This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >-Puppy poop may contain worm eggs that can infect children and cause >problems. (The particular worms are more likely found in puppies than >adult dogs). Also keep puppies from licking children's faces
Brian, I would like to add a note about a serious danger from dog (and wolf!) poop in Alaska, especially certain areas, is the echinococcus tapeworms and other tapeworms that infect moose and also some rodents and hares. The larval and cyst form of these tapeworms use the moose and hares, rodents, etc. as hosts, while the adult forms infest the wolves and dogs who eat these animals. Tapeworm cysts are often found in the muscle meat and liver of moose; People can eat this meat RAW even and not be infested, but feed it raw to your dog and you could catch the tapeworm from the eggs shed in the dog's poop! Then you would be the host to the larval form. The Echinococcus tapeworms are especially dangerous as they form sometime very large Hydatid cysts with multible individual larvae and it is almost like a tumor, very dangerous. I found a web site which explains more about this parasite: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/ahd.htm To quote some of the information from this website: ******* What is Alveolar Hydatid disease (AHD)? AHD (al-VEE-oh-ler HIGH-dad-id) disease results from being infected with the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis, a microscopic tapeworm (1-4 millimeters) found in foxes, coyotes, dogs, and cats. Although human cases are rare, infection in humans causes parasitic tumors to form in the liver, and, less commonly, the lungs, brain, and other organs. If left untreated, infection with AHD can be fatal. Where has AHD been found? AHD is found worldwide, mostly in northern latitudes. Cases have been reported in central Europe, Russia, China, Central Asia, Japan, and North America. In North America E. multilocularis is found primarily in the north central region from eastern Montana to central Ohio, as well as Alaska and Canada. Human cases have been reported in Alaska, the province of Manitoba, and Minnesota. Prevalence among wild foxes and coyotes is high, and may reach over 50% in some areas; however, even in these areas,transmission to humans has been low. How does infection occur in foxes, coyotes, dogs, and other cats? Wild foxes, coyotes, and cats get infected when they eat Echinococcus multilocularis larvae in infected rodents, field mice, or voles. Cats are less susceptible than dogs, but because they probably catch and eat rodents more often, may also become infected. Once the animal becomes infected, the tapeworm matures in its intestine, lays eggs, and the infected animal passes eggs inthe stool. These tapeworm eggs, which are directly infectious to other animals, are too tiny to see, and will stick to anything with which they come in contact. Coyotes, foxes, dogs, and cats are not harmed by the tapeworm and do not have symptoms of AHD. ******************** I won't go into any more details, but look up this website if you want to learn more. I suspect some of this information may at leaswt deterre you from letting your dogs lick you in the face I hope I haven't ruined anybody's dinner! Jean in Frigid Frosty Fairbanks, Alaska, -25 degrees ( but could be worse, record low was -58!) ************************************************************ Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska [EMAIL PROTECTED]
