There are some diseases that a human being can get from an animal. This is known as a zoonotic disease. The problem is that many of these diseases are not used to a human body and do not know what to do and where to head, resulting in serious conditions. This is the same with parasites in dogs. Besides, fleas are notorious for jumping from a dog onto a human, but can worms in dogs spread into human bodies? Let's take a closer look.

Can Humans Get Worms from Dogs?

There are lots of worms in dogs and some of them can be transferred to humans. Here are some of them:

1. Roundworms

Even though they look like a piece of spaghetti, roundworms are far from innocent. The eggs of this worm get into the ground when a dog who has roundworms defecates there. If you touch the dirt with your bare hands, you could become infected.

Gardeners have a good chance of getting the eggs or the worm in their mouths when they are tilling the soil. Once the worms are in the body they find any number of places to hide out. They also begin to grow and can form a ball that can block the intestines. Their presence can result in kidney disease, blindness, heart and brain problems, and appendicitis.

Once diagnosed a doctor can give you a prescription that can help get rid of the problem. If they have blocked the intestine, surgery may be necessary, so they can remove the worms and unblock the intestines. A prescribed medication will need to be taken following the operation.

2. Hookworms

Can humans get worms from dogs? Oh yeah. Tiny to spot, hookworms are another type of worms that humans can get from dogs. Hookworms can be passed on to you if you touch the soil where a dog has peed or defecated, even if you have cleaned it up.

This worm rests in the intestines of your dog, while in humans it lives under the skin and results in an itchy and painful rash. While they are known to crawl under your skin until they expire, they can also find their way into your intestines, lungs or other organs. Some of the symptoms are a wheezing cough, pain in specific areas, diarrhea, anemia and weight loss.

Hookworms should be taken seriously because hookworm infection could result in death. However embarrassed you may feel, you should seek medical help if you think you many have this worm.

3. Ringworms

Ringworm is not exactly a worm, but it is the result of a fungal infection that can be found on the top layer of the skin. It is extremely contagious not only among other animals but among humans as well. Another way it is transported is by touching a surface that has been infected by an animal or other person who has ringworm. The signs of having ringworm are a reddish rash that is shaped like a ring. It can be either scaly and dry or crusty and wet. If you find it on your scalp you could experience temporary baldness. Your nails can become thick and discolored if you find it there. When you have ringworm on your feet is results in athlete's foot.

Even though it is easy to pass along, your chances of getting it increase if you have had a minor injury or have been sweating more than usual. The good news is it is you can get rid of it with some self-treatments:

• If you find you have ringworm, look for an antifungal you can purchase over-the –counter.
• If your pet has any lesions on his skin, make sure to get in contact with your veterinarian.
• Wash all sheets and pajamas of the person who is infected.
• Make sure to keep your skin clean and dry at all times.
• Make sure your infected pets do not get on your bed. Because it is so contagious, stay away from family members who have ringworm.
• If your own lesions do not improve make sure to see your doctor.

4. Tapeworms

We keep giving positive answers to the question, "Can humans get worms from dogs?" And tapeworm is another worm can spread from dogs to humans. Tapeworms get their name based on their ribbon like flat appearance and are spread by swallowing an affected flea. You can cut down on getting tapeworms by:

• Keep your pet free of fleas.
• Make sure you don't walk barefoot where your dog has pooped.
• Don't let your pet on the bed with you if it has tapeworms.
• If you do see ringworm on your pet get it treated right away.
• Make sure to pick up your dog's feces outdoors right away.
• Make sure your children always wash their hands after playing outside or playing with the family pet. Cats can spread tapeworms too.
• Keep your child away from contaminated areas.

Treatment of tapeworms is basically simple. Make sure you see your doctor right away if you think you have them.

How to Prevent Yourself from Getting Worms from Dogs

The easiest way to keep from getting worms yourself is to make sure you get your pet wormed on a regular basis. You can get a wormer from your vet so you can do this yourself. Make sure to keep your hands cleaned after cleaning up after your dog and keep your cat inside.