Hematologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Pets, gardening and home hygiene when your immunity is low | CION Cancer Clinics
Most people with a blood cancer can keep a healthy pet and enjoy their plants during treatment. The change is who does the dirty work. Litter trays, cages, dung, soil and compost carry germs that a low white cell count struggles to fight, so hand those jobs to a family member. Wash your hands after touching animals or plants, and call your team the same day about any bite, scratch or fever. At CION Cancer Clinics, our haematology team supports patients and families through treatment, cost questions and life at home.
BP
Medically reviewed by Dr. Basudev PokhrelConsultant Haematologist · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
17+specialists on panel
15,000+patients treated
35+centres across Telangana & AP
4.8★ / 800+Google rating
On this page
- Can I keep my pet and garden while my immunity is low?
- Which pets and animals need the most care?
- Is gardening safe with a low white cell count?
- Which jobs should I hand to someone else?
- What does a simple home hygiene routine look like?
- What do families get wrong about pets and hygiene?
- Common questions about pets, plants and hygiene
The short answer
Can I keep my pet and garden while my immunity is low?
Usually, yes. Most people with a blood cancer can keep a healthy pet and enjoy plants. What changes is who does the dirty jobs. Litter trays, cage cleaning, soil, compost and animal waste carry germs that a low white cell count cannot fight off well, so hand those tasks to someone else.
Why the risk changes during treatment
Leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and their treatments can lower the white cells that fight infection. Germs a healthy person shrugs off, from soil, bird droppings or a cat scratch, can cause a serious infection in you. The risk is highest when your counts are at their lowest, which your team can usually predict for each cycle.
When the advice becomes stricter
After a stem cell transplant, or during intensive leukaemia treatment, your team may ask you to keep away from soil, plants and some animals altogether for a time. That advice is specific to you. Follow it even if a friend on different treatment was told something else.
This page gives general guidance. It cannot tell you how low your own immunity is this week. Ask your haematologist what applies to you.Animal by animal
Which pets and animals need the most care?
The germ is rarely the animal itself. It is usually what the animal leaves behind.
Dogs
A healthy, vaccinated, dewormed dog is usually fine. Avoid licks on the face or on any cut, and let someone else pick up droppings.
Cats
Cat litter can carry a parasite and other germs, and scratches can become infected. Keep claws trimmed and hand the litter tray to a family member.
Birds
Dried droppings and feathers in cages can carry germs that affect the lungs. Someone else should clean the cage, outdoors if possible.
Cattle, goats and poultry
Common in district homes. Stay out of the cattle shed and hen house while your counts are low, and do not handle dung or milk animals yourself.
Also avoid for now
- Unboiled milk straight from the animal
- Cow-dung cakes and floor coatings
Fish, turtles and lizards
Aquarium water and reptiles can carry gut germs. Let someone else change the water, and wash your hands after touching the tank.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologist
!
A bite, scratch or fever cannot wait
If an animal bites or scratches you and the skin breaks, wash it with soap and running water and call your treating team the same day. If you get a fever, chills, or a wound that turns red, hot or swollen, go to the nearest emergency department or call 108. Tell them you have a blood cancer. Do not wait to see if it settles.
Plants and soil
Is gardening safe with a low white cell count?
Enjoying plants is generally fine. Digging in soil, handling compost and working with manure are what carry the risk. Soil holds moulds and bacteria that can enter through small cuts or be breathed in as dust.
Terrace pots and balcony plants
Many Hyderabad homes keep tulsi, money plants and curry leaf in pots. You can look after them lightly. Let someone else repot, add fertiliser or turn over soil. If you do touch plants, wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards, even if the gloves looked clean.
Plants inside your room
Standing water in pots and saucers can grow moulds and draw mosquitoes. Your team may ask you to move plants and fresh flowers out of your bedroom while your counts are very low, and some hospital wards do not allow them at all.
Building work and dust
Construction nearby, whitewashing and cleaning dusty storerooms throw up mould spores. Stay away from the dust and keep windows on that side closed while the work goes on.
If gardening is what keeps you going
For some people, time with plants is the calmest part of the day. Tell your team that. They may suggest safer ways to keep it up, such as sitting in the garden while someone else does the digging, or returning to fuller gardening once your counts recover between cycles or after treatment ends.
Sharing the jobs
Which jobs should I hand to someone else?
