Zoonotic Diseases in Dogs and Cats: 2025 Texas Guide
At College Hills Veterinary Hospital in College Station, we believe that keeping your pets healthy goes hand in hand with protecting your family. One important aspect of pet care is having an understanding of zoonotic diseases—illnesses that can spread from animals to humans. While many are preventable, recent disease activity in Texas highlights why awareness matters more than ever.
What Are Zoonotic Diseases?
Zoonotic diseases—from the Greek word “zoon,” meaning animal—are infections that can pass between animals and humans. These diseases can spread through contact with saliva, feces, urine, fur, or contaminated environments. While some cause only mild discomfort, others can lead to serious or even life-threatening illness—especially in young children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
Common Zoonotic Diseases in Dogs and Cats
Here are the most common zoonotic diseases to be aware of—along with how they spread and what symptoms to watch for in both pets and people:
1. Rabies
- Animal Symptoms: Sudden behavioral changes, aggression, excessive drooling, paralysis
- Transmission (Animal): Bite from an infected animal
- Transmission to Humans: Bite or scratch from an infected animal
- Human Symptoms: Fever, headache, confusion, hallucinations, difficulty swallowing—often fatal if not treated before symptoms appear
Note: Rabies is 100% preventable with vaccination. Texas law requires rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats. Keep your pet’s shots up to date.
2. Ringworm (Dermatophytosis)
- Animal Symptoms: Hair loss, scaly or crusty skin, itching
- Transmission (Animal): Direct contact with infected pets, bedding, or grooming tools
- Transmission to Humans: Touching infected animals or contaminated objects
- Human Symptoms: Red, itchy circular rash (often called “ringworm”), scaling, and hair loss
3. Roundworms & Hookworms
- Animal Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, pot-bellied appearance, weight loss
- Transmission (Animal): Ingesting infected feces or soil
- Transmission to Humans: Contact with contaminated soil or feces, especially through bare skin or unwashed hands
- Human Symptoms: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, coughing; in rare cases, vision problems due to larval migration
4. Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae)
- Animal Symptoms: Cats usually show no signs but can carry the bacteria in their saliva
- Transmission (Animal): Flea bites or fighting between cats
- Transmission to Humans: Scratches or bites from infected cats
- Human Symptoms: Swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, sometimes serious complications in those with weakened immune systems
What About Pregnancy and Cat Scratch Disease?
From time to time, concerns arise—often shared by word of mouth or on social media—that cat scratch disease can lead to miscarriage. While these fears are understandable, especially during pregnancy, current research does not support this idea.
Cat scratch disease is typically mild and not considered a significant risk during pregnancy. Unlike toxoplasmosis, it has not been clearly linked to miscarriage or birth defects. One study looked specifically at pregnant women diagnosed with cat scratch disease and found no strong evidence that the infection harms unborn babies. You can view the study summary here: PubMed – Cat Scratch Disease in Pregnancy.
If you are expecting and concerned about your pet cat, it’s still wise to avoid scratches and bites, keep up with flea prevention, and practice good hygiene.
5. Leptospirosis
- Animal Symptoms: Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, kidney, or liver failure
- Transmission (Animal): Contact with contaminated water, urine, or soil—especially in wet environments
- Transmission to Humans: Contact with infected pet urine, contaminated water, or direct contact with open cuts or mucous membranes
- Human Symptoms: Flu-like illness, jaundice, muscle aches; in severe cases, kidney damage or meningitis
College Hills Veterinary Hospital has a blog dedicated to Leptospirosis in Dogs with more in-depth information on this serious but preventable disease.
6. Toxoplasmosis
- Animal Symptoms: Usually none in cats; rarely, fever or respiratory signs
- Transmission (Animal): Shedding of the parasite in feces (only during initial infection)
- Transmission to Humans: Handling contaminated litter boxes or soil without washing hands
- Human Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms; in pregnant women, infection can harm the unborn baby
7. Plague (Yersinia pestis) – Rare but serious
- Animal Symptoms: Swollen lymph nodes, fever, lethargy
- Transmission (Animal): Flea bites or consumption of infected rodents
- Transmission to Humans: Flea bites, handling infected animals
- Human Symptoms: Fever, chills, swollen and painful lymph nodes, pneumonia (in pneumonic form)
Note: Although rare, the plague has been detected in animals and humans in parts of the western U.S., including Arizona and New Mexico. If your pet has flea exposure and develops sudden illness, seek veterinary care immediately.
Zoonotic Disease Quick Reference Table (Texas, 2025)
| Disease Name | Recent Activity in Texas | Risk to Dogs & Cats | What You Should Do |
| Avian Influenza | Detected in cats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks in 2025 | Medium–High (especially outdoor cats) | Keep pets indoors; avoid exposure to dead birds or wildlife |
| Rabies | 412 confirmed animal cases in 2024; 2025 exposures ongoing | High (fatal if untreated) | Keep rabies vaccinations up to date; report wildlife encounters |
| Q-Fever & Others | Under routine surveillance by DSHS and TVMDL | Low in pets (higher in livestock areas) | Wash hands; avoid raw milk; prevent flea/tick exposure |
Several recent events in Texas emphasize the importance of disease prevention in pets:
- Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) has infected cats and wild mammals in multiple Texas counties, including the Panhandle and Gulf Coast regions. While rare, mammal-to-human transmission is being closely monitored.
- Rabies remains a critical concern. In early 2025, a rabid bat exposed a vaccinated dog in Kerr County, and bat-related rabies continues to be reported in central and eastern Texas.
Although there have been no widespread outbreaks among dogs and cats in College Station, these cases remind us that zoonotic diseases are very much present in our region.
View the latest zoonotic disease case data from the Texas DSHS Zoonosis Control Branch, including annual trends and disease breakdowns:
See the 2025 rabies maps and monthly reports for Texas from DSHS’s Zoonosis Control Branch.”
Preventing Zoonotic Diseases: What You Can Do
- Keep pets vaccinated, especially against rabies and leptospirosis
- Wash your hands after handling animals, litter boxes, or pet waste
- Clean up pet waste promptly and keep the yard free of feces
- Use flea and tick preventives to protect pets and your household
- Avoid letting pets eat rodents or scavenge dead wildlife
- Schedule regular veterinary visits for wellness exams and parasite screening
Working Together to Keep Everyone Safe
At College Hills Veterinary Hospital, we take a One Health approach—recognizing that animal, human, and environmental health are all connected. Our team stays informed about emerging threats and is here to help you keep your pets healthy while minimizing risks to your family.
If you have questions about zoonotic disease prevention or need to update your pet’s vaccines, give us a call. We are proud to be a leading veterinarian for the College Station’s dogs, cats, and the families who love them.
College Hills Veterinary Hospital
209 Dominik Dr
College Station, TX 77840
