worms

Question
hi i have just bought an 8 week old jack russell. i have had the vet out to give him his first injection and he also gave me a worm pill which has worked straight away. i just wanted to know; can the worms be passed to me through him or is it just when they come out of him?

Answer
Hi Chris,

The answer unfortunately is yes, people can get worms from their animals, but they have to be injested and that is why it's important to wash your hands after you clean up after a new puppy, and stay away from dirt that may be contaminated.  The puppy should have had deworming pills with the breeder at 2 weeks old, 4 weeks old and again now at 7 or 8 weeks old. If he eats his own feces the chance of getting the worms again is great.
Here is an article you might find helpful -  good luck with the pup and don't worry or freak out. Once the worms are gone they usually stay gone unless the puppy comes in contact (eats) some other dogs feces. Just keep things clean and he'll (and you'll) be fine.

Here's the article:
Roundworms and hookworms can be transmitted from pets to humans. Thousands of people in the U.S. become infected with roundworms and hookworms every year.
Humans become infected with roundworms when they ingest infective eggs from the soil or from their hands or another object. Large numbers of the eggs can accumulate in the soil where dogs and cats are allowed to defecate. The eggs are sticky, and can collect on the hands and under the fingernails of people. Children, and others who may not have good hygiene, are most prone to becoming infected.

People become infected with hookworms when the hookworm larvae in the ground penetrate through the skin. Persons who have contact with the ground, especially for long periods of time, such as plumbers or electricians, and sunbathers, especially those lying on wet sand or ground, are at increased risk.

Roundworm eggs and hookworms eggs and larvae need to be in the environment approximately two weeks, before becoming infective, so direct contact with an infected animal generally does not result in transmission. However, young puppies may continually contaminate their entire litter area. Adults and children who handle the bitch or puppies or who clean the area may be especially at risk.

If a human ingests roundworm eggs, the subsequent larvae can migrate through the person's tissues (this condition is called "visceral larva migrans") or eye ("ocular larva migrans"). Hookworm larvae migrate through the skin and cause a disease known as "cutaneous larval migrans."

To prevent human infection, good hygiene is extremely important. Teach children, especially, to wash their hands after playing and before eating. Do not let children play in areas where dogs or cats may have defecated. Do not allow cats to use sandboxes or the garden as litter boxes. Worm your pets as recommended, keep the environment clean, and control rodent populations.