PETS IN CHILD CARE
Lesia Oesterreich, M.S.
Family Life Extension Specialist
Human Development and Family Studies
Iowa State University
Copyright/Access Information
Having a pet to talk to and touch can be a great psychological
benefit to children especially to shy youngsters. But there also
can be risks involved in keeping pets in a family child care home.
Furry animals (especially cats) may pick up and transport fungus
spores through their coats. A child petting the cat can transfer
these spores to her own body. A youngster may get bitten if a
pet is mishandled or over stimulated in play, too. The danger
is greater in older dogs that are prone to epilepsy because the
excitement of play might bring on a seizure.
Pet turtles can pass on salmonella (an intestinal infection) and
are, therefore, not recommended. If you have a bird of the parrot
family (a budgie or parakeet, lovebird, etc.), keep it away from
rooms where the children will play or sleep. If infected, these
birds can transmit an airborne respiratory illness to humans.
Litter boxes are a problem too. Young children are apt to put
just about anything in their mouths, and cat feces may contain
organisms that can be transmitted to humans. Most infections are
mild, but if a pregnant woman becomes infected, it can cause birth
defects in the unborn child
(Toxoplasmosis). The benefits of pets far outweigh the risks in
most cases. Reduce possible hazards to children by following these
simple precautions:
- If you have pets, make sure that parents know about them
before you agree to care for a child. (The parents may know if
the youngster is allergic to or afraid of animals.)
- Teach the children to wash their hands after touching the
animals. This is especially important before eating.
- Keep your pets clean. Because dogs and cats use their tongues
to clean themselves, try to discourage pets from licking the
children and vice versa.
- Empty kitty litter boxes daily. If you are pregnant, have
someone else do this job.
- Keep sandboxes covered when not in use to prevent cats from
adopting it as a litter box.
- Keep your pets free from internal and external parasites.
(Fleas can bite children too.) Make sure that pets receive all
the needed vaccinations, including distemper and rabies shots
(for cats as well as dogs).
- Clean up animal feces in your yard. Infected dogs and cats
can transmit roundworms to children through feces.
- Change soiled diapers immediately to avoid any undesirable
behavior on the part of pets.
DOCUMENT
USE/COPYRIGHT
National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Part of CYFERNET, the
National Extension Service
Children Youth and Family Educational Research Network. Permission
is granted to reproduce
these materials in whole or in part for educational purposes only
(not for profit beyond the cost of
reproduction) provided that the author and Network receive acknowledgment
and this notice is
included:
Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child
Care-
NNCC. (1993) Oesterreich, L. Holt, B.G., Karas, S. Iowa Family
Child
Care Handbook. pp.131-132. Iowa State University Extension.
Ames, Iowa.
Any additions or changes to these materials must be preapproved
by the author .
AVAILABLE FROM::
Extension Distribution Center
119 Printing and Publications Bldg.
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011- 3171
Phone: :(515) 294-5247
Fax : : (515) 294-2945
e-mail : : pubdist@iastate.edu
COPYRIGHT PERMISSION ACCESS
Lesia Oesterreich
1086 Lebaron Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
PHONE:: (515) 294-0363
FAX:: (515) 294-5507
E-MAIL:: loesterr@iastate.edu
FORMAT AVAILABLE:: Print -300 pages.
DOCUMENT REVIEW::
Level 2 - State Review
DOCUMENT SIZE:: 5K or 2 pages
ENTRY DATE:: September 1994