03 - pets and the immunocompromised owner

Question 1

1. What recommendations would you have for pet selection and precautions for the immunocompromised pet owner?

Answer 1

1. no immunosuppressed animals, exotic/wild animals (esp REPTILES), sick animals, stray/wild animals, baby chicks/ducks

(remove pet for awhile after organ tranpslant)

Question 2

1. Top 3 common zoonitic diseases?
2. how can they be prevented?

Answer 2

1. toxo, crypto, salmonella
2. don’t let pets drink out of toilet, don’t let hunt/scavenge, wash hands, don’t eat undercooked meat/unpasteurized milk

wash hands after handling pets or changing litter/have someone else change litter, change daily, use dust free litter

Question 3

1. What type of animals are appropriate therapy animals for nursing homes or hospital visits?
2. what are not?

Answer 3

1. healthy vx dogs and cats
2. unhealthy, not vx, reptiles, young animals cause of training issues

Question 4

1. What precautions should be taken prior to animal visitation or animal placement in long term care facilities?

Answer 4

1. bath animal two days before visit to reduce allergens, make sure vx, develop a list of acceptable animals with a vet and doctor

Question 5

1. which animals pose a risk for severely immunocompromised individuals?

Answer 5

1. repitles, baby chicks/ducks, exotic pets (nonhuman primates), wild animals (eg raccoons)