hookworms

Question
Our 2 year old dog had a fecal test last week and the vet called and said he had hookworms.  My husband picked up the medicine, Panacure, and we followed the dosing directions as instructed.  My husband is very paranoid about this and had me wash all the bedding on our bed as the dogs occasionally sleep with us, and has not allowed them on the furniture since (which is also occasional).  We have been picking up all feces daily, where as before it was about every 4 to 5 days, but my husband is still so concerned that he has almost stopped petting our dogs.  We wash our hands after we touch the dogs or their bowls or their beds, but it is getting a bit out of hand.  If I am going to eat I will wash my hands all the time, but petting my dog to say "good boy" and then having to stop what I am doing to jump up and wash my hands, per my husband, is starting to hinder my daily activities.  My question is: I know that hookworms can be passed to humans but is it safe to let them on our bed again, and can the little hookworms and their eggs live in our carpet and furniture?  
Thanks!

Answer
Hookworms are a worry, but not to the point of being paranoid about them. Generally speaking, hookworm infections in people are usually from the soil. In the south USA, where they are very prevalent, this can be a big issue. Even then, with proper hygiene, this is rare nowadays.

You cannot get hookworms from your dog by petting them. You cannot get it from picking up the stool as I know you are not picking it up with your bare hands. Hookworms need warm, moist soil to live, they cannot live in dry carpets and floors. The eggs will not even survive that way and they don't just fall out of the dog.

Here is a really in-depth page provided by VCA hospitals about hookworm infections in dogs. It also addresses the human issue in the middle of the page. I only use veterinary references because you cannot trust articles etc that other people post unless they are a veterinarian or a licensed technician.

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal_health/ho...

Read this, make sure you clean the yard up so the dog doesn't reinfect himself, then tell your husband that life is too short to be paranoid about getting something that is pretty rare for him to get.

Just use common sense and hygiene and you will all be fine. Keep your dog wormed monthly with his heartworm prevention and he will not get reinfected.