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Ed Yeates ReportingA Canadian study shows a drug resistant strain of staphylococcus bacteria appears to freely spread between humans and their pet dogs and cats. While the research concerns the American Veterinary Medical Association, the group is cautioning pet owners not to overreact.
We pet them. They lick our hands and faces. They're one with our families. But now researchers at Canada's University of Guelph's Veterinary College say methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus appears to transfer between us and our pets.
Lawrence McGill, D.V.M., Veterinary Pathology, ARUP Laboratories: "I think the surprise was that the bacteria was not showing any clinical signs in these cats. They were just carrying it."
Lawrence McGill, D.V.M.: "There's a problem when our animals can carry the bug without any clinical signs and then pass it back to the people."
Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Law finds this latest research surprising, but not so surprising.
Dennis Law, D.V.M., Cottonwood Animal Hospital: "Just like we can catch things from other people, we can possibly catch things from our pets, too. It's not common, it's not likely, but it can happen."
While veterinarians here say we should pay attention to the Canadian study, there's no reason to hit the panic button. In fact, all you need to remember with your cat and dog is to practice just a little common hygiene.
Lawrence McGill, D.V.M.: "We need to pet our pets. They need to be hugged and loved. But when we're done, it's a wonderful time to go to the sink."
Dennis Law, D.V.M.: "It only makes common sense that we give our pets the same courtesy and that we wash our hands."
Many of us carry staphylococcus aureus on our skin and in our noses but never get sick. However, the drug resistant strain can pose a serious threat to compromised patients in hospitals.
