Pregnancy and Pets: Safe Ways to Care for Dogs, Cats, and Farm Animals

You are a pet fanatic, and have become pregnant or will accept a new pregnancy. What about pets in
your home and pregnancy?

I think it is a question in the head of every pregnant woman or about to have a new pregnancy, what will
she do with her cat or dog? Or for the rural woman.. what will you do with the farm animals?

• What about your dog and pregnancy?

In general, the dog does not cause any major health risks to you or your fetus during pregnancy, but
these are some tips to keep you safe when dealing with dogs during pregnancy: A new pregnancy, you
must train him to stop these jumps. You must make sure that your dog is not infected with any
parasites. You must wash your hands well after handling the dog.

• What about your cat and pregnancy?

We note that breeding cats is widespread in Egypt, even in rural homes, but we must beware of
“toxoplasmosis”, or what is known as “cat disease”, as it is transmitted through contact with cat feces,
especially street cats from cats that stay at home and do not eat. From the street, as cats can get
infected by eating contaminated raw meat, birds or mice, and exposing you to cat feces, it can happen in
the garden of your home or the place where cats bury their feces, or when changing the rubbish box, as
the parasite “Toxoplasmosis” » It lives in cat feces for only two weeks, but if it is buried in moist soil, it
can live for 18 months, so avoid even changing the rubbish box, as the dust in it can transmit infection to
you.

Here are some tips to keep you safe when handling cats during pregnancy:-

If you are about to become pregnant, you should do a test for immunity to “toxoplasmosis”, which is a
simple blood test that can be done in all laboratories.
If you have to do something in the garden, you should wear gloves. Don’t change the trash bin,
especially the garden one.
From my point of view, “prevention is better than cure”. I prefer not to deal with cats at all during your
pregnancy, as “toxoplasmosis” causes serious problems for the fetus including: mental retardation,
blindness, stillbirth, or preterm birth, and no God forbid, if you get infected during pregnancy, your
doctor will give you some antibiotics that reduce the possibility of infection for your fetus.

• What about birds and lamb?

If the birds are in good health, there is no problem, but know that birds can carry some types of
bacteria that are contagious to humans, so here are some tips to keep you safe when dealing with birds
during pregnancy: –

• Tell your doctor that you work with birds.

• Consult a veterinarian to examine the birds to ensure their safety.
• Wash your hands well with hot water and soap after handling birds.
• Avoid cleaning the bird cage and let someone else do the job.

• What about farm animals and lamb?

Farm animals can transmit some types of bacteria to you, so here are some tips to keep you safe when
handling them during pregnancy:-

• Wash your hands well with hot water and soap after handling animals.
• Drink pasteurized milk only.
• Do not handle any dead animal.

• What about reptiles, amphibians and pregnancy?

Reptiles and amphibians such as lizards, turtles, frogs and snakes, all pose a danger to you and your
child’s development until the age of five years, as they can transmit a certain type of bacteria, so we
advise not to raise any of them during pregnancy or after birth, until after the age of your child.