Can roundworms and
infect people? Yes. These worms, like other infections that humans can get from animals, are called zoonotic (zoe-o-NOT-ick) infections or zoonoses (zoe-o-NO-sees). By learning about these infections and how to prevent them, you can help protect your pets, yourself, and your family.
Yes, humans can catch roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms from cats and dogs. Here’s what you need to know.
Most of us deworm our pets to spare them pain, but it’s also vital to lessen our own risk. Here is our guide to the parasites your dog or cat might contract, along with tips for lowering the risks to you and your family.
Roundworms can be acquired by humans from a variety of sources, so it’s crucial to understand where they are most common and to practice good hygiene. Roundworm larvae migrate throughout the body after being ingested, damaging various organs and leading to conditions like blindness and respiratory failure. Here are a few places you could pick up roundworms:
A single roundworm can produce 250,000 eggs per day. Puppies can contract the infection while still in the womb, and kittens and puppies can contract it while nursing. To help get rid of these parasites, remember to thoroughly wash your hands after handling puppies and kittens and to worm them as directed on the product label.
If we unknowingly consume the microscopic eggs that infected dogs and cats shed in their feces, we could become ill. To help prevent the spread of parasites, always use a bag to collect your pets’ waste and regularly pick up the poop in the backyard. Always wash your hands after handling dog or cat poo.
Roundworm eggs can survive in soil for years. When gardening, people may come into contact with them, and young children who play in the dirt without washing their hands afterwards run the risk of contracting an infection. Always wash your hands after petting your pet because roundworm eggs in the soil can adhere to your pet’s fur, especially if your dog or cat enjoys digging.
Tapeworms are segmented worms that live in the intestine. Your pet’s feces contain tiny egg-filled segments that have broken off. Although these parts are not alive, they continue to move for a while. You might notice minute white segments, which resemble grains of rice, crawling around your pet’s hindquarters or in their excrement if they have tapeworms.
When hunting or scavenging, eating raw meat or offal, or swallowing infected fleas, dogs and cats can contract tapeworms. An itchy bottom, vomiting, and diarrhea are signs of canine flea tapeworm infection.
If a person accidentally eats a flea that is infected with the flea tapeworm (e. g. after patting their flea-infested dog or cat). A condition known as “hydatid disease” in which organ cysts develop and cause serious illness and even death can be brought on by specific species of tapeworm. Because hydatid disease is difficult to treat and control, it’s crucial to treat your dog, stop your dog from scavenging, and practice good hygiene to reduce the likelihood of exposure.
Pets can contract hookworms by eating soil-borne larvae, having those larvae penetrate their skin, or by eating infected rodents or birds. Although adult pets rarely experience hookworms, young dogs may experience much more severe symptoms, such as diarrhea, lethargy, anemia, and even death.
Hookworm can also affect people. The larvae can worm into our skin and itch and irritate us if we walk across a contaminated area in bare feet. If at all possible, wear shoes outside to lower your risk of contracting hookworms. Ingestion of larvae is also possible.
Pet owners have a variety of worming products to choose from, including spot-on treatments like Advocate. To prevent human infections and control intestinal worms, deworm your adult pets at least once every three months.
What happens if I contract worms from a dog?
Knowing what kinds of worms can be passed from dogs to humans is crucial. Depending on the type of worm, people may experience various symptoms that can affect various body parts, including the eye, skin, or internal organs. Visit your doctor as soon as possible if any symptoms start to worry you.
If roundworm eggs are accidentally consumed by a human, roundworm symptoms can develop in that person. Wherever dogs have defecated, roundworm eggs can be found in the soil. If ingested, the larvae (young worms) can move to internal organs and affect the muscles, eyes, and brain. Due to their propensity to play in contaminated areas, put objects in their mouths, and practice poor hand hygiene, young children are thought to be the most vulnerable.
When dogs have hookworm infestations, the eggs they pass in their waste develop into larvae. The hookworm larvae can infest humans through skin contact (e. g. if walking barefoot on contaminated sand or soil). The larvae can cause skin lesions and other more serious diseases in humans as they migrate through the skin. It’s crucial to regularly deworm your dog because you can catch hookworm from them.
