WHAT IS A PATHOGEN?
and are they in my dog's poop?
HUMAN DISEASES TRANSMITTED BY DOG POOP
From Bacteria
A pathogen is a tiny living organism, such as a bacterium or virus, that makes people or animals sick. Dogs can contract them from other dogs they meet at the park, at doggie daycare, while staying at a kennel, or even while walking around the block. While many pathogens are transmitted in urine, saliva, or by coughing, these are the ones contained in poop.
Campylobacteriosis
Symptoms include diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever. The illness typically lasts one week but for people with compromised immune systems, Campylobacter can spread to the bloodstream and result in a life-threatening infection.
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is the most common bacterial infection transmitted to humans by other animals. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Yersiniosis
This is another bacterial disease that can cause intestinal infections in people.
E. Coli
E. Coli and other fecal coliforms live in the intestines of many animals. Certain strains can escape into the bloodstream, or cause stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. For people with weakened immune systems, E. Coli infection can be fatal.
HUMAN DISEASES TRANSMITTED BY DOG POOP
From Parasites
A parasite is an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.
Cyclospora
Cyclospora infection usually incubates in the body for a week and then causes gastroenteritis that can wax and wane for over a month.
Cryptosporidium and Giardia
These are microscopic parasites. They cause intestinal diseases such as giardiasis or "beaver fever" and cryptosporidiosis. Symptoms include watery foul smelling diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal cramps and bloating, flatulence, nausea, and weight loss.
Roundworm
Roundworm (including hookworm and whipworm) larva can migrate throughout the body to the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, heart, or eyes. Roundworm larva can cause blindness.
Tapeworm
Tapeworms can infect humans through the pores of their skin or by being ingested. They attach to the intestines and absorb nutrients from their host.
Toxoplasmosis
Although Toxoplasmosis is a parasite carried by cats, we thought it important to mention it here. Toxoplasmosis is usually contracted through exposure while cleaning litter boxes and can cause birth defects if a woman becomes infected during pregnancy. People with depressed immune systems can suffer fever, aching muscles, tiredness, nausea, sore throat, and swollen glands.
DOG DISEASES TRANSMITTED BY DOG POOP
From Virus
As well as all of the above, dogs are also susceptible to viral infection
Canine Parvovirus
The virus is very contagious and attacks the gastrointestinal system, causing fever, vomiting, and severe, often bloody, diarrhea. The normal intestinal lining becomes comprimised causing anemia and endotoxemia. Dogs have a distinctive odour in the later stages of the infection. The white blood cell level falls, further weakening the dog. Any or all of these factors can lead to death.
As you can see, dog poop can contain some pretty nasty things. The best protection from these bacteria, parasites, and viruses is to properly dispose of dog poop instead of leaving it laying around in the yard.
Check out our services now to find out how Mission: ImPOOPable can help to make your yard a healthy place to play.