Worms You Can Get from Dogs

Your child has pinworms again, and you suspect the dog is to blame. But before you point the finger at Rover one more time, you need to get the facts. Dogs don't get pinworms, nor do they carry them. Pinworms are passed between people due to poor sanitation.

That's not saying that you can't contract worms from dogs, but not pinworms. Common dog worms that you can catch include roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms. When a person becomes infected by a disease or worm from another species, the disease is called zoonotic.

Roundworms

Roundworms or Toxacara canis (and the cat version, Toxacara cati) occasionally infect about 10,000 people a year in the United States, usually children younger than five years old. Roundworm eggs live everywhere in the soil, so even if you don't have a dog or cat, you're at risk for infection. Infection occurs when the person ingests a roundworm egg, usually in the dirt or from unwashed hands after handling or playing in the dirt, or in the case of some children, eating dirt.

Humans aren't roundworm's normal host, so they don't live in the human intestine. Instead, they migrate around the body. The disease is called Visceral Larval Migrans (VLM) and can be serious. In some cases, the roundworm invades the eye and causes blindness. Symptoms of infection may include asthma, fever, pneumonia, and coughing.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms, in particular, Dipylidium caninum, can infect humans from dogs, but it's rare. These tapeworms are passed to a dog when he bites at and swallows a flea. If you manage to swallow an infected flea, you could possibly get it too.

You're more likely to be infected with pork tapeworms or beef tapeworms from eating undercooked meat infected with the tapeworm segments than from your dog. However, one tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosa, while rare in dogs, can be exceedingly dangerous in humans. Dogs can get this tapeworm from eating raw game meat, rodents, or even infected raw meat from sheep, goats, or cattle. Because humans aren't the normal host for these tapeworms, they produce cysts in the brain, liver and lungs. If untreated, death could result.

Hookworms

Hookworm zoonotic infections are relatively rare between dogs and humans, although a human can be infected by certain hookworm larvae present in soil It causes an itchy, bumpy rash called cutaneous larvae migrans that will clear up on its own.

Preventing Worm Infections

Regardless of whether you wish to prevent pinworms or one of the canine worms, the most effective way to prevent them is hand washing. Proper sanitary methods, i.e. washing your hands after working with dirt, before you eat, after you handle unwashed vegetables or raw meat, or after you go to the bathroom will help remove the risk of worm infection. Cooking your meat thoroughly will eliminate possible tapeworm infection due to undercooked meat.

Preventing Worm Transmission Between You and Your Pet

Having your dog and cat checked regularly for worms by a veterinarian and dewormed with the correct prescription medication will help prevent zoonotic transmission. Also be sure to have your dog and cat on flea preventative such as a systemic flea control product. Your veterinarian can make recommendations as to what flea products to use.

References

Roundworm infection in humans http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/CWP/view.asp?A=171&Q=248230

The Compete Idiot's Guide to Dog Health and Nutrition, Margaret H. Bonham, 2003.

Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, James M. Giffin MD and Liisa D. Calson DVM, 2000

Tapeworm Infection http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tapeworm/DS00659/DSECTION=causes

Tapeworm Infections http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=562