The Critter Column
In the newest section of Grosh's Grass Gazette, veterinarian Hannah M. Smith, DVM provides clients with feedback on their questions. Please email Tom to submit a question for next month's newsletter.
Clean Up After Your Dog!
Part of responsible pet ownership is cleaning up after your pets. This is very important for both health and sanitary reasons.
Did you know that dogs can carry Salmonella, Campylobacter, Giardia, Hookworms, and Tapeworms which can be transmitted to people? Not only that, but dogs can carry roundworms, parvovirus, whipworms, and coccidia which can quickly infect other dogs.
When a dog or human (walking barefoot) steps in dog poop, that stool can transmit these diseases. And it doesn't have to be "fresh" excrement, some worm eggs can live in the soil for 5 years! Yes, that means if stool is left in the yard, even once evidence of stool is gone, it can still infect.
Dog feces are also a great reservoir for flies! A yard left uncleaned can make the fly population grow out of control, as much of the eggs are laid in feces.
Finally, keeping your water clean is one of the most important reasons to clean up after your pets. Of water pollutants, dog feces are as high as 3rd on the list for contributors to polluted water.
So keep those yards clean, folks! You, your dog, and your environment will be much happier!!
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