Oh poop!

When these words are uttered by most people it means something bad has happened. However, I often find myself saying this phrase in quite a happy tone. You see, I believe that it is the veterinarian's job in our society to identify and eliminate contagious parasites by doing regular fecal exams and deworming of pets. That's why I might exclaim, "Oh, poop," when a client brings in a recently deposited sample, meaning I'm happy the client has brought it in so I don't have to collect one which is no fun for me or the pet.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that each year 3 million to 6 million humans are infected with roundworms from pets. In most cases the human immune system just eliminates these microscopic eggs, but in a few hundred cases each year (mostly children who eat dirt!) a worm develops and migrates up in the eye causing partial blindness.

Deworming dogs just got easier with the introduction of a tasty dewormer pill called Drontal Plus Taste Tabs by Bayer. These tabs were accepted as a treat by an incredible 90 percent of dogs tested. This medication, available from your veterinarian, eliminates roundworms and other common canine parasites and is so harmless it can be given periodically just to be on the safe side. However, it is still necessary to do annual fecal exams because deworming alone misses microscopic parasites like Giardia or Toxoplasmosis organisms that are also contagious to people.

So, pet owners, do your part. Every year have your pet dewormed, and do your veterinarian a favor by bringing in a sample of poop in a zipper baggie. If you collect it the night before, refrigerate overnight and label it clearly or else you might hear a family member shriek, "Oh poop!" in disgust when looking for a midnight snack.

Dr. Rolan Tripp is a veterinarian and animal-behavior consultant. He is the founder of www.AnimalBehavior.Net.