Immunocompromised person wanting to adopt: zoonosis advice
50-year-old man with a kidney transplant on immunosuppressive treatment. He wants to adopt a pet and asks for your advice before deciding.
What is the most appropriate recommendation?
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A. A puppy or kitten a few weeks old, because it adapts better to the family
Young animals are the ones that shed the most enteric pathogens (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Toxocara), Toxoplasma and Bartonella, and the most likely to carry dermatophytes and fleas.
B. A reptile, because it does not transmit diseases the way dogs and cats do
Reptiles very often carry Salmonella asymptomatically and are not recommended in households with immunocompromised people, young children or pregnant women.
C. A healthy adult dog or cat of known origin, checked by the vet (faecal test, dewormed and vaccinated), fed cooked commercial food, with flea and tick control and someone else handling faeces
Correct. A healthy adult animal with up-to-date preventive care and no raw diet poses a low risk, and the bond with the animal brings benefits. Guidelines do not advise giving up pets, but adopting these measures.
D. Any animal is fine if fed a raw BARF diet, because it strengthens its immunity
Raw diets are a documented source of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, which the animal sheds even when healthy: they are particularly inadvisable in these households.
lightbulb Key takeaway
The veterinarian is part of the One Health approach: ask whether anyone in the household is immunocompromised (chemotherapy, transplant, HIV, pregnancy, extremes of age) and coordinate with their doctor. Washing hands after handling the animal and seeing the vet for diarrhoea, skin lesions or fever also protect the family.
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Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.