Can you get diseases from cat saliva? let find out. Keeping pets (mainly cats and dogs) is a habit and hobby of many people.
Today, it is not difficult for us to see many families letting cats live in the house. We see cats getting closer and closer to humans; they are associated with every activity, from lying on the desk, urinating on the same toilet, to sleeping in the same bed. Besides the benefits of close contact with cats, there are also harms, including the cat’s saliva.
Can cat saliva cause disease?
The short answer is yes. Cat saliva can cause disease. The bacterium Bartonella henselae, which can be found on cat fleas and in sick cats’ saliva, causes cat scratch disease (CSD). And cuddly gestures you give your pet can get you infected!. If you are a smoker or drink alcohol, then you are at high risk. Be careful danger of the disease.
Cat saliva can cause You disease
Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteria is one and according to a recent case in the US, cats were thought to be the cause of a type of bacterial infection that had consequences in a patient hospitalized for a long time and at high risk for sepsis. Fortunately, the patient was later saved.
However, the patient’s case has caused many questions to be raised about the close relationship with the cats. The bacteria in question is Capnocytophaga canimorsus, commonly found in cats’ mouths. It is estimated that about three-quarters of healthy cats carry this bacteria in their oral cavity. But these cats are not affected by health.
The Cuddly gestures you give your pet can get you infected
The risk of catching these bacteria from cats often comes from the intimate, cuddly gestures you give your pet. Therefore, you need to reconsider the level of closeness with cats, especially their tongues, to best avoid them.How do people get infected?
If you are a smoker or drink alcohol, then you are at high risk.
Here you will see Signs of infection: symptoms of infection by Capnocytophaga canimorsus usually appear 3 to 5 days after exposure to the microorganism.
They are generally present only in people with altered defences, such as those who have had their spleen removed.
Smokers and people who drink alcohol or use drugs that decrease the activity of the immune system, as in the case of people being treated for cancer or HIV, for example, are at risk.
The main symptoms associated with infection by Capnocytophaga canimorsus are:
- Fever
- Vomit
- Diarrhoea
- Muscle and joint pain
- Redness or swelling in the area that has been licked or bitten
- Blisters appear around the wound or licking site
- Headache
Infection with Capnocytophaga canimorsus occurs primarily by scratching or biting a dog or cat. Still, it can also occur from direct contact with the animal’s saliva, through kissing on the mouth or snout or licking.
If infection by Capnocytophaga canimorsus is not identified and treated quickly, especially in the most susceptible individuals, various complications can occur, such as heart disease, kidney failure, and gangrene. In addition, there may be sepsis when bacteria spread through the bloodstream, leading to more severe symptoms and possibly death. Understand what sepsis is.
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Be Careful The Danger Of Disease.
When people come into contact with bacteria, they rarely get sick or have health problems. However, problems will sometimes occur, especially for people with weakened immune systems.
With a reported mortality rate of approximately 30%, awareness of the susceptibility of Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteria is significant for populations with particular health conditions, such as the elderly.
One point worth noting, in this case, is that most patients become infected after being licked by the cat, not through a bite.
If bacteria enter the body through a bite, the consequences will be severe, possibly leading to gangrene and having to remove the necrotic tissue.
Final thought
I’ve discussed some of the causes, and damage cat saliva can do to the human body in this essay. Cats are our best friends; sometimes, they can make our day great. However, we should also understand and prevent some diseases related to cat saliva.
Q and A
What cause Cat salivate
Unlike dogs, cats will not frequently salivate. If your cat is suddenly drooling, you should determine the cause because some cases warn of severe diseases to the health of cats.
Ideally, it would be best to take your cat to the veterinarian to determine the condition. However, you can initially observe the phenomena by determining the cause. Some common reasons I would like to share in the article below!
Having fun: When petted, the cat will appear happy, purr, and accompanied by salivation. Salivate while comfortable and relaxed reminds babies of themselves as kittens.
When cats reach adulthood, petting will make them feel satisfied and stimulate salivation because it is related to eating milk in childhood; accompanied by a purring sound when babies are stroked and salivated.
How Will The Cat Feel If The Owner Died?(Explained)
Being stressed
Stress and fear can cause a cat to drool during specific periods, such as when in a car, visiting the vet for a check-up, or when the cat has some problem.
