Introduction
Picking up after dogs is an important responsibility for all pet owners. However, for pregnant women, handling dog feces poses some unique risks and challenges. Cleaning up after dogs helps keep yards clean and prevents the spread of parasites and bacteria. But pregnant women need to take extra precautions when dealing with potential toxins and infectious agents.
This raises the critical question–is it actually safe for pregnant women to pick up dog poop? While there are clear benefits to tending diligently to pet waste, pregnant women may need to take additional steps or make alternative arrangements during pregnancy. In this article, we’ll explore the health considerations around handling dog feces while pregnant, and provide some practical advice for pregnant dog owners.
Health Risks of Dog Feces
Dog feces can potentially transmit diseases that are harmful during pregnancy. Two of the main concerns are toxocariasis and toxoplasmosis.
Toxocariasis is an infection caused by roundworm parasites. Pregnant women can become infected through contact with contaminated soil or dog feces. According to the CDC, toxocariasis can cause vision loss, rash, fever, and cough. If a woman is infected during pregnancy, the parasites may spread to the fetus and cause problems like premature birth or neurologic damage (What to Expect).
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite found in cat feces, but dogs can transmit it too if they ingest feces or contaminated soil. Per the CDC, toxoplasmosis is usually mild in healthy adults but can severely affect the fetus if a woman contracts it during pregnancy. Risks include premature delivery, low birth weight, and potentially fatal damage to the brain, eyes, or other organs (Ovia Health).
Proper hygiene like washing hands and avoiding contact with dog feces can greatly reduce the risks of these and other diseases transmitted through contaminated stool.
Precautions for Pregnant Women
While pregnant women should take extra care when handling dog feces, it doesn’t mean having to avoid dog poop altogether. There are some simple precautions pregnant women can take to lower any health risks when picking up dog poop:
Use disposable gloves and wash hands thoroughly – Wearing disposable gloves when handling dog poop can provide a protective barrier. Be sure to wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after taking off the gloves. This helps remove any traces of bacteria like salmonella or E. coli that could be present in the feces. Avoid touching your face or mouth until after washing up (source: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/ask-heidi/pets-and-pregnancy.aspx).
Utilize pooper scoopers instead of bending over – Using a pooper scooper allows you to cleanly pick up dog poop without having to bend over or get too close to it. This avoids back strain and minimizes contact. Dispose of the feces properly and wash the scooper after use.
Have someone else handle it if possible – The safest option is to avoid direct contact altogether by having a family member or friend handle the dog feces instead. But if that’s not possible, taking protective measures can allow pregnant women to still pick up after their pet safely.
Alternatives to Picking Up Poop
Pregnant women should avoid direct contact with dog feces if possible. Here are some alternative approaches to picking up dog poop:
Having someone else pick up the dog poop is the best option. A spouse, family member, friend, or dog walker can take over this duty during pregnancy. According to Ovia Health, “If you can, you’ll want to have your partner or someone else you live with clean out the litter box, deal with your dog’s poop, or clean out your hamster, mouse or other small animal’s cage” (source).
Training dogs to poop in designated areas using voice commands can minimize contact. Dogs can be taught to poop on pee pads or in litter boxes indoors, or in confined outdoor spaces. This contains the waste to specific areas that are easier to clean.
Pee pads and litter boxes allow the dog’s waste to be disposed of without directly handling it. Wearing gloves while emptying litter boxes or disposing of pee pads can further reduce risks.
When to Avoid Handling Feces
Picking up dog poop can pose some risks during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester when the risk of miscarriage is highest. According to What to Expect, pregnant women are more susceptible to illnesses like toxoplasmosis in the first trimester, which can be transmitted through contact with cat feces (source). While the risk from dog feces may be lower, it’s still a good idea for pregnant women to avoid handling dog poop during the first trimester when possible.
As the pregnancy progresses, the risks decrease but it’s still wise to take precautions. The Bump recommends using gloves and washing hands thoroughly after handling dog poop to minimize exposure to bacteria (source). While the chances of illness are lower in the second and third trimester, avoiding contact with feces through the end of the pregnancy is ideal. Consider having someone else pick up dog poop or using alternate methods to clean it up.
