Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Is dog poo really dangerous? I want to get a dog but have heard about their poo making you blind?? Any advice appreciated
1 Answer
Published on January 1st, 2019
Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If a dog is infected with an intestinal worm such as the roundworm, coming into contact with infected feces may increase risk of becoming infected with this parasite. Transmission is through the fecal-oral route, meaning you have to accidentally ingest infective round worm eggs. The parasite can migrate to organs including the eye which can lead to blindness. However terrifying this may sound, this is actually pretty rare in people in general, but does occur more often in small children and babies who tend to put a lot of things in their mouths and not wash their hands frequently. Having your pet dewormed regularly and getting their stools checked once or twice a year can help prevent this infection in both animals and people. Practicing good hygiene such as hand washing after cleaning up after your pet and certainly before eating dramatically reduces risk of infection. I hope this helps!
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