Killing Roundworms in the Soil or on Pea Gravel - Page 1

We have a fenced area where we turn our personal dogs out to do their buisiness and play. Given the climate here, it's not always possible to pick up all the poop during the winter, as it sinks into the snow, especially if it's mushy. And sometimes the snow comes down so fast that it's buried before you can pick it up, though we try our best.  Hey, before you criticize, how carefully do YOU police your yard when it's 0 F, and snowing really hard? 

Now that everything is pretty much melted off, this run is REALLY gross, and all our dogs have picked up roundworms from each other, no doubt from the contaiminated yard! We haved cleaned as much of the poop as possible, and are spreading some fresh gravel (there's still ice and snow on the run that hasn't melted, so it's a gradual process), but in the meantime, is there anything that can be done to kill the roundworm cysts? What about grassed areas that take a heavy load of poop? Can anything be done there?

And yes, we're worming regularly since we discovered the problem, but it also makes sense to try to eliminate the source of the infection.

We are going to cover the run with cement, but can't do so until the frost is completely out of the ground. With the way things are going right now, that will probably be early May!

I don't have an answer for you Sunsilver, but the spring thaw is always a shocking mess around here, too! I hear what you're saying! 

This is why I'm glad I don't live in a cold area. We hit 0 degrees only one time this winter, and that's rare for us.  We're usually in the 20s at the coldest here.

 I don't think round worms can survive outside the body for very long. If they have contracted it over the winter I would venture to guess they might have ingested poop? The eggs are in the poop it's self and unless they eat it it does not harm them. Licking paws clean after running in poop can also contaminate them. Eating wildlife is another way to get rounds. Cleaning and bleach should do it. Also, when you give your heartworm meds it should take care rounds too. Now coccidia and giardia are a different story!! They are in the soil all the time and there's no way to keep them out. Because of that I worm with Panacur for 10 days 3x a year and use the Panacur C which also takes care of coccidia. Regular Panacur takes care of giardia also.
Hope that helps some!
Debby

So, anyone know an easy way to bleach a 200 sq. ft. run? I've done it once, with a large watering can, after stocking up on cheap bleach at Wally World, but boy, was it a sloooow, tedious process! 

Boy, oh boy, does that yard STINK right now, too! 

djd, yup, three of the girls are poop-eaters!

Use a hose end sprayer, with a reservoir on it that can meter the amount of bleach in the bottle to the gallons of water coming out. Spray the gravel surface, rake, spray again, repeat till you're pretty sure all the gravel has been moistened. Allow to dry before you let the dogs back on it.

Most adult dogs establish an immunity to round worms. I know thebest way to kill hookworm eggs is to apply sodium borate (Borax) to kennel runs--I guess mixed in water. Diatomaceous earth should desiccate the eggs as well. You may also worm the dogs by adding foodgrade DE to their diet. Tincture of black walnut added to meals also kills tapeworm and is said to kill/prevent heartworm.

We don't have intestinal parasites or heartworm where I live. I haven't wormed my 10-year-old dog since I got him at 8 weeks. As there is no local reservoir for heartworm infection, I do not give Heartgard.

If you use bleach, don't put the dogs on the treated surfaces until the odor dissipates. The odor (not the odor of feces) you smell is vaporized chlorine gas from the bleach.

Louise,

Really, CA mosquitos don't carry heartworm? Isn't that where you are? Of course I know CA is awful big. LOL  Tell me more about this tincture of black walnut, if you can. Got lots of those trees in my yard. Thanks

Nothing less than a blow torch.  Those SB's live forever; and some adults never get immunity to them.  Harbor them for life.  Ugh.  Hate em.  Nan

Really, CA mosquitos don't carry heartworm ?

Sure, they do but not where I live--meaning there is no vector for infection in my immediate area. To spread HW, a mosquito that has bitten a dog with heartworm has to bite my dog to spread HW.  I have lived in the same 25 mile radius since 1986 and have never given Heartgard. My only dog lives indoors and is not boarded in HW endemic areas.

Tincture of black walnut may be purchased in health/natural food stores. its us is recommened by Martin Goldstein, DVM, in his book: The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat . .. The book may be purchased through Amazon. This Dr Goldstein's website: http://www.drmarty.com/