Zoonotic Diseases and Pets FAQ
Animals can carry diseases that people can catch. Get answers to commonly asked questions about disease risks related to pets.
AVMA news
Recommendations for preventing spread of zoonoses from nontraditional pets
The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has published a series of…
JAVMA news
Educational DVD promotes rabies prevention
The AVMA and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control have produced an educational DVD to promote rabies
policy
Canine hybrids
The AVMA strongly opposes keeping as pets any hybrids of wild canines crossbred with domestic animals. The AVMA believes that commercial traffic in…
policy
UNDER REVIEWWildlife-livestock interactions
The AVMA supports use of science-based evidence and peer-reviewed research to direct wildlife-livestock management policies, and funding to research…
JAVMA news
Reptile owner donates blood, passes on lethal Salmonella infection
The New England Journal of Medicine reports that a snake is the source of a Salmonella organism that infected two platelet recipients
policy
Free-roaming, owned cats
The AVMA encourages veterinarians to educate clients and the public about the risks associated with allowing cats free-roam access to the outdoors.
AVMA news
From Congress to the courtroom, AVMA advocates for veterinarians
The AVMA’s advocacy on behalf of its members covers practically every aspect of veterinary medicine and takes place in the federal government,…
AVMA news
The wild life of wildlife veterinarians
The SARS-CoV-2 virus probably originated in wildlife and has been documented in more than two dozen species. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic has…
Harmful algal blooms (HABs)
Understand harmful algal blooms (HABs), including how to diagnose and treat toxicosis in animals and how to prevent exposure.