How to Control Roundworms in Soil
When roundworms are present in your yard, this exposes you and your family to a zoonotic infection called toxocariasis caused by unintentional ingestion of the parasite's eggs or larvae by way of soil contaminated with the fecal matter of an infected pet. Roundworm eggs are shed in the stool of both dogs and cats, but the Centers for Disease control notes that of particular concern to humans is the canine roundworm (T. canis) that puppies get in utero or while nursing from their mothers. By the time a puppy is three or four week old, roundworms produce a considerable number of eggs that can contaminate the soil in your back yard. Controlling roundworms in soil begins and ends with ongoing preventive measures and diligent yard-keeping.
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Things You'll Need
- Worming medication from your veterinarian
- Scoop to remove pet waste
- Plastic bags
- Plastic tarp
Instructions
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Make sure that your puppy or kitten is dewormed, if you're a new pet owner. The Companion Animal Parasitic Council recommends that puppies receive treatment at two, four, six, and eight weeks of age and kittens be treated every two weeks between the ages of three and nine weeks. CAPC recommends that both cats and dogs receive monthly preventive treatment thereafter.
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Make sure your pet receives annual examinations, including a fecal examination, to make sure he is roundworm-free. Roundworm infections are typically more obvious in young animals whose immune systems are not fully developed, but adult animals may not present with immediate signs and symptoms of roundworms.
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Remove pet feces from your yard at least once a week. The CDC notes that canine roundworms pose a bigger hazard than do those from cats simply because cats tend to bury their waste. Pet feces should either be buried or placed in bags and disposed of in the trash.
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Cover areas where children play (such as sandboxes) with a plastic tarp to prevent cats and dogs from defecating in the area. Children who play in soil or those with pica (an eating disorder that causes the child to consume nonfoods, such as dirt and feces) are more at risk for roundworm infections.
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Consider fencing to prevent outdoor pets and stray or feral animals from using your yard as a repository for waste.
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Tips & Warnings
Roundworms are the most common intestinal parasite in both dogs and cats.
Young children should be taught not to eat dirt, soil or animal feces.
Zoonotic infections can be prevented by using good hygiene; always wash your hands after you come in from the outdoors.
If you're a pet owner, don't permit hunting and consumption of "wild prey," such as birds and rodents--dogs and cats cat can acquire roundworms from a contaminated host.
