like an accidental needle puncture with the organism, so your vet is much more at risk that your newborn. However, again there is concern if the soil in your area is contaminated. I think I would wait for the mass to be removed and to get the histopathology report on the mass to get confirmation of the disease, then start looking for possible locations of infection to try to prevent infection in anyone else. I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry to hear that your daughter has been hospitalized with vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Good for you for seeking professional advice regarding the possibility of spreading this type of infection. Unfortunately, there have been some case reports of dogs acquiring this type of bacterial infection. While transmission of VRE is not common for humans to dogs, I don't think that it would be wise to take the risk. In veterinary medicine, we avoid using some of the "more potent" antibiotics that this infection can be susceptible to, so that there is less potential for resistance should humans become infected and need treatment. In this case, should her dog become infected, we would have fewer antibiotic options at our disposal for management. I hope that your daughter is feeling better soon!

The only way to know if a dog was infected with rabies is to monitor for signs of rabies. The test for rabies uses brain tissue so it can't be done on an alive animal. There is a 15 day window of time from when an animal can transmit rabies until the animal would be showing clinical signs of rabies and then death. If there is no history of a bite wound on the pet dog than the likelihood of rabies is very low. If you ever see any signs of rabies than have him/her examined by a veterinarian. There are other diseases that can be transmitted to humans, like Ringworm, Salmonellosis, Leptospirosis, Campylobacter infection, Giardia infection, Cryptosporidium infection, Roundworms, Hookworms, etc. If your dog was examined by a vet and appears healthy, vaccinated, as well as treated for common intestinal parasites than it is not likely you will get an infection from him/her, especially if you have a normal immune system. Use a monthly heartworm pill that also contains a dewormer, like Heartgard or Interceptor to decrease the chance of your dog getting intestinal parasites in the future.

Hello, thank you for your question about Luna. Yes, dogs do carry other diseases/organisms that can be transmitted to humans. Some intestinal parasites that dogs are susceptible too can also lead to sickness in humans. Additionally, other infectious organisms such as leptospirosis can be transmitted to humans. There are other contagious conditions, but the above mentioned are some of the more common. It is always key to practice good hygeine and hand washing while around animals to prevent transmission of any organisms. If you are experiencing any symptoms I would recommend contacting your doctor. Hope this helps.

Yes. They can pass viruses, bacteria and parasites to each other. Your veterinarian can examine the stool under a microscope to help figure out the cause. Sometimes other diagnostics are also needed. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

[Rabies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/rabies/) in rats and other small rodents is extremely rare. I would be more concerned with the possibility that the rat had been poisoned elsewhere and its weakness was why your dog was able to catch and kill it. Leptospirosis, an infectious disease that affects the liver and/or kidneys, is also a high risk from contact with rats. Other possible diseases your dog could contract from contact with rats are: • Rat Bite Fever (*Streptobacillus moniliformis* form). Dogs can be infected by the bacteria by biting or eating infected rats. Dogs do not themselves get sick, but serve as carriers for the infection, passing it along to humans. • [Tularemia](https://www.petcoach.co/article/tularemia-rabbit-fever-in-dogs) is caused by the *Francisella tularensis* bacterium. Rabbits, hares and rodents, including rats, are particularly susceptible to the organism, and often die in large numbers during an outbreak. If a dog eats a rat (or other animal) infected by this organism or drinks water contaminated by infected rodent waste, the dog can become ill as well as passing the disease on to humans. Symptoms in dogs include refusal to eat, fever, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea. If not caught and treated, it can lead to death. In humans the symptoms are specific to the mode of infection (deer fly, ticks, contaminated water, handling dead infected animals, etc.) but can include: chills, eye irritation, fever, headache, joint stiffness, muscle pain, ulcers on skin, shortness of breath, sweating and weight loss. • [Bubonic plague](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/plague): dogs can become carriers of the *Yersinia pestis* bacterium if they are bitten by the flea of an infected rat. Dogs do not tend to be sickened by bubonic plague but can pass the disease on to human caretakers. • [Salmonellosis](https://www.petcoach.co/article/small-pet-rodents-can-pose-a-salmonella-risk-to-humans) can be transmitted to a dog that encounters the fecal material of rats, other rodents and especially reptiles. Symptoms in canines include: fever, diarrhea, dehydration and shock. Death can occur if untreated, and the dog can spread the infection to human through its feces.