Did you know that you can get intestinal parasites from food you eat or even from your pets?

            Most people don't think about possible parasites when they eat pork, beef, fish and other game, but eating under cooked meats can leave you and your family exposed to getting parasites.

            You aren't just exposed while eating; you can also get parasites from drinking unfiltered and untreated water.

How do you keep your family safe from food and water borne illnesses?

            This is relatively simple: drink only treated or bottled water when in an unknown place like while out camping or in another country where you aren't sure of their water treatments.

            Even your pets can get these illnesses so make sure you limit their drinking from streams and other bodies of water that can be contaminated from wild animals. This contamination can come in the form of urine or feces, so it could come from anywhere!

What intestinal parasites could you get from your pets?

            There are several parasites that could be passed from pet to owner, though not with direct contact. These are usually transmitted from fecal or urine contamination.

            Always wash your hands after handling waste and even after you pet them. The likelihood of their being contaminants from just petting them is low, but why take that chance?

            Let's go through a list:

·         Roundworms

These can be picked up be your pets after coming into contact with contaminated soil and then ingesting it. The eggs are deposited in the environment from the feces of the infected animal. This could be soil or even sand, so make sure to wash you and your children's hands after touching any soil or sand.

Roundworms in people don't live in the gut, they general cause eye, lung, heart, and neurological issues.

·         Hookworms

These parasites are unique in that they do not have to be ingested, they actually penetrate the skin, like if you or children walk around outside with no shoes on. These usually leave a visible tract where they entered the skin and as they move. They may stay in the skin but one species can infect the intestines.

·         Protozoa

Toxoplasma- this comes from cats and can be contracted from contaminated feces. This will usually only be from the litter box, at least from domestic cats, though as mentioned earlier you can get it from any wild cat. Always be wary of possible contaminated foods or water.

Giardia- this is debated as to whether you can get the species that is specified for dogs and cats, but like all things parasitic- it comes from contaminated waste like feces.

            Even though tapeworms can be contracted by people, you won't be getting any from your pet. Tapeworms, at least in the context of humans getting them, come from eating contaminated and under cooked food like earlier mentioned.

How can keeping your pet on preventions keep you from being exposed to parasites?

            Heartworm preventative has an ingredient in them to also treat for intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms. Keeping them on a monthly heartworm preventative will keep your pet and your family safer.

What should you do if your pet has intestinal parasites?

If your pet has intestinal parasites make sure to do a deworming treatment and go back to your veterinarian for retesting to make sure it was successful. It is also important to keep any feces cleaned up in your yard or house to limit exposure for you and your pets.