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My Pet World: Vaccines can mute threat to pets from animal droppings

By Steve Dale, Tribune Content Agency on

Q: The people where I live are brain dead. The neighborhood is plagued by geese, ducks and nasty squirrels. There are laws against feeding these animals, but people do it anyway. As result, I walk my beautiful pup in poop. I have to bathe him constantly. I also disagree with my neighbors, who say leptospirosis is not a problem. What do you think? -- J.K., Longs, SC

A: Canada geese are particularly talented when it comes to manufacturing poo. Some reports indicate a goose can produce over a pound of excrement daily. Ducks most often do their business in the water, and squirrel droppings are tiny, so these animals shouldn't be much of a problem.

Of course, dogs don't see animal droppings as a problem. Dr. Mark Russak, of Berlin, CT, past president of the American Animal Hospital Association, concedes that canine taste buds tend not to be all that discerning. Some dogs think goose poo is a delicacy.

Canada geese may help spread bacteria that's resistant to antibiotics. A recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control study of a resident flock of Canada geese in Georgia and also in North Carolina showed that antibiotic-resistant E coli could be carried by the birds.

Although it is possible for geese to carry salmonella and/or campylobacter, it turns out that a greater concern is the water they swim in and sometimes defecate in, as pets that drink the water are prone to giardia or cryptosporidium, which can both cause serious illness. Geese aren't the only animals responsible for these pathogens, however; lots of wildlife contribute.

You're correct regarding leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread by wildlife, which pets can contract from drinking contaminated water. The problem is greater in some areas than others. Lepto occurs even in big cities, spread mostly by rats. The good news is, there are vaccines for leptospirosis and giardia. Speak with your veterinarian if you're concerned about your pet.

 

As for snacking on goose poop, few dogs get much more than an upset tummy, but it's hardly a healthy snack. And while eating goose droppings does raise the risk of a bacterial infection, this is very unlikely.

Feeding geese, ducks and squirrels may not be a good idea, but Russak concedes, "It's what people do, I might even do it; we're only human." He says he understands your concern, but many Americans live in cities plagued by many dangers, and they learn to take precautions, such as crossing the street when the light is green, decreasing the risk of being hit by a car.

"Talk to your veterinarian about appropriate precautions, and learn to enjoy the wildlife," Russak suggests.

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