just patted neighbour's dog and then ate lunch without remembering to wash my hands...

[emeraldgirl1]

... which was stupid of me. Apart from stupidly ignoring basic hygiene requirements for even non-pregnant people, is it OK to have done this (am 34 weeks)? Not that I'd do it again deliberately of course!! But is there a particular danger when you're pg? I remember going to a zoo with nephew when 15 weeks pg and not being able to go into the animal-petting zone to stroke donkeys, rabbits etc. Have I effed up by stroking a labrador???

I wouldn't worry at all about it, you and baby will be fine. Your body will sort out the germs and baby won't be affected. These things happen all the time! hope you're ok and not freaking out!

Unless you were patting his bum I wouldn't freak out over it.

Thanks everyone!!
Nope, wasn't anywhere near his bum, thank God... :)
TwitchyTail I'm sure you're right, there must be loads of pg women who have dogs and aren't always washing hands every 5 mins...

I have Labradors and I rarely wash my hands after stroking them and both my DCs were born healthy so try not to worry!

I can confidently state that I doubt I ever washed my hands after stroking my dog during the pregnancy years all dcs now healthy adults despite helping themselves to food from the dogs bowl on more than one occasion

I think you'll be fine. I don't wash my hands every time I pet/play with my cats either and they're probably at more risk of giving me something. Mind you they're pampered house cats so wouldn't know a germ if it smacked them about the face...

You're fine, I have a dog (im 16wks) and she basically sleeps on my head (good job she's little!) I don't wash my hands every time I touch her, she's in the house with me 95% of the day so whatever germies are near her are also already near me and the kids, and if I washed my hands every time I went near the kids I think I would give them a complex!
I trust that by your worries, that this pooch was clean and cared for, not just rolled in something yucky and covered in insects! So yeah you're fine :)
Just don't go licking any wild cats or sheep or anything :) xx

i have 4 dogs, 2 horses, chickens and parrot, i also work on livery yard. the only animals that can cause problems are sheep when lambing and cat poo x

oh and this is my 4th child and others are fine x

I have a dopey gorgeous black lab who I pet frequently without washing my hands after!! Have no fear you and baby are fine :)

I'm another dog owner who doesn't alway s wash her hands. DD turned out just fine apart from the fur and tail.

I think it's pregnant sheep you have to avoid for some reason, and cat poo?

I kiss my dogs on the face every day Im sure you'll be fine

I you had dog poo on your hand then ate something, I would be worried hehe but don't worry about it honestly, you will be fine! I have a labrador, I'm constantly stroking her and she's always licking my hands and I rarely ever wash my hands afterwards (I'm currently 24 weeks pg) so you will be fine :)

If it was a stray dog who hadn't had its injections then I might have washed my hands, but pets have usually always had their jabs when they're a puppy and so don't tend to carry dangerous diseases :)

you can get toxoplasmosis from dogs aswell as cats but its very rare ... and its in dog faeces so not likely to get any toxins just from a pat.