Our pets are a very important part of our lives. About two-thirds of U.S. households now own at least one pet, and as many as 90% of kids live with a pet at some time during their childhood. Recently, more and more evidence is mounting that our animal friends (especially our four-legged furry ones) are good for our health and wellness.
These benefits are thought to include:
In fact, animal-assisted therapy and pet-facilitated therapy programs are becoming common in hospitals and nursing homes.
While our interactions with our pets are important to our health and well-being, they do put us at risk for expose to a variety of illnesses that we must guard against. These illnesses include salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis, cat scratch disease, and even rabies, among others.
Particularly vulnerable to many of these illnesses are children under the age of 5 years, pregnant women, adults over 65 years, and those with weakened immune systems.
Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones while you enjoy those special members of your household: