Table of Contents
What are parasitic worms?
How do pets catch worms?
Are my pet’s worms dangerous to me?
How do I make sure I don’t get worms?
First month flea FREE (*£2.99 P&P first month only)
Speedy same day dispatch**
12+ million flea & worm packs sold
Tailored to your pet
Blog Home
Flea
Ticks & Lice
Worming
Itch News
Itch Insights
Q&A
Are worms dangerous to humans?
- By Hannah
-
- February 2, 2026
- 2 MIN READ
Parasitic worms infest our pets and cause chaos. As they live in the digestive system, they impact our pets’ mood, weight and energy. Worms can lead to severe health problems if left untreated. And worse yet, they can be harmful to you too. Scroll to find out how you can catch worms from your pet and what to do to prevent this from happening!
What are parasitic worms?
There are many different species of worm that can infest you and your pet. The most common in the UK are: Roundworm, Tapeworm, Hookworm and Whipworm.
Click here to see what these worms look like to the human eye!
How do pets catch worms?
Your cat or dog can be infested by worms in lots of different ways and sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint how they’ve actually got them. However, there are more common ways than others, here’s how your pet probably got worms:
-
Through eating a contaminated substance
Your pets can ingest worm eggs or larvae from contaminated water, soil, or food... Then these baby worms feed and grow in your pet’s intestines.
-
From having a flea infestation
If your pet has had fleas recently, they could have got worms from these parasites. Fleas in fact carry tapeworm larvae, which are then ingested by your pet when they groom themselves. This is the most common way cats get fleas.
-
Mother-to-offspring transmission
Lots of puppies and kittens are born with worm infestations if their mother is already infected or pick it up via their mum’s milk shortly after birth.
-
Eating infected prey
For the explorative cats or hunting dogs, it’s common that prey can be infested with worms and when your pet catches the prey, they then also become infested.
Are my pet’s worms dangerous to me?
Unfortunately, yes. The worms that are infesting your pet can in fact spread to you and cause you discomfort. However, it’s a normal case of cuddling your pet and you become worm-infested. Transmission has to happen through worm larvae or eggs accidentally being ingested by yourself.
It’s not completely impossible, here’s a list of how this can happen:
-
Handling your pet’s infected poo and not properly cleaning your hands afterwards
-
Walking barefoot in areas where infected pets have pooped
-
Young children playing in areas where infected pets have pooped
Protect your pet from worms.
Intestinal worms can cause serious health issues for your pet and your family, but with a regular de-worming schedule you can protect your pet, home and family from these persistent parasites.
Itch Wormer tablets kills all common intestinal worms and prevent larvae from hatching and multiplying, until your pet's next regular treatment.
Shop now
How do I make sure I don’t get worms?
-
Regular worming treatment - To make sure you or your pet no longer has worms, treat them with fast-acting, vet-approved worming treatment like the Itch Wormer Tablets for Cats and Itch Wormer Tablets for Dogs.
-
Cleaning up after your pet - If you have a cat, regularly clean their litter tray and if you own a dog, always pick up their poop no matter where you are!
-
Don’t go barefoot - If you don’t know what could be on the ground, it’s best to stay safe and keep your shoes on.
-
Educate children - If you have little ones, make sure they understand not to play with faeces or put things in their mouth and teach them to always wash their hands after playing.
While it’s unlikely you will get worms from your pet, it can still happen, especially if you aren’t careful. Use worming treatments, like dewormer tablets if you think your pet has worms - It’s the most effective and safest way to keep your pet and family happy and healthy!
Protect your pet from fleas, ticks and worms.
Vet strength flea and worm treatments, tailored to your pet and delivered for free, every month, so you never forget.
Itch Flea kills adult fleas on your pet in 24 hours and halts all other flea life stages. Itch Wormer kills all common intestinal worms and prevents newly hatched larvae from growing and multiplying.
Get started
Share
Itching for more?
Worming
General
How do pet worming tablets work?
Pet worming tablets are an integral part of maintaining your furry companion's health and well-being. These tiny yet powerful medications play a crucial role in preventing and treating worm infestations in dogs and cats. But have you ever wondered how pet worming tablets work? Look no further as we delve into the world of deworming tablets, exploring their mechanisms, effectiveness, and the options available for both dogs and cats. We'll also address the perennial question of tablets vs. liquid dewormers and explore natural worming alternatives. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of how these treatments work to keep your pets healthy and thriving.
Worming
Treatment
How often should you worm your pet?
Intestinal worms are no picnic. They can cause a whole host of health problems in your pets including diarrhoea, tummy pain, weight loss and anaemia. In extreme cases, they can even be fatal. As if that’s not bad enough, they can also do some serious damage to people too! So often do you need to give your pet worming treatment? The answer depends on various factors, including the type of pet, their age, lifestyle, and risk of exposure. Carry on reading to find out more...
