Owners may pass drug-resistant superbugs to pets

ATLANTA (AP) _ Researchers say owners can give their pets a dangerous disease. <br/><br/>Scientists report that over three years 38 dogs, cats and other pets caught a drug-resistant staph infection at

Thursday, March 23rd 2006, 11:12 am

By: News On 6

ATLANTA (AP) _ Researchers say owners can give their pets a dangerous disease.

Scientists report that over three years 38 dogs, cats and other pets caught a drug-resistant staph infection at a big Philadelphia veterinary hospital.

The researchers think six of the animals caught the bug from hospital workers. A top scientist at Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine says at least some of the other animals got the infection from their owners.

The scientist says close contact with pets can transmit the bacteria. She says, "We pick them up, kiss them on the face. We let them lick us." She presented the data this week at a medical conference in Atlanta. All the pets recovered.