Our Responsibility to Man's Best Friend, Part 2

Editor's note: This is Part 2 of Mandy Oram's column. Friday.

Coccidia is only one of several diseases that can be transmitted from dog to dog through contact with feces, fur, saliva, shared water bowls, etc. Other common contagious canine diseases include giardia, distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, intestinal parasites and canine influenza.

Vaccines are available for many of these and should be procured and kept current for your canine friend. The risk of contracting others can be lowered by being a responsible dog owner and taking some proactive measures, both to protect your dog and the other dogs in your community:

• Have an annual fecal test performed on your dog. This test will confirm the presence or absence of most of the common fecally-transmitted diseases. If your dog tests positive for any of these diseases, please obtain treatment for him AND quarantine him until he is no longer contagious. This is part of being a responsible dog owner: don’t bring untested and/or contagious dogs to public places frequented by other dogs.
• Pick up your dog’s feces immediately upon elimination, even if he is at home and ESPECIALLY when he is in a public place, such as a dog park or walking trail. This is another part of being a responsible dog owner: don’t leave your dog’s feces laying around for other dogs to step in. Dogs that step in infected feces and then lick their paws can develop any one of the fecally-transmitted diseases listed above. Please note: it is possible for your dog to have no or only mild symptoms, and still be a carrier and contagious to other dogs. This is why it is so important to have your dog tested and to pick up your dog’s poop, all the time, every time, especially when in a public place. (Did I say this already? It bears repeating, again and again!).
• Always wipe your dog’s paws with a disposable wipe after he has been out in a public place frequented by other dogs. Do this BEFORE putting him back in your car or bringing him inside.  Check your shoes for poop. Wipe off any with the wipes and dispose of them. Then wipe your hands and dispose of the wipe.
• Bring your own water and water bowl for your dog to drink from. Don’t let him drink from another dog’s water bowl, or from standing water or even local streams or ponds.

Heartworm is another common dog disease that is preventable through proactive measures. It is a serious disease that is fatal if not treated. It is transmitted by infected mosquitos. Be a responsible dog owner and place your dog on a monthly heartworm preventative, available from your vet.

Pet parenting

Am I saying that people shouldn’t bring their dogs out in public for fear of a canine injury or infection? Or not take them to the dog park? Or on the walking trails? Not at all! That would be like saying I should keep my kids at home all the time, because they could get hurt playing at the park or participating in sports or they could catch something such as the measles, mumps, flu, etc. from the other kids with whom they interact.

Just as human parents have to be realistic and responsible about the risks to their children from participating in life in general, the same goes for our dogs. Just like human parents must ensure their child is properly vaccinated and that proper health precautions are in place to reduce the risk of disease, so should dog parents. Just as human parents should monitor and control the behavior of both themselves and their children when in public, the same goes for the parents whose kids are of the canine variety.

My dogs love their road trips, park trips, trail hikes, etc. For me, I think that part of being a responsible dog owner (read: pet parent) is ensuring my dogs get to experience all of life’s pleasures, including a rough and tumble play at the dog park with their canine friends, a challenging hike on the local trails, or even a trip to the pet store.

Furry fun is fantastic . . . and our dogs expect us to come through on this for them!

Editor's note: Mandy Oram has been working with animals for over 25 years. She left the corporate world in 2007 to start her own pet care business called Paws & Kisses Pet Sitting Service, LLC, based in Shelton. This article is part of her regular column published by Shelton Patch.