To the Readers' Forum:
When walking your dog a public place, it is important to pick up after your pet. Animal feces can spread diseases to other pets and more importantly to humans. Viruses, such as parvovirus and coronavirus, and intestinal parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, can be spread to other dogs by the fecal-oral route.
Zoonotic diseases (a disease which can be transmitted to a human from an animal) can also occur. Roundworms can cause diseases in children and adults that affect the eyes, lungs, heart and brain. Hookworms can cause an itchy skin rash in people.
For more information please visit www.petsandparasites.org or call your veterinarian.
So remember, scoop the poop to prevent the spread of disease!
Jill S. Colburn, DVM