你的宠物正在危害你的健康吗?
你的宠物正在危害你的健康吗?
All pets aren't the same, and neither are the health hazards they might present to human owners. Snakes pose different risks than dogs, and even among canines, adult dogs pose different risks than puppies, points out Scott Weese, a professor and chief of infection control at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in Canada. Of course, pets also offer a slew of physical and mental-health benefits(and loyalty, love and happiness) to their owners. To keep you and your pets as healthy as possible, here are animal hazards to watch for and practical ways to prevent them.
并非所有的宠物都是一样的，它们可能给人类主人带来的健康危害也不一样。加拿大圭尔夫大学安大略兽医学院感染控制主任、教授斯科特•威斯指出，蛇与狗的风险不同，甚至在犬科动物中，成年狗与幼犬的风险也不同。当然，宠物也会给它们的主人带来身体和心理健康上的好处(以及忠诚、爱和幸福)。为了让你和你的宠物尽可能的健康，这里有一些动物的危害和预防它们实用的方法。
Hand-to-mouth kids
吃手的孩子
All pet owners aren't the same, either, especially kids. "Dogs and cats are great pets for almost any age, if they're appropriately trained, well-groomed and the child is taught respect," says Dr. Larry Pickering, an adjunct professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. Other pets are more age-appropriate for older kids, he says, including amphibians like frogs, or reptiles such as turtles or snakes. "Of course, young children like to handle and touch everything, and put their hands in their mouths," he says. Unfortunately, that can expose kids to salmonella or other organisms that pets carry.
所有的宠物主人也不一样，尤其是孩子。埃默里大学医学院儿科学副教授拉里·皮克林博士说:“狗和猫几乎对任何年龄的人来说都是很棒的宠物，只要它们经过适当的训练、精心打扮，而且孩子们被教导要尊重它们。”他说，其他宠物更适合年龄较大的孩子，包括青蛙之类的两栖动物，或者乌龟或蛇之类的爬行动物。他说:“当然，小孩子喜欢触摸任何东西，把手放进嘴里。”不幸的是，这可能会让孩子们接触到宠物携带的沙门氏菌或其他有机体。
Biting back
被动物咬
Small kids teasing big dogs, or even puppies or kittens, can result in animal bites. "Children oftentimes, particularly young children, are fairly rough, without intentionally meaning to hurt a dog or cat," Pickering says. In return, the animal might bite the child's hand or other parts of the body. It's wise to talk to both child- and animal-health experts before choosing a household pet, he emphasizes. "Pediatricians and veterinarians work together to advise parents about pets," he says. Parents can ask about age-related pets, potential dangers and appropriate training and handling.
小孩子戏弄大狗，甚至小狗小猫，都可能导致动物咬伤。皮克林说:“孩子们，尤其是年幼的孩子，常常很粗心大意，没有故意伤害狗或猫的意思。”作为回报，动物可能会咬孩子的手或身体的其他部位。他强调，在选择家庭宠物之前，最好先咨询一下儿童和动物健康专家。他说:“儿科医生和兽医共同为父母提供有关宠物的建议。”家长可以询问与年龄有关的宠物，潜在的危险和适当的训练和处理方法。
Pets underfoot
绊脚的动物
Pets love to follow wherever owners go, but that's not always a good thing. Older adults who struggle with balance could potentially trip and fall when pets (or their toys) get in their way. In addition, strong German shepherds or large Labrador retrievers can make walking too precarious for people with fragile bones. It's important to think about matching pets and older owners to keep everyone safe and healthy.
宠物喜欢跟着主人走，但这并不总是一件好事。当宠物(或他们的玩具)挡住他们的去路时，那些难以保持平衡的老年人可能会摔倒。此外，对于骨骼脆弱的人来说，强壮的德国牧羊犬或大型拉布拉多寻回犬会使行走变得太危险。为了保证每个人的安全和健康，考虑让宠物和年长的主人配对是很重要的。
