Besides minimizing the mess and smell, Scoopy Doo’s of Longmont advocates hiring a regular pet waste removal service to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that “Although germs from dogs rarely spread to people, they might cause a variety of illnesses, ranging from minor skin infections to serious diseases.” Below is a list of diseases transmitted through infected dog waste that can cause human illnesses.
Pet Waste Removal Helps Prevent These Transmittable Diseases:
- Campylobacteriosis– One of the ways this disease can spread is by contact with the stool of an infected dog, which may show no symptoms of being sick. People who contract campylobacteriosis will experience fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
- Tapeworm– Although fleas are required to complete the transmission of tapeworm from infected dogs to other animals or people, feces is part of the process.
- Hookworm– The larvae of this parasite embeds itself in the skin when a person walks, kneels or sits on ground that is contaminated with infected stool. Itchiness and a red squiggly line just under the skin are telltale signs of hookworm.
- Roundworm– Children are most likely to contract roundworms by accidentally swallowing an egg after coming in contact with a contaminated area. This parasite can invade the retina, liver, lungs or central nervous system.
- Giardia– This parasite can cause nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, greasy stools and dehydration for 1-2 weeks. If a dog is infected, people can contract giardia through their contaminated stool.
- Salmonella– If a person contracts salmonella through contact with a dog’s infected stool, they will become ill with vomiting, fever and diarrhea.
If you’ve been debating whether or not to hire a pet waste removal service, hopefully this information has helped you decide it’s worth it- if so, give Scoopy Doo’s in Longmont a call today!