They are treated like members of the family. And like any member of your family, it's important to keep your companion animal healthy and free of parasites. It is fairly common for a dog or cat to become infected with an internal or external parasite at some point in its lifetime.
Do pet owners have parasites?
Zoonotic parasites can be transmitted from pets to humans. Here's what pet owners should know. Some pets are born with intestinal worms (transmitted from their mother while in utero or through milk). ... Until your pet is dewormed for parasites, your family can be at risk of zoonotic parasitic infections.
How common is it for humans to get worms from dogs?
Scientists have told us for years that "there is a very slight pet-related risk concerning contagion of these organisms from pets to people." But current information from the National Centers for Disease Control reveals that about 10,000 children in the United States are infected annually with roundworms from dogs and ...
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.
Can you get parasites from sleeping with dogs?
Yes, you can get the roundworm, tapeworm, or hookworm from your dog sleeping on your bed. So, in as much as comforting your pooch is a good thing, you shouldn't put yourself at risk. Worm infestation could lead to severe health issues. Most of them are harmful to humans.
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