How to Kill Worms in Mammals

The method used to get rid of worms depends on the type of worms a human or mammal has. Humans can contract worms from their dogs and cats, although this is more common in developing countries than it is in the United States. Five of the most common types of worms that mammals can contract are pinworms, ringworm, roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm.

Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands regularly to help get rid of pinworms in humans. This will keep you from ingesting pinworm eggs. Seek medication from a doctor or veterinarian or over-the-counter medicine if your doctor finds an infestation or if you see pinworms in the mammal's stool.

• 2

  Dab bleach on the infected section of the mammal's skin to get rid of ringworm. Wipe the skin clean to avoid a chemical burn. Ringworm, named after the shape it creates on the skin, is not an actual worm but a fungal infection. Ringworm can be treated with any topical antifungal medication or with an antiseptic used to treat athlete's foot. In pets, spores can reproduce and create reoccurring infections.

• 3

  Treat roundworms with a pyrantel-pamoate-based medicine three to four times. Repeat this once every week until the worm's life cycle is disrupted. Roundworms are about the size of a spaghetti noodle and can grow to be 4-13 inches long.

• 4

  Get a prescription from a doctor or veterinarian to treat hookworm. Hookworms are most common in pets in the United States, but are prevalent in humans in other countries. Doctors should prescribe mebendazole or albendazole, while veterinarians might prescribe hookworm anthelmintic. Pets should take this once a week for about a month to assure that the hookworm is dead.

• 5

  Get rid of fleas to kill a tapeworm. Fleas eat tapeworm eggs. If a human or animal ingests affected fleas, the mammal congests a tapeworm. Therefore, tapeworms and fleas generally are treated at the same time. Give the mammal a dewormer, and treat its environment with Nylar or Methoprene to kill fleas.