When people talk about blood cleanup, a great deal of attention is paid to human blood. While many are aware of the hazards of this bodily fluid, the same thing cannot be said with pet blood. There’s a bit of confusion in regards to pet blood and how it can affect one’s health, thus putting many pet owners at risk of acquiring harmful diseases.
Pet owners need to have a solid understanding of the dangers that exist when exposed to pet blood to protect themselves against potential health threats. This article will tackle how diseases spread through pet blood, how to protect yourself when cleaning it, and what are the infectious diseases that pets can transmit to humans.
We always advise using a professional blood cleanup service in the unfortunate situation that you might have a pet blood spill.
Pet blood and the spread of diseases
Current research reveals that the risk of transmitting disease from pet blood to humans is fairly low. Some of the most common types of diseases transmitted via human blood like HIV, MRSA, and hepatitis B have not been found in dog or cat blood. In addition to that, there are no major diseases carried by pets that have been discovered to be transmitted to humans via blood.
While this may not warrant immediate concern, there’s still a small possibility that a virus or bacteria may find its way into pet blood. One thing about viruses and bacteria is that they are capable of mutating over time. In other words, even though pet blood contains no bloodborne pathogens today, they may potentially carry disease-causing organisms in the future.
It should be in your best interest to avoid exposure to pet blood as much as possible. If you come into direct contact with pet blood, consider washing the affected area immediately. This is especially true if the blood were to reach an open wound. Apply an antibiotic over the wound right after washing for your safety and peace of mind.
Odds are that you won’t face any serious medical condition. However, if you start to feel ill and you got exposed to pet blood, do not assume that it’s the primary reason. If this is the case, then it’s best to consult your doctor and explain your symptoms along with your exposure to pet blood. From there, your physician can decide what steps need to be taken to identify the cause of your current condition.
Cleaning up pet blood
The protocols for cleaning pet blood are the exact same as human blood, meaning you should treat it as a hazardous substance. If you are faced with cleaning up pet blood, wear the appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) and follow the steps for disinfecting and sanitizing the affected area. At its core, pet blood cleanup requires using the right set of PPE which includes:
- Disposable gloves
- Goggles
- Disposable face mask
- Smock or apron
If the blood spill is caused by a traumatic event, you may want to consider outsourcing the task to a qualified professional. A biohazard cleanup company has the expertise, tools, and resources to remediate the situation in a safe and efficient manner. Never try to address a trauma cleanup on your own as you can put yourself at risk of acquiring unwanted diseases.
Diseases commonly transmitted by pets
Pets can potentially transmit a number of infectious diseases, some of which can lead to serious health conditions. Pet owners need to be aware of these conditions and how they spread to help limit their exposure. These disease spread through a variety of means like bites coming into contact with urine, feces, and saliva. The most common types of diseases that pets spread are:
- Rabies
- Cat scratch fever
- Bubonic plague
- Campylobacter
- Giardia
- Toxoplasmosis
- Salmonella
- Ringworm
- Roundworm
- Hookworm
- Tapeworms
The good news is that none of these diseases is known to spread from pets to humans via blood exposure. Again, it is necessary to stress the fact that it is possible for pathogens to mutate, thus making them transferable through blood exposure. Like they always say, it’s best to err on the side of caution to protect you and your loved ones from unforeseen circumstances.
In summary, dealing with pet blood requires a proactive and cautious approach. Never consider pet blood as a harmless substance as there’s still a small possibility that you can get infected. You don’t need to be an alarmist when dealing with pet blood, you just need to be responsible.
