Is dog mess a health hazard?
Both dog and cat faeces can contain the eggs of the roundworm Toxocara. These eggs can survive in the soil for several years. If they are ingested or inhaled by humans they may cause eye, liver, brain and respiratory problems such as asthma, hepatitis and epilepsy. Children playing in fouled recreation areas are most at risk. Dog waste is also a potential health risk to farmers’ livestock if dogs are allowed to foul in their fields.
