Human & Dog Parasites

Ectoparasites

• Ectoparasites, or parasites that live on the outside of an animal, are the easiest to transfer from dog to human, but they are also the easiest to spot and remove.

  A common ectoparasite is the tick, which can carry such serious and even fatal diseases as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Because the tick is an insect, it can easily crawl from the dog's fur onto a human's skin and attach. The easiest way to prevent this is by regularly grooming and shampooing the dog, especially if you live in a heavily wooded area. There are also anti-tick sprays that you can use to prevent the ticks from attaching to the dog in the first place.

  Scabies are small parasites that burrow into the skin and cause rashes and itching and can jump from the dog to the human. When dealing with a scabies infection, it's important to treat the dog first, as it is likely the source of the problem. A veterinarian will prescribe a lotion, which is the same way the infestation is treated in humans.

  Fleas and ear mites are other common ectoparasites that affect dogs. Fleas generally will not attach to humans as they will to dogs, but they will still bite and cause itching. Ear mites do not usually cause problems in humans.

Endoparasites

• An endoparasite lives within the organs or in the tissue of an animal. It is more difficult for a human to catch an endoparasite from an animal, but it is possible, and the ramifications are often more serious than with an ectoparasite.

  The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) warns of toxocariasis, which is an infection caused by a parasite called a roundworm that lives in the intestines of a dog. It can lead to fever, coughing, asthma, pneumonia or even loss of vision, though most cases are not that serious and may go unnoticed. Puppies often contract this parasite through the mother's milk and then transmit the eggs in their feces. This is why you must clean up droppings before they dry and turn into a powder that can be inhaled. Also, keep small children away from dog poop.

  Hookworms and whipworms are other endoparasites transmitted through dog feces. Tapeworms, however, are a more serious parasite that is transmitted to humans who inadvertently swallow a flea that has bitten an infected dog, according to parasite-cleanse.com. Tapeworms cause nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and weight loss, as the parasite absorbs the nutrients you consume.

Treatment and Prevention

• You can prevent many parasites simply by getting the dog the proper shots at the veterinarian's office. The tapeworms that can transfer to humans, for instance, are rare in the United States because most dogs are inoculated against them. Prevent the dog from getting ticks or mites with proper grooming and bathing habits. Never handle dog excrement without gloves, and try to remove it or bury it before it dries.

  If you or the dog do get a parasite, remove or kill it as soon as possible. Many of the problems associated with parasites are the diseases that they carry and the infections that they cause. You can prevent the transmission of these diseases by quick removal. For ectoparasites like ticks, this involves removing fully with tweezers, or using topical medicine to remove scabies. With endoparasites, the treatment is usually some sort of oral medication prescribed by a doctor.