Are pets and pregnancy incompatible?

Living with pets during pregnancy

There are many myths and legends surrounding pets y possible complications during pregnancy. The truth is that, although some of them may be wrong, some of them do have a scientific basis and it is important to take them into account. Many families enjoy the company of domestic animals, the most common being to have a puppy or a kitten at home.

Although at first you may think that your pet is not dangerous, really if they can negatively affect the proper development of your pregnancy. However, pets are part of the family, so if you have an animal at home, you should take extra care to avoid complicated situations.

The spread of toxoplasmosis and other diseases

Cat feces are very dangerous for pregnancy, as there is a serious risk of getting toxoplasmosis. The most advisable thing is that you avoid taking care of cleaning your cat's litter box at all costs. During your pregnancy, another person will have to take care of this task and thus you will avoid contracting infections like the one mentioned.

Pregnant belly and a dog's face

You will also have to make sure that your pet has all the vaccinations up to date, It is essential to avoid some type of contagion especially during your pregnancy. Similarly, the animal must be properly dewormed. You can take care of yourself or you can take your pet to the vet to take care of everything, without you running any risk.

On the other hand, if you have animals that need to walk every day like dogsIt would be highly recommended that you do not take care of yourself during this period. At least, that you didn't do it yourself, especially if you have a good-sized dog that can scare you in the middle of the street.

Other types of risks of pets in pregnancy

In addition to cats and dogs, many families have other types of pets such as fish, birds and other types of exotic animals. In principle, it is more difficult for this type of animal to catch an infection, but it is best to avoid direct contact with the animals. Try not to take care of cleaning, which is where the main problems lie.

Other types of animals such as rabbits or hamsters, can cause other types of problems, in this case skin infections. The problem is, most drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy, so, in case of causing an infection, you could have problems when it comes to treating yourself. For this reason, it is very important that take extreme precautions and so you can avoid any type of complication.

Common symptoms of contact with animals

Pregnant woman with a horse

Most of the symptoms that produce these types of conditions are quite common and can be easily confused.

  • Muscle pains
  • Fever
  • Vomiting
  • General discomfort
  • Weight loss

As you can see, any of these symptoms can easily be associated with other common ills, a simple cold, flu, and even pregnancy itself. For this reason, it is very important that you be attentive to any changes and if you notice something out of the ordinary, go to your doctor. In addition to explaining what your symptoms are, you will have to advise that you live with a pet and what type of animal it is.

This information is vital so that the doctor can rule out complications associated with the spread of diseases by pets. Most likely, he will prescribe a drug compatible with your pregnancy, but acting quickly is essential to avoid major consequences.

If you have family members who can take care of your pet during your pregnancy, don't hesitate to ask for help. As long as you are sure that it will be well cared for and that you can visit your pet whenever you want, it will be of great help to you. Think that as your pregnancy progresses you will become more and more tired. You may not be able to take care of your pet as it deserves, so don't hesitate to ask your loved ones for help.


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