Can you get mites by sleeping with your dog

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Can Humans Get Parasites From Dogs?

Its no fun if your dog has a parasite. And you might start to wonder if you can get infected from your sick pup.

There are a few parasites that humans can get from dogs, which are known as zoonotic parasites. But once you learn how your pup could pass that infection to you, youll know how to keep yourself safe.

The Dodo spoke with Dr. Michelle Burch, a veterinarian from Safe Hounds Pet Insurance, to find out everything you need to know about the parasites humans can get from dogs.

Which parasites can be passed from dogs to humans?

The parasites which can be passed from dogs to humans include roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, giardia and scabies, Dr. Burch told The Dodo.

Roundworm

Roundworms live in your dogs intestines and eat the food in his system that hasnt been fully digested. The problem with that is your pup wont end up getting the nutrients from the food the worms eat, which can lead to malnourishment in some dogs.

Humans can get roundworms from dogs by consuming the worms eggs, which an infected pup can pass through his poop.

Humans can become infected with roundworms from ingestion of infective eggs from a contaminated environment, Dr. Burch said. The most common location of environmental contamination includes parks, sandboxes, playgrounds and gardens.

If a person gets roundworm, itll appear in a couple different forms.

People can also develop two diseases associated with roundworm infection, including visceral larva migrans (VLM) and ocular larva migrans (OLM), Dr. Burch said. In these associated diseases, the eggs hatch in the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. The larvae then travel to other body parts, including the liver, lungs, eyes, brain [and] heart.

The complications from VLM and OLM can be pretty serious.

VLM can cause fever, coughing, belly pain, enlarged liver, weight loss and headaches, Dr. Burch said. VLM occurs mainly in children and can be fatal. Symptoms of OLM include abnormal eye movement, detachment of the retina, uveitis and blindness.

Hookworm

Hookworms are worms that attach themselves to the walls of your dogs intestines with their mouths.

The good news is that adult hookworms dont pass from dogs to humans. However, the larvae can.

Humans can contract hookworms, Dr. Burch said. Infections occur when bare skin contacts infective larva in contaminated soil or sand with dog or cat feces. So unlike roundworms, which you need to eat in order to become infected, you only need to touch the larvae to get hookworms.

Sometimes the hookworms can make their way not just through your skin, but through the rest of your body. Occasionally, these worms could end up in your intestines, causing issues like diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Tapeworm

Tapeworms live in your dogs intestines and can grow to be about a foot long. Your dog can only get tapeworm by eating an infected flea.

And it turns out, the same goes for humans.

Infection occurs from ingestion of infected fleas and not directly from your [pet], Dr. Burch said.

While people dont go around eating fleas, you can still get tapeworms if you accidentally swallow a flea infected with the parasite.

Giardia

Unlike the above parasites, giardia isnt a worm. Its actually a protozoa, aka a single-celled organism, that can cause diarrhea in dogs and humans.

Giardia can be passed through an infected animals poop including from your dogs poop to you.

Transmission of giardia from dog to human occurs with poor hygiene when handling infected feces, Dr. Burch said. With improper hygiene, fecal particles can still be present on a person's hands and then ingested during a meal or snack. Children and individuals with a weakened immune system are at the highest risk of infection.

Scabies

Scabies (aka mange) happens when your dog is infected with skin mites. These mites will make your pup super itchy, which can cause hair loss or scabs.

People can get scabies from dogs just by touching an infected pup.

Scabies is transmitted from dogs to people by contact with an infected animal, Dr. Burch said.

Youll be able to tell pretty quickly if you picked up scabies from your dog.

People who contract scabies will develop skin lesions within 24 hours after exposure, Dr. Burch said. The skin lesions can persist for up to 21 days after infection. The most common areas for lesions to occur are the arms, neck and waistline.

How to prevent parasites passing from dogs to humans

One of the biggest things you can do to avoid getting a parasite from your dog is to stay on top of your personal hygiene.

Humans often get parasites from dogs due to poor hygiene habits, particularly after coming into contact with certain things in their environment (like soil or dog poop).

