Wash Your Hands Around Pets

Are you washing your hands enough around your pets?  Global Handwashing Day is October 15  Let’s face it: we love our pets, but they can be gross sometimes. Animals – even our beloved pets – can spread germs that can make people sick, from parasites to bacteria. Even clean and healthy pets can spread germs.   Odds are that you aren’t washing your hands enough around your pets. Handwashing is the easiest and best way to stay healthy around animals. It’s especially important for young kids, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems to wash hands regularly because they’re more likely to get seriously sick from germs animals can carry.   In a perfect world, you would wash your hands after every time you touch your pet. If you can’t do that, here are the most important times you should wash your hands around pets.

 

After handling pet food or treats   Pet food and treats can be contaminated with germs like Salmonella. Raw pet food is especially risky. Don’t feed your pets raw pet food or uncooked meat. Pet food includes frozen or live rodents for pet reptiles!

After touching pet supplies   Germs can contaminate pet supplies like cages, tanks, toys, and food and water dishes. Pet reptiles, amphibians, hedgehogs, and rodents can spread Salmonella germs in their poop, which can contaminate items in their habitats, including tank water. Clean and disinfect your pet’s supplies regularly.

 

After picking up pet poop    Parasites, bacteria, and other germs can spread through pet poop. Always wash your hands after scooping litterboxes or picking up dog poop, even if you used gloves or a bag.

Get More Info

 

Healthy Pets, Healthy People is CDC's one-stop-shop for information on staying healthy around pets and other animals. Visit the website or follow @CDC_NCEZID for more updates.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd   Atlanta, GA 30329   1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)   TTY: 888-232-6348