Zoonotic Diseases from Dogs — Calgary

Zoonotic diseases are conditions that can be transmitted from animals to humans — and dogs are a transmission vector for several of them. Most are preventable with basic hygiene, routine deworming, and annual parasite testing. The highest-risk populations are young children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and immunocompromised individuals — but awareness benefits every dog owner.

Key Context

Why This Matters

Educational

Roundworm larvae (Toxocara canis) can migrate through the human body and in rare cases cause permanent vision loss in children who play in contaminated soil. Leptospirosis can cause serious kidney and liver disease in humans. Campylobacter and Salmonella — more common in raw-fed dogs — cause significant gastrointestinal illness. These are not theoretical risks — they're documented, preventable, and consistently underestimated by dog owners.

Evidence-Based

Key Facts

Source: 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines

Toxocara canis (roundworm) eggs persist in soil for years after fecal contamination — children playing in areas where dogs defecate are at real risk of ingesting eggs, which can cause ocular larva migrans (vision damage).

2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines

Leptospirosis is zoonotic — humans can contract it through contact with infected dog urine or contaminated water. Calgary's urban wildlife population makes this more relevant than many owners assume.

2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines

Dogs fed raw meat diets have significantly higher rates of Salmonella and Campylobacter shedding in feces — both of which can cause serious illness in humans who handle the food or fecal matter.

2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines

Annual fecal testing and targeted deworming is more effective than routine blanket deworming — it identifies the specific parasites present and treats accordingly.

2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines

Ringworm (despite the name) is a fungal infection transmitted from dogs to humans through direct skin contact — it's itchy, ring-shaped, and highly contagious.

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Thorough handwashing after handling dog feces, wounds, or saliva is the single most effective zoonotic disease prevention measure available to dog owners.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Action Steps

What Owners Should Do

Practical steps you can take right now.

1
Have your dog's feces tested for parasites annually — especially if they use off-leash parks, swim in natural water, or are raw-fed.
2
Clean up feces immediately and wash hands thoroughly afterward — don't let feces age in soil where children play.
3
Keep children from playing in areas of known high dog fecal density — Calgary's off-leash parks accumulate significant parasite contamination in soil.
4
Keep your dog's Leptospirosis vaccination current if they have any water, park, or wildlife exposure — this is the clearest protective measure against the zoonotic form.
5
If your dog is raw-fed, use strict food handling hygiene — the same protocols you'd use for handling raw chicken for yourself.
6
Avoid letting dogs lick open wounds, the faces of infants, or immunocompromised individuals — this is the highest-risk transmission route for oral bacteria.
7
Wash your hands before eating after any dog contact, especially if you've handled feces, wounds, or saliva.

Red Flags

Warning Signs to Watch For

Know when something needs attention.

Ring-shaped, itchy rash on your skin after close contact with a dog with similar skin lesions — possible ringworm requiring antifungal treatment.
Gastrointestinal illness (diarrhea, cramps) in family members that follows dog contact, particularly with a raw-fed dog — consider reporting to a physician.
Eye inflammation or vision changes in a child who plays in areas where dogs defecate — mention the dog/soil exposure to the treating physician.

When to See a Vet

Have your dog's feces tested annually and whenever you notice diarrhea, weight loss, or visible worms. If a human family member develops illness you suspect may be zoonotic, see a physician and mention your dog's parasite testing and vaccination status.

From the Pack

The PAWS Perspective

What We See

Our staff picks up after dozens of dogs every day. Gloves, handwashing, and sanitation protocols are non-negotiable. We know better than most what the hands-on reality of zoonotic risk looks like — and it's managed, not feared, through consistent hygiene practice.

How Daycare Connects

Any shared care environment concentrates fecal exposure for both staff and, to a lesser extent, other dogs. Our cleaning protocols are designed to manage this systematically. We encourage all PAWS dogs to have annual fecal testing — targeted deworming of daycare dogs protects everyone in the environment.

Eric's Take

"We handle what other people's dogs leave behind every single day. I'm not worried about it — I'm managed about it. Gloves, handwashing, sanitation. The owners who worry me are the ones who've never thought about it at all, particularly those with young kids in the house. It's not scary, it just requires awareness."

— Eric Yeung, Owner, PAWS Dog Daycare

Honest Note

We are not a veterinary or public health authority. The guidance here is educational — if you have specific health concerns about yourself or a family member following dog contact, speak to a physician.

Common Questions

Zoonotic Diseases: What You Can Catch from Your Dog — FAQs

Can I catch something from my dog licking my face?

The risk from a healthy, regularly dewormed dog is low for most adults. The risk is higher with children, immunocompromised individuals, or elderly adults. Dogs' mouths carry bacteria (Pasteurella, Capnocytophaga) that are typically harmless to healthy adults but can cause serious infections in vulnerable people. It's a personal hygiene decision more than an emergency risk for most dog owners.

Is raw feeding dangerous for my family?

It increases risk compared to cooked commercial diets — primarily through Salmonella and Campylobacter shedding in feces. The bacteria persist in feces and on surfaces the dog contacts. If you feed raw, treat it like food safety for yourself: strict handwashing, separate food prep surfaces, wash dog bowls separately. The risk is manageable with rigorous protocols, but it is real.

Are Calgary's off-leash parks safe for kids?

Broadly yes, with practical precautions. High dog density in shared park soil creates genuine roundworm egg accumulation over time. Keep young children from eating grass or soil, wash hands after visits, and don't let kids eat food that's dropped on the grass. The parks are great for dogs — just apply basic hygiene awareness.

What is leptospirosis and can my dog give it to me?

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection dogs can contract from wildlife urine in water and soil. Infected dogs shed the bacteria in their own urine. Human infection is possible through contact with that urine or contaminated water. It's rare but documented — keep Lepto vaccinations current and avoid contact with your dog's urine if they're showing signs of illness.

How often should I deworm my dog?

AAHA recommends annual fecal parasite testing rather than blanket scheduled deworming. Testing identifies what's present and allows targeted treatment. Year-round broad-spectrum parasiticides (used primarily for heartworm) also control many intestinal parasites — reducing the need for separate deworming in dogs on these products.

My dog is indoor-only — do I still need to worry about zoonotic diseases?

Somewhat less, but not zero. Roundworm eggs can be tracked in on shoes. Dogs still lick surfaces and people. Annual fecal testing is still recommended. The biggest risk reduction from indoor-only living is reduced exposure to wildlife-transmitted diseases like leptospirosis.

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