Should you wash your hands after touching pets?
To decrease the possibility of contracting a zoonotic disease (a disease transmitted between animals and humans), it is essential to wash hands with soap and water after petting, feeding, handling, or having any other contact with animals, their living quarters, or their waste. …
Do pet gerbils carry diseases?
There are disease concerns with both wild (rats, mice) and pet (rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs) rodents and rabbits. They can carry many diseases including hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia and Salmonella.
Do you have to wash your hands after touching a chinchilla?
After you touch your pet rodents, rabbits, and other small animals, wash your hands so you don’t get sick! Small pets can carry Salmonella germs and still appear healthy and clean.
Should I wash hands after touching my cat?
Although cats are very clean animals, sometimes they have germs, especially in their poop and in their mouths, that can make you sick. Don’t touch your cat’s bum (most of them don’t like that!), and always wash your hands after playing with a cat. Don’t let a cat lick your face or any sores.
Should you wash your hands if a dog licks you?
You should also wash your hands right after a dog licks them, or at least before touching your face and eating, since this is another way that pathogens can enter your body. “It doesn’t matter if it’s your dog or someone else’s that licked you, you should still wash your face and hands after,” Reynolds says.
Why do we need to avoid touching animals?
To lower your risk of getting a disease from an animal: Avoid touching animal feces or urine. Avoid touching an animal, then touching your face, food, or other things you’ll touch later, such as a phone or a wallet.
Do chinchillas like hugs?
Chinchillas are commonly bred as pets in the U.S. and are available from reputable breeders, pet stores and rescue groups. They tend to be affectionate, curious and social animals that can bond closely with their owners and generally like to be held close and cuddled.