Why is Pet Hobby a Big Danger? | Be Cautious While Raising Pets at Home

Why is Pet Hobby a Big Danger?

Ten thousand years ago today, man left nomadism and started agriculture. Around 8000 BC, agriculture began in Southeast Asia in areas known as the "Fertile Crescent". This period is called the Neolithic Period. This is the Stone Age. Excavations in the area uncovered burnt seeds, barley, wheat and a variety of pulses, husks and bones of domestic sheep and goats. Agriculture began with the cultivation of spontaneous and wild plant species to meet the nutritional needs of humans.

At the same time, the process of domesticating wild animals continued. Animals began to be reared for food, transportation, protection, hunting, messaging, agriculture and fighting. From here, the relationship between humans and animals began to recover. With the passage of time, pet animals began to be raised as a home decoration and fashion.

Sheep and goats were first domesticated under agriculture in Southwest Asia. Some cattle, pigs and chickens were domesticated in South and East Asia. The same thing happened in Europe. Very few animals are domesticated in the United States. Only in North America were turkeys (Turkey) and in South America Ilama, Alpaca and Guinea Pig domesticated. No pets have been domesticated in Africa or Australia.

As time went on, the desire to keep ‘pets with me’ grew. Dogs, parrots and cats are the most domesticated animals. Strange stories are known about pets. For example, arranging pet marriages, leaving property in their name, carrying a pocket dog in their pockets, roosting, partridge, bullfighting, etc.

Accompanying animals is beneficial to humans in many ways. Mr. Mukhtar Badri in his book "Animals in Urdu Poetry" entitled "We and animals" in the style of money style:

According to a study conducted in Australia, the condition of patients suffering from depression has improved significantly due to their love for animals. People who keep animals have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. It is also known that people who keep pets are less likely to catch colds and flu.

As well as being beneficial to humans, pets are also harmful. There is always a risk of zoonosis. What is zoonosis? It can be easily defined as:

“Zoonosis is an ailment that is transmitted from animals to human beings."

Zoonosis is a disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. (The plural form of zoonosis is zoonoses.) These animals can be wild as well as domesticated, but pets play a big part in this. These disease-carrying animals are called carriers.

In today's fast-paced life, just as man is always trying to keep himself updated in order to progress, so are germs, viruses and other living things that keep themselves updated and expand their scope. Strive to be wider! The spread of animal diseases is also increasing day by day. Efforts to control and prevent zoonosis, such as vaccinations and precautions, are dwindling and the disease is spreading rapidly.

World Zoonosis Day is now celebrated on July 6 every year in view of the dangers of zoonosis. This day reminds breeders to vaccinate their pets and to use the vaccines themselves, and that if they do not, their beloved animals can be a danger to them. Along with them, their milk, eggs and meat can be a precursor to zoonoses. Zoonoses are also called Zoonotic Diseases. Many modern diseases are of zoonotic nature. Sequencing of DNA and RNA strains has shown that measles, smallpox, influenza, HIV and diphtheria are transmitted from animals to humans. Similarly, Common Cold and Tuberculosis (TB) are also counted in Zoonotic Diseases.

Most diseases are "Specific". That is, they prey on a specific species of animal. But many other diseases affect different species of animals. These diseases are infectious. They are caused by bacteria, viruses and other organisms that can live not only in animals but also in humans.

Different diseases are transmitted from animals to humans in different ways. In some cases, these diseases are transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals, while some other diseases are transmitted through drinking water. Eggs of disease parasites are added to drinking water. The eggs of infected animals contain these eggs which are absorbed into the water. Eating the meat of infected animals also transmits the disease to humans. This is how the pumpkin seeds spread. Some other diseases are spread by the bite of vector insects. Insects such as fleas and ticks suck the blood of infected animals, the germs of diseases also enter the body of insects with the blood, and then when they bite humans, the germs of diseases enter the human body. These worms are called vectors.

The spread of Zoonotic Diseases

The Atlanta-based Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that most of the diseases that appear today are zoonotic. Eleven of the 12 new diseases are caused by animals, the CDC director said in a statement. The reason is said to be that these days wild animals are transported from one part of the world to another. These animals also carry diseases with them. Similarly, precautionary measures are not taken in meat shops and food hotels. Even in pet markets, no special attention is paid to vaccines.