Proper Hygiene
It’s important for pregnant women to practice proper hygiene when handling dog feces to reduce the risk of illness. The CDC recommends thorough hand washing after picking up dog waste or handling soiled materials
Hands should be washed with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. This removes any germs that may have been picked up from the feces. Hands should be dried completely with a clean towel.
Any surfaces or materials touched by dog feces should be disinfected to kill germs. Bleach solutions, alcohol, and other EPA-approved disinfectants are effective. Wear gloves when disinfecting.
Bathing dogs regularly can also help reduce the spread of germs from feces. Give your dog a bath using gentle dog shampoo at least once per month. Be sure to wash their paws each time after going outside.
Following proper hygiene guidelines helps minimize the transmission of bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens found in dog waste that could make pregnant women ill.
Veterinary Visits
Keeping your dog’s vaccines and deworming treatments up to date is crucial during pregnancy. According to this source, regular veterinary care can help control and prevent parasites in pets: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4500695/.
Your veterinarian should examine your dog at least annually and administer core vaccines like rabies, distemper, and parvovirus. Annual fecal tests can check for intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and more. Treating any parasites found reduces shedding of eggs in your dog’s feces, which helps protect pregnant women.
Bring a fresh fecal sample to your dog’s veterinary visit for the most accurate test results. Deworming medication eliminates intestinal parasites and prevents reinfection. Keeping your dog’s parasite prevention and vaccines current limits zoonotic disease risks during pregnancy.
Puppy Risks
Puppies pose some additional risks to pregnant women due to their developing immune systems and frequent accidents while potty training. Puppies are more likely to spread parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and giardia through their feces.
According to the CDC, nearly 14% of dogs in the United States carry roundworms, which can be spread to humans and potentially harm a developing fetus if contracted during pregnancy.1 Giardia infections are also common in puppies and can lead to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues if transmitted to pregnant women.
In addition to higher parasite risk, puppies require very frequent potty breaks and are prone to accidents in the home while learning proper bathroom habits. This means pregnant women are more likely to encounter feces from a puppy in training. Proper clean up and handwashing is critical after these encounters to prevent illness.
For these reasons, pregnant women should exercise caution around puppies, be vigilant about cleaning accidents, wash hands frequently after contact, and have their veterinarian check stool samples to ensure the puppy is free of parasites before bringing them home.
1 https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxocariasis/gen_info/faqs.html
Benefits of Picking Up Poop
Picking up after your dog has many benefits, even during pregnancy. Some key advantages include:
Keeping the environment clean for your family – Dog feces can contain harmful bacteria and parasites like giardia, salmonella, and hookworms. Removing waste prevents the spread of illness and infection to your family, especially young children who may put things in their mouth while playing outside. This is important for protecting your health during pregnancy.
Teaching responsibility to children – Having kids help pick up dog poop once they are old enough teaches them responsibility for caring for pets. It also helps them build habits to keep shared spaces clean.
According to the University of Michigan (https://sph.umich.edu/pursuit/2019posts/pets-and-pregnancy-012419.html), as long as feces is handled properly by wearing gloves and washing hands afterwards, there is little risk to pregnant women from cleaning up after dogs. So you can enjoy the benefits of a cleaner environment and teaching kids responsibility, as long as you take the right precautions.
Conclusion
As discussed, pregnant women can safely pick up after their dogs with proper precautions in place. The key is to take steps to minimize exposure to bacteria and parasites. This includes wearing gloves, washing hands thoroughly afterwards, and avoiding direct contact with feces from puppies or sick dogs.
To recap, basic hygiene is critical – wash hands immediately after handling waste and before eating. Disinfect any surfaces or tools that come in contact with feces. When possible, have someone else handle cleanup duties. Stay up-to-date on deworming medication for your dog. And if you experience any concerning symptoms, see your doctor right away.
While dog waste carries risks, pregnant women do not need to avoid their pets during this special time. With some care taken to reduce exposure, regular dog walking and cleanup can be done safely throughout pregnancy.