Yes, Your Dog Could Give You Worms—Here’s How to Stay Safe

The thought of parasitic worms certainly makes lots of people feel squeamish, so you’re not alone if this topic makes you shudder. The good news is that educating yourself will help you keep your pets and human family members safe. If you’ve just discovered your dog has worms or simply learned about the possibility that dogs can get worms, you may be wondering, Can my dog give worms to me, or my kids, or our other pets? The short answer is yes, but you may be relieved to learn that many dog parasites are preventable and/or easily treatable.

Read on to learn all about common worms in dogs, how they spread, which ones are contagious, and what you can do to protect pets and people from worms. 

Are Worms Contagious?

The short answer is that it depends. Each kind of parasite has a unique life cycle that involves different forms of transmission. This determines how worms get into their next host and what species can serve as a host. Some worms are contagious only between dogs, while others may be passed to humans or other pets as well. This may involve transmission through feces and materials contaminated by feces like soil or sand, direct contact with worms or eggs, transmission from mother dogs to their babies, or transmission through an insect vector like fleas or mosquitos.

Therefore, it is important to know the different risks for specific parasites and to take precautions to prevent transmission and treat infections quickly and effectively. The best way to do this is to stay on top of routine veterinary care and preventative dewormings and to see your vet right away if you suspect any of your pets may have parasites, fleas, or any other signs of illness.

How Different Types of Worms Spread

Roundworms

Roundworms, officially called Toxocara canis, are one of the most common parasites in dogs. These worms are often acquired by puppies from their mom during pregnancy or nursing. They can also be transmitted to dogs by eating small rodents that have roundworms or by ingesting roundworm eggs in dirt or other materials contaminated with feces. Many dogs with roundworms have no symptoms at all but pet parents might occasionally see a long thin worm in their vomit or feces. Some dogs with worms may experience bloating, gas, diarrhea, or slow growth. This parasite can be transmitted to humans as well if the eggs are accidentally ingested in soil, sand, or other contaminated objects.

Hookworms

Hookworms, or Ancylostoma caninum, are another common intestinal parasite of dogs. This parasite tends to do more damage to its hosts as it has sharp, hook-like mouth parts that attach to dogs’ intestines. Dogs with hookworms may have intestinal bleeding, anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or weight loss. This parasite can also infect puppies through their moms during nursing and can cause severe signs that can be fatal in young puppies. Hookworms can also be transmitted to dogs by eating infected prey like rodents or through contaminated soil, sand, and other objects. The larvae of hookworms can also get into both animals and people through their skin if they come into contact with them on the ground. Humans are often infected after walking barefoot in contaminated areas where infected dogs or other animals have defecated like beaches or public parks.

Tapeworms

Multiple kinds of tapeworms can infect both dogs and humans. Dogs most commonly acquire a tapeworm called Dipylidium caninum, which comes from fleas. Immature fleas ingest tapeworm eggs, and when dogs bite at their fur due to itchy fleas, they can unintentionally ingest fleas, along with the tapeworm eggs.

Dogs with tapeworms may have no symptoms at all, so any dog that has fleas should be treated for tapeworms. Pet parents may notice rice-like segments around their dog’s butts or in their poop if they have an active tapeworm infection. Humans and other pets cannot acquire tapeworms through direct contact with an infected dog, however, other pets and occasionally humans may become infected if they also ingest fleas or eat contaminated or undercooked meat. This is another good reason to keep all pets on flea preventatives year-round and aggressively treat any flea infestations as soon as possible.

Whipworms

Whipworms, formally called Trichuris vulpis, are also fairly common in dogs. These worms are transmitted when their eggs are ingested, either through dirt contaminated with infected feces, or when grooming one another. Whipworm eggs are very hardy and can survive in the environment for a long time. Even if there is no sign of animal feces in the area, the eggs may still be present.

Dogs with whipworms may have very mild symptoms when there are only a few worms present, but more serious infections can cause severe diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances. There is no evidence that whipworms can be transmitted to humans.

Heartworms

Heartworms are unique among the other worms in this group, both in the way that they spread and the disease that they cause. Heartworms, or Dirofilaria immitis, are transmitted by mosquitoes. When a mosquito ingests blood from an infected dog, it also ingests immature heartworms, which can then enter the next host that the mosquito feeds on. Dogs, foxes, and wolves are the main host for Dirofilaria immitis but the worms can occasionally infect other animals, like cats, and very rarely, humans.

Early in a heartworm infection, there are usually no symptoms at all but routine testing may pick up these infections. In dogs with more advanced infections and large numbers of adult worms, common signs include coughing, difficulty breathing, lethargy, heart failure, or even death. In all cases, the worms are transmitted by mosquitoes and there is no risk of infection through direct contact with a dog or cat.

How to Prevent the Spread of Worms

Once you have a deeper understanding of the lifecycle of different worms and how they spread, you can target your efforts to prevent them. Some of the best ways to keep your dog safe are:

• Ensuring they receive routine preventatives for heartworm, fleas, and intestinal parasites: Many products combine these preventatives into one monthly treatment, making it quick and easy to keep your dog protected.
• Practicing good hygiene: Be sure to pick up and remove all dog feces as soon as your dog eliminates and to clean up any accidents indoors with appropriate cleaners. Make sure to wash and clean your dog’s food and water bowls daily, along with toys, bedding, and litter boxes (if you also have cats). Make sure everyone in your home is aware of these practices and encourage routine hand washing after handling pets and before eating. It is also a good idea to wear gloves when cleaning up feces or working in the garden, and to keep children’s sandboxes covered up when not in use.
• Keeping your dog on a leash: Try to avoid letting your dog off-leash in areas where there may be stray animals or wildlife to prevent them from hunting live prey or coming into contact with contaminated feces.
• Staying up to date on vet visits: All pets should receive routine screening for worms as part of their annual or bi-annual physical exams, so be sure to keep up with these appointments and follow up with any recommended dewormings that your veterinarian prescribes.

When to Call the Vet

Any time you notice abnormal behaviors or signs of illness with your dog, it is best to see a vet right away. This allows you to get relief for your dog before things get worse and may save you money if your dog can avoid more intensive treatments. Many times, dogs with worms have no signs at all, but if you do see actual worms in your dog’s feces or vomit, it is a clear sign that they have an infection.

Other common signs of worms include diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, slow growth, and/or a bloated belly. And of course, even healthy dogs should be screened at least once a year for parasites and should stay up-to-date with preventative treatments like vaccines and dewormings. Be sure to stay on schedule with your dog’s routine veterinary appointments to ensure they don’t miss any important treatments.

Protecting Your Pack

While the thought of worms in your beloved pets can be a creepy concept, education is your best weapon in preventing infections and protecting your pets and human family members. Once you understand how different worms are spread, you can minimize the risks of transmission by keeping up with good hygiene practices and preventative treatments for fleas, heartworms, and intestinal parasites. Your vet is also a crucial ally in this fight, so take advantage of their resources to screen your pets routinely for parasites and stay on top of preventative care.

If you are concerned that your dog has an active parasite infection, be sure to see your vet right away and follow their recommendations. With knowledge and the right tools, you can effectively protect both your human and canine family members from worms.