How do pets get worms?
Dogs and cats of any age may get roundworms and hookworms, but they are most vulnerable when they are very young. In fact, it is not unusual for puppies of only 2-3 weeks of age to harbor a significant number of worms. Thats because these worms are often passed from a mother to her puppies before birth. Sometimes they are passed shortly after birth, through the mother’s milk. Can roundworms and hookworms infect people? Yes. These infections, like others acquired from animals, are called zoonotic (zoe-o-NOT-ick) infections or zoonoses (zoe-o-NO-sees). You owe it to yourself and your family to find out about these zoonotic infections. Learn how to prevent them. How do these worms affect people? Dogs and cats infected with these worms contaminate their surroundings by passing eggs or larvae in their feces (waste). Because pets will pass feces anywhere, they may contaminate a large area quickly. These eggs and larvae are resilient and can survive in areas such as parks, playgrounds, yards,