Some Animal Diseases

Public knowledge of animal-to-human transmission is very limited. For example, plague caused by rats and rabies caused by the bite of a mad dog. Pets can also be a risk factor, it doesn't go down the throat! There are some zoonoses that are unbelievable to know, such as an elephant can get Tuberculosis and it can infect humans! Some of the zoonotic diseases that are more prevalent are as follows:

Rabies

Its infected animals are found in large numbers. Dogs, bats, monkeys, foxes, cattle, wolves, mongooses and cats. Rabies virus first infects these animals and then these animals infect humans in different ways. Rabies is a deadly disease. Rabies viruses are transmitted to humans through the saliva or saliva of infected animals, or by biting or injuring them. These viruses destroy nerve cells in infected animals and humans. If left untreated, the patient is certain to die. An important symptom of this disease is that the patient cannot drink water. Therefore, this disease is also called hydrophobia. 

When bitten by a suspicious animal, the wound should first be thoroughly washed with soap and water. If the bitten animal shows signs of rabies, i.e. becomes aggressive and starts attacking without any reason, it should be vaccinated against rabies immediately. This is the safest treatment. The vaccine was invented by Louis Pasteur. The course of this vaccine is seven to fourteen injections that need to be taken daily, without interruption. Doctors decide how many injections to give based on the severity of the disease. Recently, an innovative vaccine has been developed with the help of biotechnology, for which only one injection is sufficient.

Anthrax

The bacterium responsible for this disease is Bacillus anthraces. Infectious animals include herbivores, sheep, goats, camels, horses and pigs. The disease causes abscesses on the skin and lungs of the patient which are very painful. With food, anthrax spores reach the body. Spores also enter the body through inhalation and exposure, where they turn into germs and cause disease.

Tuberculosis

The disease is caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Cats, foxes, cattle, deer, pigs, rats are responsible for its spread. The disease is spread by consuming the milk of infected animals, breathing in the air around them and their waste. TB treatment is long but possible. DOTS treatment ensures that the disease is cured. The BCG vaccine given to children protects them from TB for life.

Influenza

Influenza A. Virus is responsible for this disease. Horses, pigs, pets and wild birds, wild mammals such as seals and whales, mink, etc. are carriers of this disease. Influenza is a respiratory disease commonly referred to as the flu. Symptoms include fever, weakness, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, runny nose, and digestive problems. Influenza is completely curable.

Ebola Virus Disease

It is a modern disease caused by Ebolavirus Spp. Carriers of this virus are chimpanzees, guerrillas, fruit bats, monkeys, wild deer, etc. The virus is present in the body fluids of infected animals. Eating the meat of these animals can also cause people to get this disease. The first outbreak of the disease occurred in some African countries on December 6, 2013. The second attack took place in March 2014. Thousands have died in both attacks. 

The disease begins with the common cold, followed by chills, fever, lethargy, nausea, diarrhea and severe headaches. Then the patient is seen bleeding from different places, fainting and paralysis of all the systems of the body. The patient dies within two weeks. Some patients also recover. In this disease, the patient's immunity is more important than the medicine. Cleaning the whole body and especially the hands is the most important precaution.

African Sleeping Sickness

It is a strange disease. As the name implies, the patient stays asleep. If the treatment is neglected, he dies in his sleep. Many wild and domestic animals are infected. The disease is caused by Trypanosoma Brucei Rhodesiense. The Tsetse Fly, a bee found in Africa, is a vector of this disease.

Mad Cow Disease

It is a mental illness of pets in which their nervous system is affected and they start showing signs of insanity. The medical name for this disease is BSE, meaning Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. The flesh of infected animals transmits the disease to humans.

In addition to these, there are many other diseases which are included in the list of Zoonoses such as Brucellosis, Cat-scratch Disease, Cryptococcosis, Echinococcosis, Histoplasmosis, Leptospirosis, Tularemia, Trichinosis and Toxoplasmosis.