What Precautions Should Humans Take With Dogs With Worms?

Intestinal worms can affect both dogs and people, depending on the type of parasites you are dealing with. If your dog has become infested with an intestinal parasite, you must treat him to rid him of these worms and decrease the possibility of him passing them to you or members of your family. When handling him, always wash your hands afterward, especially before handling food.

  1. Identification

    • Roundworms and hookworms are both types of intestinal parasites that commonly infect dogs. Unlike some other worms, these parasites are zoonotic, meaning they can infect animals, such as dogs, and humans. Parasitic worms are passed through the feces of an infected animal; they can infect the surrounding soil where an animal defecates. If your dog comes into contact with this soil, he gets the larvae on his coat and ingests it while licking his paws or fur. The parasites then settle in the dog's intestine, where they ingest the dog's blood and nutrients. A parasitic worm infestation causes a variety of health problems, including diarrhea, weight loss, loss of appetite and anemia from blood loss.

    Treatment

    • A veterinarian must diagnose and treat a worm infestation in your dog to prevent it from causing serious health issues and from spreading it to humans. Deworming medications such as pyrantel pamoate need to be administered to kill the worms in your dog's system. These medications typically require multiple doses to kill the worms in all stages of development. Humans infected with worms usually acquire them through the skin, causing cutaneous larva migrans, a skin condition that can lead to a secondary bacterial infection. Hookworms and roundworms can also enter the intestines and travel into the organs, eyes, liver and lungs, causing serious damage. In some cases, people may require treatment with certain antiparasitic medications, depending on the severity of the infestation.

    Sanitation

    • Wash your hands after playing with your dog, scooping his feces or handling his bedding. Run your hands under water and use soap to lather them for 20 seconds, rubbing the front and back of your hands, along with the area between the fingers and under the nails, recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rinse your hands well and dry them with a disposable paper towel. Help children properly wash and dry their hands. Dilute 1 part bleach with 20 parts water and use it to clean the surfaces inside and outside of your home. Wash all of your dog's bedding in hot water and vacuum carpets thoroughly.

    Precautions

    • Wear shoes when walking outdoors in your yard where your dog has defecated to avoid contact with soil possibly infected with hookworm larvae, recommends the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association. This prevents the hookworms from penetrating or entering any broken skin on your feet and causing inflammation and infections. Pick up and dispose of your dog's feces after he eliminates to prevent worms and larvae in the feces from entering and infecting your soil. Wrap the feces in a plastic bag, tie it well and throw it away. Cover a child's sandbox when not in use to prevent your dog from contaminating it. Ask your veterinarian about putting your dog on a heartworm preventive medication, which can also help prevent parasitic worms from infecting your dog, preventing future problems.