Episode 27: Pets and Pathogens

Both of us, Kendall and Amy, have dogs named Goose. This was purely coincidental, and we are as surprised by that fact as anyone. It's a little uncanny how much they resemble one another, too. If you'd like to see the Geese, we've added their pictures over at 2DocsTalk.com. These two certainly live the life of Riley, but they aren't the only canines who have it so good. We are a country of pet lovers. We spend over $60 billion annually on food, vet bills, toys, and silly extravagances for our animal companions. We love them, and can't imagine life without them. But did you know your pet can make you sick - and the other way around?  Today we discuss zoonotic infections - those infections that are spread from animal to human. Rabies, toxoplasmosis, and leptospirosis are a few diseases that fall into this category. We'll talk about how they are spread and treated, and give some tips on how to prevent the. We'll also talk about how we can make our pets sick, too. It's a fun show! Resources: The Thanksgiving Effect The CDC on pets and salmonella CDC info on rabies