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Can people get worms from pets?
I have a Maine Coon cat that I recently took to the veterinarian for a check-up, really. I just wanted to make sure my Maine Coon cat was healthy. :)
The Vet looked at my Maine Coon cat and did a few swabs and such. They told me that my Maine Coon cat had worms! It was okay though because they gave me some cat dewormer, and enough cat dewormer in case this happened again.
I was wondering something very strange though. Can I get worms from my Maine Coon cat? The cat has obviously had these more than just today so do I need to find some sort of dewormer for me to use too?
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Want to answer more questions in the Domesticity category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Pets?
I'm sure you can, but i would just make an appointment with my doctor, and talk to him/her. Or contact your local vet and im sure they would give you an appropriate answer.
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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 ***** 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
GOOOD LUCK!
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