Animals can also become infected with tuberculosis and fall ill. If pets or farm animals live in the household of a person with infectious tuberculosis, it should be checked in consultation with medical and veterinary specialists and the public health department whether it makes sense to test the animal.

In very rare cases, humans can also be infected by animals, as used to be the case with bovine tuberculosis. This was common in Germany until the post-war period, but is now only rarely found. Cattle herds in Germany are now considered tuberculosis-free, even though small outbreaks have been observed in recent years. Bovine tuberculosis is notifiable in Germany and the veterinary authorities monitor the situation. In other countries, particularly in Africa, Asia and South America, bovine tuberculosis is still widespread and infection can occur primarily through the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products.