Pets, man's best friends, furry little pals who mooch, co-dependent evolutionary offshoots or whatever you call them, are non-human creatures who you share your life, your love and your space. Humans and pets share more than space. They share germs.
One of those germs is E. coli. Your pets are lousy with E. coli. Your pets are gross.
Nearly 70% of domesticated animals have some E. coli in their bodies. The pets spread that germ to humans and, sometimes, it causes low-grade urinary tract infections in those humans.
Doctors are hoping to find ways to prevent pet-borne, E. coli-caused urinary tract infections, but only in their spare time and only if it is raining.
It has long been known that owning excessive amounts of cats results in husbandlessness in some women, and that men who wear black, sleeveless fishnet shirts and bring their pet snakes to the parks and show them off to passersby are often stricken with wifelessness. The researchers plan to see if there is a similar root cause at work here.
Urologists can treat urinary tract infections, and Infectious Disease Specialists can treat E. coli.
Find a local doctor near you.
