LA Vet Warns After Dog Case Highlights Deadly Racoon Roundworm Risk
A Woodland Hills dog tested positive for raccoon roundworm eggs during a routine exam, marking the first formal report of the parasite in a Los Angeles County dog. Doctors warn that untreated infection can cause severe brain damage or death, though human-to-human transmission from pets is not direct. Transmission typically occurs from raccoon feces, and eggs become infectious after 2–4 weeks of drying. Preventative steps include cleaning up pet waste and raccoon latrines, securing trash, washing hands, keeping sandboxes covered, and supervising children; officials say the overall risk to the general population remains very low, though alerts followed past human cases in 2024.