Are worms contagious?

Question

my uncle's dog has worms. Can I get worms from the dog?

Answer 1

Yes, it's possible, but not likely if you dont touch the poop. BUT, the dog needs to be wormed. Your uncle can buy worm pills cheap and give them to the dog. There is NO reason to take a chance, or for him to let the dog suffer when its so easily cured!

Answer 2

Nope. At least, not exactly. There are two: one that can be transmitted to humans is the roundworm, specifically Toxacara canis, the large roundworm of the dog, or Baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm. If a human ingests an embryonated egg (one that has passed through the dog (or ****) and been in the environment for about 10-15 days, 30 days for the **** roundworm) the larvae will try to travel through the body, but cannot do so properly as the human is a foreign host. They can cause visceral larval migrans as they travel through the body, or ocular larval migrans, where they end up in the eye. This can happen with young children, especially toddlers, who frequently play in and accidently eat dirt (or eat it on purpose, crazy kids).
Two: the hookworm, which has larvae that can burrow through intact skin. If a person is walking around barefoot where such larvae are, it can cause cutaneous larval migrans, which is the larvae actually making paths through the skin in an unsuccessful attempt to find their way through the body to the intestines.
So, although worms can cause serious problems for humans, you won't have crawly critters living in your intestines. People who are diagnosed with worms have pinworms, which are very species-specific. You can't get pinworms from dogs/cats/etc. and they can't get pinworms from you.

Just some good accurate info for everybody. Good reasons to give your dog Heartgard plus, Interceptor or another good monthly preventative!

Answer 3

Yes it is possible for people to get roundworms & hookworms from pets, however if poop is kept picked up and a person practices proper hygeine (handwashing, etc) then there is no need to worry.

Do NOT use OTC dewormers they are ineffective and can be very dangerous. Also you should never deworm a dog without getting a fecal test done to make sure what type(s) of worms you are dealing with. Not all worm infestations are visible in stool. A vet can give you the proper medication for the type(s) of worms you are dealing with.

Answer 4

Yes you can get get the worms. If it is hookworm and you walk around where they defacated bare foot, the larvae can crawl under your skin and cause severe itching. If it is roundworm and embryonated eggs of the worm are injested (like children not washing their hands) then larva hatch and travel around your body. They do lots of damage when they end up in the eye or the brain. The tapeworms dogs are most commonly affected with and whip worms are not usually a problem for people. (echinococcus tapeworm is pretty nasty though). People can also get strongyles-they are similar to hookworms.
By the way ringworm is not a worm but a fungus---people can get this to.

Answer 5

Yes you can-depending on the type of worm, either fecal-oral contact (you have to accidentally swallow some poop, not likely for an adult human) or by walking barefoot in areas where the dog has pooped before, even if there's no visible poop there now. Hookworm larvae can crawl right into your skin-this is why there's no dogs allowed on the beach!

Answer 6

It depends on the type of worms that your uncle's dog has. My dog just got diagnosed with whipworms, and from my research today, humans aren't affected by those kind.

Answer 7

Yes, especially roundworms.

Just FYI: Ringworm is a fungus, not a worm.

Answer 8

If they are ring worms, yes you can!

Answer 9

yes