Can Dogs Saliva Pass Worms? Learn More Here

You love your dog.

Your dog loves you.

You want to show your precious pup how much you love them by showering them with toys, treats and affection.

In turn, your dog shows you their appreciation through their playfulness and slobbery saliva filled licks.

All is well and good in this pet-owner scenario, until you realize that there may be something lurking within their saliva.

As uncomfortable as it is to think about, there may be some unwanted passengers that could be taking a ride in that saliva.

The short answer of... can humans get worms from dogs is YES! 

Now, before you decide to quarantine your dog to the garage or yard, please understand that we are not saying that YOUR dog has worms and has given it to you.

While worms are common for puppies and dogs, it doesn’t necessarily mean that YOU have been the recipient of them.

To better understand what you may potentially be up against, let’s take a look at what these worms are all about.

When it comes to worms in dogs, there are generally three that you need to concern yourself with.

These are probably three that you have already heard of:

Of all three, the one most likely to be passed on to you through saliva is the last.

Humans can contract tapeworms and hookworms, but they are more likely done so through other sources other than through your dog’s saliva.

For example, hookworms are typically passed on through the skin.

One way that it could potentially be passed on to you is through walking barefoot in an area that may have been contaminated.

Additional read: Learn the Signs and Symptoms of Heartworm in Dogs

Worm in dogs that can commonly get passed on to humans through saliva are roundworms.

In this scenario, your dog or puppy that has been infected licks his behind then licks your face or other parts of your body.

You unknowingly touch the infected saliva and then touch your mouth.

The saliva contains the roundworm eggs has then traveled to your mouth and entered through that area.

You now have it.

If you have worms or suspect that you have worms, then you need to let your doctor know as soon as possible so that you can get checked to see what other things need to be done.

If you suspect that your dog has worms, then you need to see your vet as soon as possible as well.

This will help you to treat the source of the worms, and put an end to them.

Don’t be alarmed if your vet calls for your puppy or dog to do regular treatments to get it taken care of.

You need to keep in mind that your dog may have eggs inside of them that have grown or have started to grow, so it needs to be COMPLETELY eradicated.

The bad news is, yes you can potentially get some of these parasites, and yes you can do so from your dog.

The good news is that it is treatable, for both you and your puppy or dog.