Is Your Dog Making You Sick?

Toss your dog what seems like a healthy snack -- say, a nice, chewy beef jerky -- and you could set yourself up for some digestive-system turmoil.

Pet treats made from animal products may contain salmonella bacteria, which won't bother your furry pal, but can give you a fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea 12 to 72 hours after the bug gets into your system. So how does it get there? It's probably in your kitchen. A couple of years ago, an investigation of pet owners who suddenly came down with nausea and vomiting found that they had fed their animals a treat and then prepared food for themselves. While only nine cases were involved, for every lab-confirmed case, it's normal for dozens or hundreds more to have gone unreported. The treats and the people tested positive for the same type of salmonella, which can be transferred from your fingers to your food or to your mouth.

So how do you prevent spending 3 or 4 days in the bathroom (or, in severe cases, the hospital) without depriving your dog of treats? It's pretty simple: Just wash your hands thoroughly after touching the snacks. Manufacturers of pet treats -- pig ears, beef jerky, seafood snacks, and similar products -- have been looking into ways to kill salmonella before the products are sold; heat and irradiation may help. But some bacteria are still getting through: Last April, one type of dry dog food was found to be contaminated with salmonella (the dog food was recalled).

So don't deny Max, Diva, and Lucky their treats. Just keep soap and water or your favorite alcohol-based cleanser handy.