9 Steps to Protect Your Family From Zoonosis

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The scientific term for an illness transmitted from animals to humans is zoonosis. Zoonotic diseases can be a nuisance, like ringworm or cat scratch fever, but some zoonotic diseases, such

as Lyme disease and rabies, can cause serious, life-threatening illnesses.

With our pets in the house, eating in the kitchen, prowling around countertops, and sleeping in our beds, we're at a much greater risk than ever from these diseases.

And it's not just dogs and cats that are health threats. From coyotes to mosquitoes, creatures great and small carry diseases that can spread to humans. So what can we do to protect

ourselves and our families from zoonotic diseases?

Experts offer these nine simple steps to minimizing the risks of acquiring a disease spread by animals.

Look for warning signs that an animal may be ill. It's not a good sign if a puppy is listless, a cat is losing fur or a bird is dropping feathers. Diarrhea in any animal is another telltale

sign of illness. To avoid having to judge for yourself, choose a pet only from reputable sources, such as an animal shelter, a breeder who can guarantee that you have a healthy pet, or a pet

store with a good reputation. Many parrots, for example, are smuggled into the country without being quarantined and treated for psittacosis (sit-a-co-sis), also known as parrot fever. Be

sure any puppy or kitten has been treated for parasites before you buy it. People with compromised immune systems — such as those undergoing cancer treatments — should not handle or touch

turtles, snakes or other reptiles, as they could transmit salmonella.

care of your pet's health

Most states require regular rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets. Rabies is transmitted from the saliva of an infected animal, usually from an animal bite. Also make sure to deworm

your puppy and have a veterinarian check for worms at least once a year. Canine roundworms can cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting and intestinal blockage in humans. Give your dogs a

monthly preventive pill, such as Sentinel or Heartgard Plus, and spot-on medications, such as Frontline, for internal and external parasites, such as fleas and ticks. And don't allow your

pets to roam free. They might have a run-in with disease-carrying wild animals, such as skunks, raccoons, foxes or coyotes.