The hydatid tapeworm infects dogs when they consume raw offal (organs) from domestic grazing animals (e. g. sheep) or native wild animals (e. g. kangaroos) which have been infested with the parasite. It primarily affects farm dogs that are fed raw offal or dogs that scavenge from carcasses because of this. If dogs are prohibited from consuming raw offal or scavenging carcasses, the hydatid tapeworm is completely avoidable. People can contract hydatid tapeworm if they consume eggs passed in the feces of an infected dog, but what are the symptoms of tapeworm in humans? Cysts that develop in vital organs like the liver, lungs, and brain can lead to the potentially serious condition known as hydatid disease in humans. Diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, a swollen abdomen, and fatigue are possible symptoms.
Whipworm is a significant contributor to dog disease, but human exposure to the parasite is extremely uncommon and carries little risk. Humans are affected by a different species of whipworm called Trichuris trichiura, which is not the same as the canine whipworm and is not spread by dogs.
Reports of heartworm infections in people are very rare. Heartworm is primarily a parasite that affects dogs, though it can very rarely infect humans when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. Although the juvenile heartworms in humans never reach the heart, the inflammation they cause can harm the lungs. The parasite cannot be transferred directly from dogs to people.
How will roundworms affect my dog?
Adult roundworms live in the affected dogs intestines. However, dogs with severe roundworm infections, especially puppies, exhibit diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, dull hair, and a potbellied appearance. Many dogs do not exhibit symptoms of infection. If the roundworms enter the lungs, the dog may cough.
The adult roundworms may be visible in your dog’s feces or vomit. They may be several inches long and appear white or light brown.
Tapeworms are segmented worms that live in the intestine. Your pet’s feces contain tiny egg-filled segments that have broken off. Although these parts are not alive, they continue to move for a while. You might notice minute white segments, which resemble grains of rice, crawling around your pet’s hindquarters or in their excrement if they have tapeworms.
When hunting or scavenging, eating raw meat or offal, or swallowing infected fleas, dogs and cats can contract tapeworms. An itchy bottom, vomiting, and diarrhea are signs of canine flea tapeworm infection.
Most of us deworm our pets to spare them pain, but it’s also vital to lessen our own risk. Here is our guide to the parasites your dog or cat might contract, along with tips for lowering the risks to you and your family.
If a person accidentally eats a flea that is infected with the flea tapeworm (e. g. after patting their flea-infested dog or cat). A condition known as “hydatid disease” in which organ cysts develop and cause serious illness and even death can be brought on by specific species of tapeworm. Because hydatid disease is difficult to treat and control, it’s crucial to treat your dog, stop your dog from scavenging, and practice good hygiene to reduce the likelihood of exposure.
Roundworm eggs can survive in soil for years. When gardening, people may come into contact with them, and young children who play in the dirt without washing their hands afterwards run the risk of contracting an infection. Always wash your hands after petting your pet because roundworm eggs in the soil can adhere to your pet’s fur, especially if your dog or cat enjoys digging.
FAQ
Can you get worms from your dog if they lick you?
Dogs can lick humans and transmit parasites like giardia, hookworm, and roundworm. Salmonella can also be passed from your dog to you or the other way around.
How likely is it to get worms from your dog?
In most cases, getting worms from an animal requires ingesting feces full of parasites. Weese said that using common sense and being clean greatly reduces the risk. Weese remarked, “The risk is never zero, but I’m not convinced it’s any higher for a vet than it is for someone who takes a stroll in the park. ”.
Can you catch worms from your dog?
Yes, a lot of the worms that infest dogs are zoonotic, which means they can spread from animals to people. Different worms have unique symptoms and cause various diseases. So, look after yourself and look out for the signs.
How do I know if I get worms from my dog?
The most obvious sign of a hookworm infection is an itchy rash at the point of penetration. The worm may also leave behind winding red trails as it carves a path for itself underneath the skin. In severe cases, diarrhea may occur, which can cause weight loss and anemia.