Hand it over
Usually fine for you
Cleaning litter trays, cages and aquariums
Stroking and feeding a healthy pet, then washing hands
Picking up droppings on a walk
A short walk with a calm dog on a lead
Repotting, digging and handling compost
Watering plants with gloves on
Cleaning bathrooms and drains
Wiping kitchen counters with a clean cloth
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Every day
What does a simple home hygiene routine look like?
Wash hands at the right moments
Soap and running water before eating, after the toilet, after touching pets or plants and after coming home. Rub between the fingers and under the nails. Keep sanitiser by your bed for the times in between.
Keep the kitchen clean
Use separate boards for raw meat, wash fruit and vegetables well, and change kitchen cloths often. Eat food freshly cooked and hot, and ask your team whether you need to avoid raw salads or street food.
Drink safe water
Boiled or filtered water is safer for you. Clean the filter and water pots regularly, as stored water can grow germs.
Keep your own things separate
Use your own towel, toothbrush and cup. Wash bed sheets often, and ask visitors with a cold or cough to come another time.
Commonly believed
What do families get wrong about pets and hygiene?
"We will have to give the dog away."
Rarely. A healthy pet can be a real comfort through long treatment. What matters is vaccinations, deworming, a vet check and someone else doing the cleaning. Ask your team before bringing home a new animal, since young animals carry more germs.
"Neem water and turmeric keep the house germ-free."
They do not replace soap, safe water and clean surfaces. Plain soap and water remove germs from hands better than any home rinse.
"Masks are only needed in hospital."
A well-fitting mask helps when someone is sweeping, dusting, or when there is building work nearby. Your team will tell you when it matters most.
"Scrubbing the house with strong chemicals every day is safest."
Harsh fumes can irritate the lungs and skin. Regular cleaning with ordinary detergent is enough for most homes.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about pets, plants and hygiene
Can my cat sleep on my bed during chemotherapy?
It is safer not to while your counts are low. Pets carry germs on their paws and fur, and scratches happen easily during sleep. Cuddling on the sofa and washing your hands afterwards is a reasonable middle path. Ask your team, because the advice is stricter during some treatments.
Should I get my pet checked by a vet?
Yes. A vet visit before or early in treatment is worth it. Make sure vaccinations and deworming are up to date and that the animal has no diarrhoea, skin problems or cough. A pet that falls ill during your treatment should see the vet quickly, and someone else should care for it.
Can I still offer prayers with flowers at home?
Usually yes. Fresh flowers in a puja room are rarely a problem if someone else changes the water and removes old flowers. Wash your hands after handling them. During very intensive treatment your team may ask you to keep flowers out of your bedroom for a while.
Is it safe to eat vegetables from our own garden?
Homegrown vegetables are fine to eat if they are washed well and cooked. Soil can cling to leaves and roots, so rinse under running water before cooking. Ask your team whether you should avoid raw homegrown salads and sprouts while your counts are low.
We keep cows at home. What should I avoid?
Stay out of the shed, avoid handling dung, and do not milk the animals yourself while your immunity is low. Drink only boiled milk. If your village home has open drains or standing water nearby, ask whether it is safer to stay elsewhere during the weeks when your counts dip lowest.
Does my family need to change how they clean?
Mostly they need to be regular rather than harsh. Clean the bathroom and kitchen often with ordinary detergent, keep the toilet area dry and change cloths frequently. The biggest single change is that everyone at home washes their hands before touching you or your food.
Can children and pets visit me after a transplant?
The transplant team gives specific rules, and they are usually strict for the first months. Healthy children can often visit if they are well and have washed their hands. Pets may need to stay away for longer. Follow the written instructions from the centre that did your transplant.
How will I know if I have picked up an infection?
Fever and chills are the most common signs, but some people with low counts only feel suddenly unwell or confused. A cough, loose motions, burning urine or a red wound can also be signs. Call your team the same day for any of these, rather than waiting until your next appointment.
Your Haematologist
Meet CION's haematologist. One specialist for your blood report and your plan.
Dr. Basudev Pokhrel reviews blood counts, transfusion needs and blood disorders, and works with the CION tumour board on blood cancers.
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
Patient stories
Hear it from people we have treated
Every story is a video, in the patient's own words. Nothing here is a written testimonial.
Sources
- National Cancer Institute — Infection and low white cell counts during cancer treatment
- American Cancer Society — Infections in people with cancer
- World Health Organization — Food safety
- Blood Cancer UK — Blood cancer information and support
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Talk to us
Not sure what is safe at home?
Tell us your diagnosis and where you are in treatment. Our haematology team will help you work out which precautions matter for you right now.