Introduction
While being around dogs during pregnancy can provide some benefits, there are also potential risks that pregnant women should be aware of. This article will cover the main benefits of exposure to dogs, potential diseases to be aware of like toxoplasmosis and rabies, possible allergies or injuries, and recommendations on when to avoid contact with dogs during pregnancy. The goal is to provide pregnant women with a balanced perspective on the safety considerations around dogs so they can make informed choices.
Health Benefits of Being Around Dogs
Owning a dog can provide many health benefits for pregnant women. Dogs offer unconditional love and companionship, which can help reduce feelings of isolation during pregnancy 1. The companionship of a furry friend has been shown to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety in pregnant women 2. Having a dog encourages regular exercise like daily walks, which helps manage weight gain and improves cardiovascular health 1. One study found that pregnant women with dogs exercised an average of 30 minutes more per day than non-dog owners.
Potential Risks of Dog Contact
While dogs can provide comfort and joy during pregnancy, there are some potential risks to be aware of when being around dogs while pregnant:
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite found in cat feces that can be harmful during pregnancy. While dogs themselves do not carry toxoplasmosis, they may ingest infected cat feces from litter boxes or the environment and then spread the parasite through their own feces (VCA Animal Hospitals). Pregnant women should use caution cleaning up after dogs and avoid ingesting anything that may be contaminated.
Rabies
While rare, dogs can sometimes carry rabies. Pregnant women should ensure dogs are up to date on rabies vaccinations and avoid contact with strays or dogs exhibiting unusual behavior (The Pursuit).
Allergies
Some pregnant women may develop new allergies or find their existing allergies exacerbated by pregnancy hormones. Exposure to dog dander could trigger allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, or asthma. Pregnant women with dog allergies should consider limiting exposure.
Injuries
Dogs may accidentally injure pregnant women through jumping, scratching, or knocking them over. Take precautions like trimming nails, providing training, and supervising interactions.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite found in cat feces. While the parasite is rare in dogs, contact with any feces poses a potential risk. As noted by the NHS, “toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii. It’s one of the more common parasitic infections in the UK.”
According to research from the National Library of Medicine, the parasite can be found in some dog feces and potentially cause congenital infection, but this is considered quite rare: “Experimental toxoplasmosis in pregnant bitches” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10496698/).
Proper hygiene around pets, including wearing gloves when cleaning litter boxes and picking up dog feces, as well as washing hands thoroughly afterwards, can greatly reduce any risk. Avoiding all contact with cat feces is recommended. While rare in dogs, pregnant women should take reasonable precautions around all animal waste.
Rabies
Rabies is an extremely rare risk for pregnant women in contact with dogs. Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Dogs are one of the most common transmitters of rabies to humans (1).
However, rabies is extremely rare in domestic dogs in the United States and many other developed countries due to widespread vaccination programs. According to the CDC, over 90% of reported rabies cases in animals occur in wildlife (2).
To minimize any risk from rabies, the CDC recommends that pet dogs and cats should be vaccinated regularly. Pregnant women should avoid contact with stray dogs and any wild animals that can transmit rabies, such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes (3).
While rabies from a dog bite is possible, it is an extremely rare occurrence in areas with good veterinary care and animal control. Keeping your own pets up-to-date on rabies vaccination and avoiding contact with strays minimizes any potential rabies exposure.
(1) https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/animals/index.html
(2) https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/surveillance/wild_animals.html
(3) https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/animals/domestic.html
Allergies
Pregnant women can become more sensitive to allergens during pregnancy, even if they have never had allergies before. Changes in hormones and the immune system can make women react to allergens like pet dander that they previously tolerated well (Can Pets and Pregnancy Go Together?).
Being around dogs frequently can increase exposure to allergens like dander, saliva, and urine. For pregnant women with pet allergies, this heightened exposure can lead to allergy symptoms like sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, runny nose, and skin irritation. While not directly harmful to the baby, severe reactions can impact the mother’s comfort and quality of life.
To minimize allergy symptoms, pregnant women can take steps to control their exposure such as keeping dogs out of the bedroom, washing hands after contact, using air purifiers, and bathing dogs regularly. However, those with severe pet allergies may need to consider rehoming dogs or staying with relatives if symptoms persist despite efforts to minimize exposure.
Injuries
Dogs can sometimes accidentally injure pregnant women or the fetus. Good supervision and training can help prevent this.
Dogs that are not trained may jump up, put their paws on, or even nip people. This could potentially harm the pregnant woman or fetus if the force is excessive. Supervise interactions and train dogs not to jump on or nip people, especially when someone is pregnant. Teach children safe behavior as well (Miscarriage After a Dog Bite).
Use baby gates or crates to separate dogs from areas used by pregnant women if needed. This can prevent jumping, nipping, or accidents like tripping over a dog. Confine dogs when people enter and exit the home to avoid rushing behaviors.
Properly leash training dogs and not allowing them to run freely in the home can also help avoid collisions or injuries. Pregnant women may have changes in balance and mobility, so preventing uncontrolled dog interactions helps.
Recommendations
To stay healthy around dogs during pregnancy, the CDC recommends taking the following precautions:
- Vaccinate pets – Make sure dogs are up-to-date on rabies and other vaccines to prevent transmission of preventable diseases.
- Clean litter boxes – Avoid cleaning cat litter boxes to prevent toxoplasmosis transmission. Have someone else clean litter boxes during pregnancy.
- Supervise interactions – Always supervise and monitor contact between dogs and young children. Do not allow children to disturb a dog that is sleeping or eating.
- Train dogs – Work with a professional trainer or behaviorist to teach dogs basic obedience and address any behavioral issues. This can reduce the risk of dog bites or other injuries.
Properly caring for and training dogs can greatly reduce risks while still allowing pregnant women to benefit from dog companionship.
When to Avoid Dog Contact
While dogs can be comforting companions during pregnancy, there are some situations when pregnant women should use caution and limit contact with dogs:
If the dog is sick or infected – Dogs can transmit illnesses like toxoplasmosis and rabies to humans through contact with saliva, blood, urine or feces. Pregnant women should avoid interacting with dogs that are known to have these infections. Get dogs routinely tested and vaccinated by a vet.
If the dog is aggressive – Pregnant women should be extra cautious around dogs that have shown aggressive or unstable behavior in the past, as they are at higher risk of bites or other injuries.
If the dog is a high allergen shedder – Some dog breeds like Labradors, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers tend to shed more dander that can trigger allergies. Allergic pregnant women may want to limit contact with these dogs.
In general, pregnant women should avoid situations where dogs seem unpredictable or may pose a threat of infection, bites or allergies. It’s ideal to interact with healthy, vaccinated dogs that have a gentle, calm demeanor.
Conclusion
In summary, having a dog while pregnant can be perfectly safe for both the mother and child if the proper precautions are taken. While interacting with any animal during pregnancy does carry some risks like toxoplasmosis and allergies, these can be minimized by following basic hygiene practices like handwashing and avoiding contact with animal waste. Female dogs late in their own gestation or with new puppies should also be avoided. Otherwise, the many health benefits pets provide like stress relief, companionship, and motivation to stay active can be quite positive for expecting mothers. With some common sense safety measures and awareness of potential risks, dogs can remain a safe and enjoyable part of life even during pregnancy.