Don’t handle animals that have diarrhea. If the pet’s diarrhea lasts for more
       than 1or 2 days, have a friend or relative who does not have HIV take your pet
       to your veterinarian. Ask the veterinarian to check the pet for infections that
       may be the cause of diarrhea.

    Don’t bring home an unhealthy pet. Don’t get a pet that is younger than 6
        months old — especially if it has diarrhea. If you are getting a pet from a pet
        store, animal breeder, or animal shelter (pound), check the sanitary conditions
        and license ofthese sources. If you are not sure about the animal’s health,
        have it checked out by your veterinarian.

    Don’t touch stray animals because you could get scratched or bitten. Stray
        animals can carry many infections.

    Don’t ever touch the stool of any animal.

    Ask someone who is not infected with HIV
       and is not pregnant to change your cat’s litter
       box daily. If you must clean the box yourself,
       wear vinyl or household cleaning gloves and        immediately wash your hands well with soap        and water right after changing the litter.

    Have your cat’s nails clipped so it can’t        scratch you. Discuss other ways to prevent        scratching with your veterinarian. If you do get scratched or bitten, immediately        wash the wounds well with soap and water.*

    Don’t let your pet lick your mouth or any open cuts or wounds you may have.

    Don’t kiss your pet.

    Keep fleas off your pet.

    Avoid reptiles such as snakes, lizards, and turtles. If you touch any reptile,        immediately wash your hands well with soap and water.

    Wear vinyl or household cleaning gloves when you clean aquariums or animal        cages and wash your hands well right after you finish.

    Avoid exotic pets such as monkeys, and ferrets, or wild animals such as
       raccoons, lions, bats, and skunks.

*If you are bitten, you may need to seek medical advice.

I have a job that involves working with animals. Should I quit?

Jobs working with animals (such as jobs in pet stores, animal clinics, farms, and slaughterhouses) carry a risk for infections. Talk with your doctor about whether you should work with animals. People who work with animals should take these extra precautions:

    Follow your worksite’s rules to stay safe and reduce any risk of infection. Use or        wear personal protective gear, such as coveralls, boots, and gloves.

    Don’t clean chicken coops or dig in areas where birds roost if histoplasmosis
       [his-to-plaz-MO-sis] is found in the area.

    Don’t touch young farm animals, especially if they have diarrhea.

Can someone with HIV give it to their pets?

No. HIV can not be spread to, from, or by cats, dogs, birds, or other pets. Many viruses cause diseases that are like AIDS, such as feline leukemia virus, or FeLV, in cats. These viruses cause illness only in a certain animal and cannot infect other animals or humans. For example, FeLV infects only cats. It does not infect humans or dogs.

Are there any tests a pet should have before I bring it home?

A pet should be in overall good health. You don’t need special tests unless the animal has diarrhea or looks sick. If your pet looks sick, your veterinarian can help you choose the tests it needs.

What should I do when I visit friends or relatives who have animals?

When you visit anyone with pets, take the same precautions you would in your own home. Don’t touch animals that may not be healthy. You may want to tell your friends and family about the need for these precautions before you plan any visits.

Should children with HIV handle pets?

The same precautions apply for children as for adults. However, children may want to snuggle more with their pets. Some pets, like cats, may bite or scratch to get away from children. Adults should be extra watchful and supervise an HIV-infected child’s handwashing to prevent infections.

For more information, call:
Free referrals and information: CDC National AIDS Hotline
English	(800) 342-AIDS (2437) [24 hours/day]
Spanish	(800) 344-SIDA (7432) [8 am-2am EST]
TTY	(800) 243-7889 (deaf and hard of hearing) [Monday-Friday 10am-10pm EST]
Free materials: CDC National Prevention Information Network (800) 458-5231 1-301-562-1098 (International) P.O. Box 6003 Rockville, MD 20849-6003
Free HIV/AIDS treatment information: AIDSinfo (800) 448-0440 Project Inform (800) 822-7422 Drugs undergoing clinical trials: AIDSinfo (800) 448-0440 Social Security benefits: Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213 (You also may request a personal earnings and benefit estimate statement to help you estimate the retirement, disability, and survivor benefits payable on your Social Security record.) To obtain information on the Child Health Insurance Program, please call: 1-877 KIDS NOW (1-877-543-7669) CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv Additional brochures in the Opportunisitic Infections Series: Coinfection with HIV and Hepatitis C Virus Living with HIV/AIDS Preventing Infections During Travel Safe Food and Water You can Prevent CMV You can Prevent Cryptosporidiosis You can Prevent MAC You can Prevent PCP in Adults and Adolescents You can Prevent PCP in Children You can Prevent Toxo You can Prevent TB *Use of trade names does not imply endorsement by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. June 1999