Caring for Pets During Your Cancer Treatment

You may worry about caring for your pets if you have cancer. Most people can safely care for their pets during cancer. Learn about steps to take to keep yourself and your pet safe.

Can I give my pet my cancer?

No. You can’t spread your cancer to your pet or anyone else. Cancer is not contagious.

Will my cancer treatment harm my pet?

For most people, getting cancer treatment will not pose a threat to their pets. You usually can’t harm your pet by touching them. But you should safely follow guidelines suggested by your cancer care team and vet.

Chemotherapy and other infusions

If you’ve been told to take certain precautions with your body fluids, you’ll want to make sure your pet isn’t exposed to them. This is very important for at least 48 hours after chemotherapy (chemo) or other infusions.

If you are taking oral medicines or oral chemo at home for your cancer treatment, it is important to keep those out of your pet’s reach. These medicines can be harmful to your pet. If your pet eats your medicine, contact your vet right away.

Radiation

Certain types of radiation require safety precautions for a short time. But the most common type, external beam radiation, doesn’t make you or your body fluids radioactive. So, there is no risk to your pets or anyone else. Learn more about what safety precautions you should take depending on the type of radiation you get.

Can I get sick from my pet?

Ask your cancer care team if your immune system is weak and you need to take special precautions. If you have a weak immune system, it is possible to get sick from your pet.

Pets you should avoid during cancer treatment

Certain pets have a higher risk of spreading infections to people with weak immune systems. These include:

• Reptiles, including snakes, turtles, lizards, and iguanas
• Rodents, including mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs
• Ferrets, monkeys, or other exotic pets
• Wild animals
• Poultry, like ducks or chickens
• New pets or strays

Even if you don’t handle these animals, certain germs, such as salmonella, can be spread by touching infected surfaces. If you have pets like these, keep all cages, toys, water, and other pet items away from areas where you prepare food and eat.

Staying safe around farm animals

Many people have farm animals as pets or for income. If you have livestock, take steps to keep them healthy and to protect yourself from common sources of germs.

• Make sure livestock are up to date on any recommended vaccines or shots.
• Protect livestock from exposure to wild animals.
• Clean livestock stalls and enclosures often. If possible, have someone else pick up livestock waste, especially manure. If you must do it, wear protective gear, including gloves.
• Always wash your hands after touching livestock.
• Take care not to get bitten or kicked by farm animals.
• If you think an animal might be sick, get them checked out by a vet as soon as possible.
• Don’t keep farm animals in the house.
• Don’t wear shoes that you wear to care for livestock inside your house.

Ways to lower your risk of infection from a pet

If you have a weak immune system from cancer treatment, here’s what you should know about preventing or lowering your risk of getting an infection from a pet.

Helping your pet avoid infections

If you have a weakened immune system, tell your vet that you’re getting treatment for cancer and might be at a higher risk of infection. Ask them if there are any specific problems you should watch for in your pets. To help keep your pets healthy:

Vet care

• Make sure your pets are up to date with any shots, vaccines, and flea and tick medicine.
• Ask your vet if any vaccines are “live.” Check with your cancer team before your pet gets live vaccines.
• If your pet has a runny nose, cough, weight loss, vomiting, or diarrhea, get them checked out by a vet right away.

Food and water

• Never let pets have expired or spoiled food, or raw meat or its juices.
• Don't let your pet drink from the toilet or standing water outside.
• Clean pet food and water bowls often. Keep your pets and their beds clean. Ask for help with bathing pets if needed.

Living environment

• Keep cats indoors. Outside cats can get a parasite infection called toxoplasmosis from birds or other animals. Even if it doesn’t make your cat sick, you can still get a serious infection.
• Keep dogs inside except for bathroom breaks and walks. Keep your dog on a leash during walks and try to avoid other animals.
• Try to avoid having your pet boarded in a kennel, daycare, or other public areas where they are exposed to other animals.

Children with cancer and pets

Kids are more likely to crawl or play on the floor with their pets, not wash their hands, and touch their mouths. This can increase their risk of getting an infection from a family pet. Children with cancer often need help from adults to follow precautions while they have a weak immune system. To help keep them safe:

• Don’t get a new pet while your child has a weak immune system.
• Kids shouldn’t kiss pets or allow them to lick their face.
• Kids shouldn’t share food or play rough with pets.
• Don’t let kids put pet toys in their mouths.
• Help kids wash their hands after playing with pets. Teach them to do this every time.
• Keep your child away from stray or wild animals, petting zoos, and other people’s pets.

Tell your child’s cancer care team what pets you have and ask them if there are any special precautions you need to take. You can also ask your vet about diseases your child could catch from a pet.

Other things to consider

Besides infection, there are a few other things to consider if you have pets while taking cancer treatment:

Be sure to protect IV tubing, drains, dressings, and catheters while around your pet. Pets could harm themselves and you if they tug on your catheter, drain or dressing, or if they chew through the IV tubing while you’re getting chemo or other meds at home.

Ask for help. You may find it hard to have the energy to lift heavy bags of food or walk and bathe your pet during certain points of your cancer treatment. It’s okay to ask for help if you need it.

Check for pet care assistance resources. Pet food and vet care can be expensive and add to increased costs that come with cancer treatment. Resources may be available through your vet or local community.

Be extra cautious. Falls can happen if pets get under your feet and trip you, especially if you are weak, dizzy, or have balance problems.

What if I can’t care for my pets?

Have a plan for your pets in case you get too sick to care for them or must be in the hospital. It’s better to make these plans and never need them than to be worried about your pet if there’s an emergency. Even if you stay in your home, you might need help with daily activities like walking your dog or cleaning the litter box.

Here are some tips to make sure your pets are safe and cared for during treatment:

• Make sure you have someone you know who agrees to care for your pets if you have an emergency or need help.
• Create an emergency pet care kit for your caregiver.  
• Discuss with the caregiver how to care for your pets and how they can get into your home. Leave instructions for them that include feeding, cleaning, toileting, medicines, and vet contacts.
• If your pet is microchipped, add another contact in the microchip database in case your pet gets lost and is taken to a shelter or vet.
• Know where pets can and can’t go. Most health care settings don’t allow pets for health and safety reasons.

There are resources available if you need pet support during your cancer treatment. See Pets, Support, and Service Animals to learn more.