The short answer is yes, many worms infesting dogs are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans. Different worms cause different diseases, and each have their own symptoms.
Can you get worms from your dog if they lick you?
Parasites like hookworm, roundworm, and giardia can be passed from dog to human through licking.
Can a dog give a person 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.
How do I know if I got worms from my dog?
An itchy rash at the point of penetration is the most obvious of the symptoms of a hookworm infection. Winding red trails may also be visible as the worm eats a path for itself under the skin. Severe cases may cause diarrhea, and can lead to weight loss and anemia.
Can adults get worms from pets?
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.
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