Though a fence will not prevent all parasitic infestations, fencing your dog can protect him from parasites. Car accidents and ingestion of toxic substances in garbage are other dangers that can be prevented by fencing your dog.

The risk for hookworms can be higher if the dog is unfenced and able to go to an area where a dog with hookworms has defecated. The feces or ground around the feces can contain hookworms. The hookworms can infect a dog by burrowing through its skin.

Threadworms also can be acquired through the skin by being contaminated feces, but the feces can be from infected dogs and other animals as well. Threadworms can be passed through feces of infected dogs and other carnivores. Being fenced prevents the dog from being in contact with feces from infected dogs, cats, or wildlife.

A potentially dangerous parasite that can infect a dog that eats an infected animal is gnathostoma. After being ingested, the gnathostoma burrows through the dog’s stomach and travels around the dog’s body causing damage before returning to the stomach. This is another parasitic infection that’s risk is reduced by fencing since a dog fence keeps the dog isolated from most other animals.

Spirocerca lupi can be spread to a dog if it ingests an infected animal like gnathostoma. After the dog eats an infected animal, spiocerca lupi lives in the dog’s stomach where it can damage blood vessels and cause cancer of the esophagus.

When a dog is outside, the dog is at risk for certain parasites whether the dog is fenced or not. Mosquitoes obviously cannot be stopped by fences, but a mosquito bite is the common cause for heartworms.

Though fleas and ticks may live in a fenced area, the risk of fleas and ticks can be greatly reduced by a fence which keeps the wildlife and other dogs out that may carry ticks and fleas. Some dog owners also spray outdoor areas for ticks and fleas which can further reduce the risk of ticks and fleas especially if there is a fence to keep out animals.

Cuterebra is another parasite that could live within the dog’s fenced area. The eggs may be present in soil or on rocks and may be ingested or may develop into larvae that penetrate the skin of the dog or other host.