People/Pet Dishes in Dishwasher

[peach5841]

Hello. I just recently took on a new roommate when I moved into my new condo. We have been living there for almost 8 months. We both have pets; I have a small dog (10 pounds), and my roommate has a cat that goes indoors/outdoors. I have always washed my dog's bowls/dishes outside with soap and water daily, and feed him outside as well. However, I recently learned that my roommate has been loading the dishwasher with his cat's bowls/plates with the same dishes that WE use for meals! I'm appalled because I have always kept my pets plates/bowls separate from my own for sanitary reasons. So, needless to day I am concerned about my personal health having learned that they have been mixed together in the dishwasher for the past 8 months!

Does that pose any health risks to people? I don't think our dishwasher is the best, so I don't know how well it heats up. I've always hand-washed the dishes that I make. Also, this cat has caught many small animals from lizards to small birds so the idea of that is making me queasy.

I wanted to ask here before I asked my roommate to stop. While I still think it's gross to mix, I won't ask my roommate to stop if there are no health risks associated with mixing plates in the wash. Thanks for your help!

[opus88]

By not orally I mean...a cats mouth coming into contact with the food dish...it's only in the feces of infected cats, not their mouths

[opus88]

Well unless an infected cat pooped in their food dish you have nothing to worry  About, toxoplasmosis is spread in the feces, not orally
In fact you are much more likely to be infected by eating unwashed fruit or vegetables or an unsanitized cutting board that you've cut meat on.
And than only if you have a weakened immune system, so I don't think there is anything to be concerned over, like I said in my first post why not just ask yr roommate to stop? Seems would put yr mind at ease.

[peach5841]

I am most concerned with taxoplasmosis, which a coworker told me about. I was also reading about it and that it's transferred orally, so I didn't know if that could be transferred to the dishes we eat off of. I don't want to get sick of the dishwasher doesn't do a good job at sanitizing.

[zodiacqueen]

As a major germaphobe, putting pet dishes in the dishwasher wouldn't bother me. As Opus said, the heat will kill off the germs.

Now, if your roommate uses the same sponge on the cat dish that you use on your dishes, that's a major problem. I couldn't deal with that.

[opus88]

Well peaches this is just my own opinion, but I believe as long as yr dishwasher gets hot and cleans yr own dishes than I'm sure it's also hot enough to kill any transfer of germs. If it bothers you I don't understand why you wouldn't bring up this concern wth yr roommate.....