Child safety in garden - dog toilet

Thundercat_2

Hi Everyone!

I've got a question, but I'm not sure if this is the right place to post it, so apologies if I should be posting elsewhere!

We're about to buy a house with a beautiful big garden, but the people who currently live there have a very large dog, who uses the back garden as a toilet. They don't seem to remove the dog poo very quickly and I'm wondering about the safety of our two young children playing in the garden after we move in.

Obviously I would go throughout the whole garden removing any poo that's been left, but will potentially harmful parasites and stuff still be present in the soil? If so what can I use to treat the garden so that it's safe for them to play? (One is nearly four and the other is nearly 8 months and so will be crawling around very soon).

Thanks!

Sublime_2

Thats disgusting. I have a dog, and clear up after him every day. I also have children.

The only real concern for me in your case would be the toxicara canis parasite, thankfully not common here. There's only about 10 new cases a year.

If you are still worried, dig over the lawn, put a fresh layer of soil on the top, and re-seed it. If you're still concerned ask your GP for advice.

Quiet_Life

http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Toxocarosis/GeneralInformation/toxoc010BackgroundInformation/

Check out this link to the Health Promotion Agency

Trazy

Sublime wrote: »

Thats disgusting. I have a dog, and clear up after him every day. I also have children.

The only real concern for me in your case would be the toxicara canis parasite, thankfully not common here. There's only about 10 new cases a year.

If you are still worried, dig over the lawn, put a fresh layer of soil on the top, and re-seed it. If you're still concerned ask your GP for advice.

I totally agree, either re-seed or if you can afford to, turf.

I would never be happy that the ground is completely safe otherwise, I have a hatred of dog poo btw xx

Swipe

No need to do anything. Give it a couple of weeks and it will be fine.

Owain_Moneysaver

According to the 'toxocara in the environment' page linked therefrom,

When not protected by faeces, soil, vegetation or debris, the eggs are susceptible to desiccation, direct sunlight or temperatures above 37 oC. Clean eggs die in less than a day in dry gravel, soil or on concrete floors. Regular raking of the ground to a depth of 1 to 2 inches to loosen the soil and promote desiccation and sunlight penetration should kill the eggs rapidly. Flaming or burning the ground are effective but rather extreme measures.

Thundercat_2

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the help! I agree it's disgusting and in time I will definitely consider re-turfing the garden (though it is a huge area, so will cost a fortune!) Until then I'll just have to keep a really close eye on the boys and make sure they don't put things in their mouths and that they wash their hands thoroughly after playing out there...

Sublime_2

Thundercat wrote: »

...and make sure they don't put things in their mouths and that they wash their hands thoroughly after playing out there...

Always a good thing. :A

deanos