I recommend that all family members practice good personal hygiene with hand washing and keep their fingers away from their mouths if they are dirty, Dr. Burch said.

Making sure your environment is clean is just as crucial.

Promptly pick up and dispose of feces from your dog, Dr. Burch said. Feces left in the environment increases the risk of transmission of parasites from dog to person.

Try these extra-thick poop bags from Amazon for $9

Its also important to make sure your pet never gets infected with the parasite, which can keep him healthy and reduce the chances hell pass the parasite to you.

For one, you should keep a close eye on your dog outside and stop him if he starts sniffing around or even trying to eat a pile of poop.

Also, preventatives, flea medication and dewormers are essential for keeping your dog from getting a parasite in the first place.

Dogs should be on a year-round flea and intestinal parasite prevention to minimize their risk of contracting a parasite, Dr. Burch said. If you reduce your dog's risk, then you will reduce your risk.

Sentinel is a vet-recommended monthly oral preventative that can protect your dog against heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and fleas. Its available for dogs in the following weight ranges:

While it can be scary to think you can get a parasite from your dog, you can keep your pup and yourself safe by staying on top of your personal hygiene, cleaning up after your pet and giving him preventatives regularly.

5 Skin Problems You Can Get From Your Pets

Mites are tiny, spiderlike creatures that hail from the tick family. They can also spread disease as they feed from the blood of their hosts.

The mites that cause cheyletiellosis, or cheyletiella mange, tend to hang out in kennels and pet shops, where pets can pick them up and bring them home with their owners. The result is a red, bumpy rash and white flakes that appear to be moving (which is why cheyletiellosis is sometimes known as "walking dandruff"). Cheyletiella mites can also infect humans, producing a rash on the arms, trunk, and buttocks.

Washing your pet weekly for six to eight weeks with a pyrethrin shampoo (the type of shampoo that's also used to kill lice) should take care of the mites. Make sure that you also spray all pet bedding. Once you've treated your pet, your rash should clear up.

The Sarcoptes scabiei mite causes sarcoptic mange (better known as scabies in humans). When these microscopic menaces get under the skin of your pet, they can lead to hair loss and some serious itching. Small red pustules erupt on the animal's skin. Because the dog or cat is itching so much, these pustules can get infected.

If your pet's mites jump to you or another human, they will cause a very itchy, pimply rash that can last for weeks. To treat the rash, your doctor can prescribe an ointment or cream called a scabicide to kill the mites. Also wash all of your towels, bedding and clothes in hot water or seal them in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours.

You can treat sarcoptic mange in your pet with an organophosphate dip, but this procedure isn't very pleasant. To prevent your dog or cat from getting sarcoptic mange in the first place, use a monthly medication that protects against the disease. Also treat your pet's bedding, because these hardy mites can survive for several days without their pet host.

Recognising and Treating Dog Mites

Demodectic mange is a serious skin complaint that causes hair loss, reddening, sore areas, scaling, crusting, lesions and the darkening of chronically affected skin. It usually affects younger dogs and can be very serious if left untreated.

Can dog mites affect humans?

Mites typically only prefer one species; however, some can also infect humans if they come within close contact with the mite. The most common dog mites which can affect humans are sarcoptic dog mites, these are highly contagious and can cause itchiness and inflammation.

Dog mite symptoms

If you notice the following symptoms in your dog, they may have mites:

Hair loss (either in patches, or all over their coat).
Dandruff.
Excessive scratching.
Visible irritation, such as red skin.
You may even be able to see mites on their skin part the fur and look closely.

Diagnosing mites in dogs

You might get clues as to whether your dog has mites by carefully studying their skin. If theyre scratching, biting, or chewing themselves excessively you might suspect they have mites, and take a closer look.

Your vet, however, is the best person to diagnose mites in your dog. They will be able to tell what kind of mites your dog has, and how they should be treated.

Your vet will usually diagnose mites by studying a piece of skin or hair under the microscope. Taking samples is a quick and usually pain-free procedure. This will help your vet identify the type of mite affecting your dog.

Dog mites treatment

The good news is that most mite infestations can be effectively treated.

