This isn’t exactly what we meant by “fetch.”

Our dogs and cats may bring joy to our lives. But they also appear to bring something home other than fleas and ticks. They might also carry antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

Researchers in a study focused on Great Britain and Portugal found pets and their owners are capable of spreading these microbes between themselves. That is alarming. Antibiotic resistance is rising around the world, accounting for the deaths of about 700,000 people around the world each year.

While it has already been established that pets can carry some of these pathogens, it was less clear whether they could pass them to their human companions.

Scientists collected stool samples from cats, dogs and pet owners to test for antibiotic-resistant bacterial microbes. The collection was taken from the pets of 86 humans from 50 households.

This survey included a search for bacteria, such as E. coli, that can be resistant to antibiotics, causing a number of potentially deadly conditions, including sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia.

Of particular interest to investigators are bacteria resistant to a broad-spectrum antibiotic called carbapenems (Carba-PEE-news). It’s considered the antibiotic of last resort, used when all others have failed.

By comparing the bacteria in those stool samples, the study confirmed superbug transmission between pets and owners.

This might help explain why these microbes spread and remain persistent in a community. And scientists say their work offers a good reason for pet owners to wash their hands after picking up a dog’s feces or even when petting them.

Our pets love us unconditionally. The microscopic critters they carry? Not so much.