Table 2 Demographics, animal husbandry, attachment and practices of dog and cat-owning households (Ontario, Canada)
From: Pet husbandry and infection control practices related to zoonotic disease risks in Ontario, Canada
Variable | Dog (N=274) | Cat (N=191) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
NR | N (%) | NR | N (%) | |
Child under 16 yrs living in household | 274 | 122 (44.5) | 191 | 78 (40.8) |
Child under 5 yrs living in household | 274 | 44 (16.1) | 191 | 26 (13.6) |
All children living in household under 5 yrs | 274 | 25 (9.1) | 191 | 19 (10.0) |
All children living in household 5-16 yrs | 274 | 78 (28.5) | 191 | 52 (27.2) |
Adult ≥ 65 yrs living in household | 274 | 35 (12.8) | 191 | 28 (14.7) |
Individual living in household ever diagnosed | 227 | 60 (26.4) | 162 | 55 (34.0) |
with an immunocompromising condition | ||||
Individual < 5 yrs, ≥ 65 yrs, or ever diagnosed | 237 | 122 (51.5) | 169 | 90 (53.3) |
with an immunocompromising condition | ||||
Previous receipt of pet-associated zoonotic | 255 | 102 (40.0) | 172 | 75 (43.6) |
disease education1 | ||||
Any ever bitten anyone | 269 | 29 (10.8) | 184 | 59 (32.1) |
Any ever scratched anyone | NA | NA | 180 | 113 (62.8) |
Any declawed | NA | NA | 188 | 110 (58.5) |
All on flea prevention program2 | 263 | 200 (76.1) | 177 | 98 (55.4) |
All on intestinal parasite prevention program3 | 258 | 205 (79.5) | 162 | 68 (42.0) |
Any drink from toilet bowl | 267 | 41 (15.4) | 186 | 36 (19.4) |
Any fed in kitchen | 269 | 176 (65.4) | 189 | 107 (56.6) |
Any used for breeding | 268 | 15 (5.6) | 183 | 0 |
Any used for hunting | 269 | 3 (1.1) | NA | NA |
All visit veterinarian at least annually | 259 | 237 (91.5) | 184 | 121 (65.8) |
Any inappropriately urinate or defecate in | 268 | 188 | ||
house4 | ||||
Always | 1 (0.4) | 7 (3.7) | ||
Often | 14 (5.2) | 13 (6.9) | ||
Sometimes | 74 (27.6) | 43 (22.9) | ||
Never | 179 (66.8) | 125 (66.5) | ||
Litter box(es) cleaned | NA | 184 | ||
Daily | NA | 73 (39.7) | ||
Every several days | NA | 72 (39.1) | ||
Weekly | NA | 30 (16.3) | ||
Every 2 weeks or more | NA | 9 (4.9) | ||
In the past 3 months, have any been | 274 | NA | ||
On leash at a dog park | 53 (19.3) | NA | ||
Off leash at a dog park | 51 (18.6) | NA | ||
Doggie daycare or boarding | 33 (12.0) | NA | ||
2 (0.7) | NA | |||
When outdoors, how often in a fenced yard or | 267 | NA | ||
on leash | ||||
Always | 195 (73.0) | NA | ||
Sometimes | 58 (21.7) | NA | ||
Never | 14 (5.2) | NA | ||
Fed to any of the pets | 264 | 186 | ||
Commercial canned/dry food | 244 (92.4) | 185 (99.5) | ||
Raw eggs | 9 (3.4) | 1 (0.5) | ||
Home cooked pet food | 15 (5.7) | 3 (1.6) | ||
Raw animal product treats | 59 (22.4) | 0 | ||
Home cooked human food | 112 (42.4) | 17 (9.1) | ||
Commercial processed pet treats | 156 (59.1) | 70 (37.6) | ||
Raw meat | 11 (4.2) | 5 (2.7) | ||
Household’s emotional attachment to pet | 268 | 186 | ||
Very attached | 247 (92.2) | 150 (80.7) | ||
Somewhat attached | 21 (7.8) | 32 (17.2) | ||
Not very attached | 0 | 2 (1.1) | ||
Not at all attached | 0 | 2 (1.1) | ||
Any children have access to the litter box(es) | NA | NA | 74 | 49 (66.2) |
Any children ever clean-up feces5 | 119 | 29 (24.4) | 77 | 19 (24.7) |
Wear gloves (or use scooper for dogs) when cleaning up feces | 28 | 24 (85.7) | 18 | 5 (27.8) |
Wash hands after cleaning up feces | 26 | 25 (96.2) | 19 | 19 (100) |
Play in area where the pet goes to the bathroom | 114 | 59 (51.8) | NA | |
If play in area, feces removed | 59 | NA | ||
Immediately | 12 (20.3) | NA | ||
Daily | 13 (22.0) | NA | ||
Weekly | 24 (40.7) | NA | ||
Greater than weekly | 10 (17.0) | NA | ||
Any children touch the pet | 118 | 116 (98.3) | 77 | 72 (93.5) |
Children wash hands after touching the pet | 115 | 70 | ||
Always | 5 (4.4) | 2 (2.9) | ||
Usually | 31 (27.0) | 25 (35.7) | ||
Sometimes | 53 (46.1) | 26 (37.1) | ||
Never | 26 (22.6) | 17 (24.3) | ||
Sleeps in one of the children’s beds6 | 115 | 71 | ||
Always | 9 (7.8) | 11 (15.5) | ||
Usually | 6 (5.2) | 10 (14.1) | ||
Sometimes | 15 (13.0) | 21 (29.6) | ||
Never | 85 (73.9) | 29 (40.9) | ||
Licks one of the children’s faces7 | 115 | NA | ||
Daily | 7 (6.1) | NA | ||
Often | 21 (18.3) | NA | ||
Sometimes | 50 (43.5) | NA | ||
Never | 37 (32.2) | NA | ||
Children’s emotional attachment to the pet | 114 | 77 | ||
Very attached | 82 (71.9) | 52 (67.5) | ||
Somewhat attached | 25 (21.9) | 14 (18.2) | ||
Not very attached | 5 (4.4) | 5 (6.5) | ||
Not at all attached | 2 (1.8) | 6 (7.8) | ||