Your vet may prescribe medicine or a spot-on to help get rid of the infestation, or sometimes a wash or shampoo. Sometimes more than one dog mite treatment will be used at a time, and they may have to be administered for a while. The best thing you can do is be patient and persevere and soon your dog will be mite-free!

How do dogs get mites?

Dogs can pick up mites from a number of places. They are often passed from dog to dog, but they can come from their environment too.The precise why in which they are transmitted depends on the type of mite.

Your dog may catch mites if they come into contact with another dog who has them. Typicallythis will be another dog in the household, but can also bein places such as an animal shelter or grooming establishment. Your dog may also pick them up from another dog when youre out and about on a walk.

Dog mites may also continue to live in the environment, such as in their bed or in the carpet, after they or another dog have been contaminated. Your dog can then pick them up again, which is why you should make sure everything is clean and mite-free after a known infestation.

How to prevent dog mites

The best way to prevent dog mites is to ensure they dont come into contact with a dog who has them. This can be tricky, as you wont always know, but keep an eye out if they come into contact with an unfamiliar dog.

If you dog has been treated for mites, wash their bedding and check that their surrounding environment has been cleaned, as this can help prevent re-infestation. And, of course, if your dog has mites make sure they dont pass them on usually by keeping them away from other dogs until theyve been treated.

If you'd like to know more about preventing and treating skin conditions in dogs, check out our easy guide to dog skin problems. Or find out more about treating ticks,fleas and other parasites on dogs.

5 Skin Conditions Dogs Can Pass On To Humans

If you are like most dog parents, then you frequently give your dog hugs and snuggle up to them.

You might even allow your dog to sleep in the same bed as you.

Did you know there are some pretty serious skin problems that you can get from your dog?

Here are 5 dog skin conditions (plus one painful disease) that dogs can pass onto humans

How Dog Skin Conditions Transfer To Humans

Dogs typically get these skin conditions while playing outside, in dog parks, or while roaming the neighborhood.

However, believe it or not, your dog can actually pass on a skin condition to you without having the skin condition himself!

For example, one way that a dog can pass on a skin condition is by being petted. If someone pets your dog and they have a skin condition, if your dog rubs on you or you pet him, then you have a good chance of getting the skin condition yourself.

Who knew???

Like people, all animals carry germs But pets also carry certain bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi that can cause illness if transmitted to humans. Humans get these animal-borne diseases when theyre bitten or scratched or have contact with an animals waste, saliva, or dander. Source

5 Skin Conditions Dogs Can Pass Onto Humans

#1 Im sure youve heard of people getting Staph Infections, like MRSA, while in the hospital. Did you know that you can get a Staph Infection from your dog? Some Staph Infections cannot be treated with common antibiotics. Dogs pick up the bacteria for a Staph Infection from a person. Then, if your dog bites another person (or, if his saliva simply enters through a cut on the persons hand or some other open wound), the Staph Infection gets passed on to that person as well.

#2 Another skin condition that you can get from your dog is Scabies. Scabies is caused by a mite that is known to hang around kennels and pet shops. Scabies is a red bumpy rash with white flakes and the mites (known as Sarcoptic Mites and Mange) appear to be moving under the skin. Ive had experience with Scabies. When Iwas around 8, my entire family got infected with Scabies. It itches really bad. Our family doctor treated it with a prescribed lotion. A friend of mine also got Scabies from a dog that she rescued.

Here are 3 other dog skin conditions that can be passed on to humans:

#3 Ringworm This is actually a fungus, not an actual worm. (Its highly contagious to humans and other pets.)
#4 Hookworm This can cause abdominal pain, anemia, and diarrhea. (Heres more about how hookworms can infect humans.)
#5 Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Your dog gets this from a tick bite. (My same friends dog also got Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, in addition to the Scabies.)

What About Lyme Disease?

While not a skin problem, another serious medical condition that you can get from your dog is Lyme Disease.

Ifa tick that has infected your dog getsonto your own body, then you would be exposed to Lyme Disease as well. Lyme Disease can be painful and debilitating for both humans and dogs.