Can I Get Worms From My Dog?

Most parasitic worms are very species-specific. This means that worms from dogs don't get into people, and worms from people don't get into dogs. Very rarely some dog worms will try to infect people and can make them sick, but the worms come from places where lots of dog eggs have been shed, like parks and playgrounds, and not necessarily from a single pet.

The best way to prevent anyone from getting infected with any worms is to make sure your dog sees your veterinarian regularly: as soon as you get a new puppy and once a year with an adult dog.

In the United States, the most common worm in children is the pinworm. Dogs and cats don't get pinworms and can't give pinworms to children.

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