If the salivation is for a short period, there is no need to worry. But if the drooling lasts long, you should immediately take your cat to the vet!
Some causes of abnormal saliva flow in cats
Dental disease
Dental disease in cats is difficult to detect until the condition becomes severe enough to cause the cat to cry out in pain.
During pain, saliva is secreted excessively. Dental disease can be caused by mouth ulcers, damaged gums, or infected replacement teeth.
Nausea
Once your cat is nauseous, there is usually much drool. Numerous factors can cause nausea and vomiting in cats, including kidney disease, liver disease, gastrointestinal inflammation, etc. If your cat shows nausea, vomiting, or is not eating well, it is best to take it to the vet.
Sticky poison
Cats that have licked, chewed, or the ingested poison may produce excessive saliva. This includes poisonous plants, skin-damaging chemicals, and toxic foods.
Stuck something in the mouth
Your cat may have something in his throat. If you find a string in your cat’s mouth, don’t pull it out. That string can wrap around something in the cat’s stomach or intestines, and pulling it out can cause significant damage.
Injury to the mouth
Injuries to the mouth often lead to excessive salivation. Cats that have chewed on electrical cords can burn their mouths and lead to salivation.
A cat who has been severely injured in the jaw can also salivate. Cats with mouth injuries from fighting also drool.
Perhaps you won’t be able to view an external wound, but drooling signifies that you must bring your pet to the veterinarian.
How is the treatment done?
Treatment for this type of infection is accomplished primarily with antibiotics, such as penicillins, ampicillin, and third-generation cephalosporins, such as ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and cefixime, which should be used as recommended by your doctor.
Also, suppose the cat has licked, bitten, or scratched any part of the human body. In that case, the region has to be cleaned with soap and water, and consulted by a doctor, even if asymptomatic, as not only can Capnocytophaga canimorsus be transmitted by cats, it can be rabies.
Cat scratch disease and treatment
An ailment known as cat scratch fever is brought on by Bartonella henselae. Symptoms are localized papules and lymphadenitis. A biopsy or serological testing supports the clinical diagnosis. Treatment is fever, pain medication, and sometimes antibiotics.
Symptoms and signs
Within 3 to 10 days of a bite or scratch, most patients with cat scratch disease develop a red, scaly rash (rarely a pustule) at the scratch.
Enlarged lymph nodes form within two weeks. The lymph nodes are initially dense and tender, then become loose, and there may be a fistula to drain the pus. Lymphadenopathy may accompany a fever, malaise, headache, and appetite loss.
Unusual symptoms present in 11 to 12% of patients:
- Parinaud’s conjunctivitis syndrome (conjunctivitis involving the preauricular lymph nodes) in 6%
- Neurological manifestations (encephalopathy, epilepsy, neuro-retinitis [causing acute unilateral vision loss], myelitis, paraplegia of the lower extremities, cerebral arteritis) in 2%
- Hepatosplenomegaly in <1%
Patients may also have an unexplained fever. B. henselae and localized lymphadenitis The clinical diagnosis is supported by a biopsy or endocarditis of unknown origin, often seen in patients with pre-existing valvular disease. In immunocompromised patients, B. henselae can cause bacilli vasculitis and pelvic pathology. Diffuse disease progression can occur in patients with AIDS.
Diagnose
- Acute and convalescent serology or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test
- Sometimes a lymph node biopsy
How is the treatment done?
- Fever reducer and pain reliever.
- Sometimes antibiotics are given to immunocompromised patients.
Treatment of cat scratch disease in immunocompromised patients is to reduce fever and relieve pain. If the lymph nodes are liquefied, fine-needle aspiration may ease the pain.
How do we prevent diseases related to cat saliva?
- Fully vaccinated pets and yearly booster shots as recommended by the veterinary industry.
- Do not play or tease cats.
- If a cat bites, scratches or licks you, you need to :
– Wash the wound thoroughly with water and strong soap continuously for 15 minutes; if soap is not available, flush the wound with clean water – this is an effective first aid measure to reduce the risk of rabies when an infected cat bites.
– Then, wash the wound with 70% alcohol, iodine alcohol, or Povidone, Iodine.
– Limit bruising and do not cover the wound.
– Go to the nearest medical centre for advice and timely rabies vaccination. Only vaccination can prevent rabies.
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