Yes, humans can contract worms from cats and dogs, including roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms. Here's what you need to know.
Can humans give roundworm to dogs?
Roundworms are not transmitted between people to other people. And they are not directly passed from dogs and cats to people. Affected dogs and cats shed eggs in their feces.
What are the chances of getting worms from your dog?
In most cases, a person has to ingest parasite-laden feces in order to contract worms from an animal. Good common sense and hygiene greatly reduces the risk, Weese said. “The risk is never zero,” Weese said, “but I'm not convinced it's any higher for a vet than someone that goes for a walk in the park.”
What happens if a human gets dog worms?
Roundworms do pose a significant risk to humans. Contact with contaminated soil or dog feces can result in human ingestion and infection. Roundworm eggs may accumulate in significant numbers in the soil where pets deposit feces. Once infected, the worms can cause eye, lung, heart and neurologic signs in people.
What gives worms to dogs?
Why do dogs get worms? Dogs can pick up worms from a variety of sources, from their mother's milk as puppies, from eating dead animals or prey when outside, from having fleas which carry worm larvae, and in the case of lungworm, from contact with slugs or snails.
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