Yard Hygiene With Pets: The Parasite Angle

Picking up after your dog is not just courtesy. Several parasites that live in dog and cat waste infect people, and children playing in a garden are the most exposed group.

What is actually in there

• Roundworm. Eggs become infectious after a couple of weeks in soil and survive for years. In people, larvae can migrate through tissue and, rarely, the eye. Children who put hands in mouths are at highest risk.
• Hookworm. Larvae penetrate bare skin from contaminated soil, causing itchy tracks. Walking barefoot on a soiled lawn is the route.
• Tapeworm, transmitted by fleas — so a dog with fleas will keep getting tapeworm regardless of deworming.
• Giardia, spread through contaminated water and faeces.
• Toxoplasma in cat faeces, which matters particularly for pregnant women and immunocompromised people.

Picking up properly

Daily is the standard, because fresh waste is far less infectious than waste that has sat for a fortnight — many parasite eggs need days to weeks to become infectious. Daily removal breaks the cycle.

Bag it and bin it. Do not compost dog waste for use on vegetables, and do not bury it in the vegetable garden. Hose paved areas afterwards.

Worming schedule

Puppies and kittens need worming frequently — commonly every two weeks from around two weeks old until twelve weeks, then monthly to six months. Adults are typically wormed every three to six months, more often for dogs that hunt, scavenge or live with young children. Discuss with your vet, since the right interval depends on lifestyle and area.

Flea control is part of worm control because of the tapeworm link.

Cat litter

Scoop daily. Toxoplasma oocysts in cat faeces take a day or more to become infectious, so daily scooping substantially reduces risk. Pregnant women should ideally not handle litter at all; if unavoidable, wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly.

Simple household habits

Wash hands after handling pets and before eating. Keep sandpits covered, because they are a favourite cat toilet. Discourage face licking, particularly with children. Do not let dogs lick open wounds. None of this requires being precious about it — it is basic hygiene that removes almost all the risk.