How can puppy worms be transmitted to humans

Keep reading to learn more about the parasites you and your pet could catch. All puppies and kittens are considered infected with roundworms.

Puppies can actually be born with them, and both puppies and kittens can become infected by drinking their mother's milk. When infected, pets can shed thousands upon thousands of microscopic roundworm eggs in their feces, which we can unknowingly ingest without realizing it. Roundworms can cause disease in humans if we unknowingly eat the microscopic eggs that infected cats and dogs shed in their feces.

If stools are not picked up by owners, any parasite eggs present will disperse in grass and soil as the stool decays. Roundworm eggs can survive in soil for years, and people can come in contact with them by eating improperly washed food, such as salad greens or root vegetables.

Tapeworms are long, segmented worms that live in the intestine. These segments, which can sometimes be seen moving, are actually packets of tapeworm eggs.

If your pet has tapeworms, you may see tiny white segments that look like grains of rice slowly moving around their waste or stuck to their back end. Dogs and cats can become infected with tapeworms by swallowing infected fleas or by hunting rodents and rabbits. If your pet has a recurring infection, she will need dedicated care to prevent reinfection, because recontamination from the environment and reinfection are always possible.

Routine deworming is the easiest and least expensive way to prevent your pet from developing a sustained parasitic infection. In addition, you should keep your dog away from community or high-traffic dog areas, such as sandboxes, walking paths, and dog parks, if possible. Good personal hygiene, such as washing your hands before eating and not walking barefoot outside, are good preventive measures for people.

This basic information should help arm you against these unwelcome visitors to your pet and in your home, and, fortunately, preventive treatment is inexpensive and easy. If you suspect your pet may be infected, act quickly and seek veterinary attention. We can help safeguard you and your pet against parasites and the infections they cause, so call our hospital and make an appointment if you have concerns. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. It is important to be aware of what types of worm can be transmitted from dogs to humans.

Symptoms of worms in people vary depending on the type of worm but may involve parts of the body such as the eye, skin or internal organs. Roundworm symptoms in humans can occur if roundworm eggs are accidently ingested by a human.

Roundworm eggs can be found in soil wherever dogs have passed faeces, and if ingested, the larvae juvenile worms can migrate to internal organs, affecting muscles, eyes and the brain. Young children are considered most at risk as they are more likely to play in contaminated areas, place things in their mouths, and are less likely to have ideal hand hygiene.

Dogs with hookworm infestations will pass eggs in their faeces which hatch into larvae. The hookworm larvae can infest humans through skin contact e. The larvae migrate through the skin and can cause skin lesions and other more serious diseases in humans.

Dogs are infested with hydatid tapeworm by eating raw offal organs from domestic grazing animals e. Because of this, it primarily affects farm dogs fed raw offal or dogs which scavenge from carcasses.

But what are the symptoms of tapeworm in humans? People can become infested with hydatid tapeworm if they ingest eggs passed in the faeces of an infested dog. Dogs contract tapeworms by eating infectious raw meat, so preventing the dog from eating wild animals or raw offal will help reduce the likelihood of a dog and its owners contracting the disease.

Regular worming and flea control for dogs will go a long way towards preventing these diseases being transmitted to humans. Your veterinarian can advise on the most appropriate treatment for your dog. Dog parasite treatments Pet Shed's most popular solutions for ridding your dog of parasites.

When playing with your family dog, always wash your hands after contact, avoiding kissing it, and do not allow it to lick people on the face. Prompt removal of dog feces from the backyard is also advisable using a 'pooper scooper', gloved hands or a plastic bag and avoiding contact between the skin and the feces.

Owners should prevent their dog from defecating in playground areas during walks. Dissuading young children from eating dirt or grass may seem nearly impossible, but it will reduce the likelihood of them contracting a nasty disease. If you are concerned that you or your family may have contracted a disease from your pet, consult your family doctor.

Fact Sheet: Toxocariasis, Roundworm Infection. Fact Sheet: Hookworm Infection. Bryan R. Echinococcosis hydatid disease.