As summer approaches, your children will likely be running barefoot through the grass and playing in the dirt. If you have pets or if other pets visit your yard there are a few potential health risks you should be aware of.
Roundworms and hookworms, parasites we typically associate with dogs and cats, can cause serious health problems in people. Ringworm, on the other hand, is a relatively mild fungal infection (think Athlete’s Foot). Despite the unfortunate name, ringworm has nothing to do with worms. The term was originally coined because of the ring-like appearance of the skin rash that an infected person develops.
Roundworm
Roundworm infection is a very common parasitic disease in puppies and kittens as well as adult pets that spend time outdoors. Veterinarians routinely de-worm all puppies and kittens, and strongly recommend that monthly parasite preventative products be used in at-risk adult animals. If your pet spends any time at all outdoors, it is at risk for contracting this parasite.
Your pet can acquire the parasite from its mother or can become infected by hunting or by ingesting fecal material from other animals. An infected pet will often have gastrointestinal problems and may suffer from stunted growth or other complications.
Your pet can then infect you or your children by defecating the eggs into your yard or home environment. The infection is actually transmitted through the “fecal-oral” route. This means if you get dog or cat feces on your hands, and then you don’t wash your hands prior to eating or touching your face, you could be ingesting the parasite eggs. Children are at greatest risk because of their poor hygiene habits.
If a human becomes infected, there are serious health consequences. The larvae could migrate to the eyes, causing a condition called Ocular Larval Migrans, which may result in blindness. The larvae could also migrate through the internal organs, causing Visceral Larval Migrans, which could lead to illness or death. Hookworms are very similar to roundworms except the larvae burrow through your skin and cause an infection called Cutaneous Larval Migrans. Wearing shoes outdoors will help prevent this infection.
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Dr. Cori Gross is a feline-only veterinarian from Seattle, WA, and serves as a field veterinarian for Veterinary Pet Insurance. Dr. Gross received her veterinary degree from Washington State University. She currently divides her time between lecturing at veterinary colleges on the topic of pet health insurance, practicing in feline-only medicine, volunteering at a local cat shelter, and writing about veterinary medicine.
For more information on Roundworms and Ringworms, check the Pet Vet Disease & Condition Finder.
