Seger Park Dog Owners Association

We have reason to believe that the dog park may be contaminated with eggs of intestinal worms. They also exist in piles of leaves and dirt almost anywhere. Intestinal worms are not earthworms; they include a range of tiny parasites that attach themselves to the intestines of animals. Symptoms may include diarrhea, weakness, and hair that may appear dull and dry. In some cases, there are no noticeable symptoms.

What You Can Do?

• Consult with your veterinarian to test for worms and discuss preventative treatments and, if necessary, de-worming.
• Make extra effort to pick up after your dog, remind others, and do a little extra pick up for the good health of all dogs.
• Practice good personal hygiene and wash your hands after leaving the park.

What SPDOA is Doing?

• Encouraging everyone to pick up poop and take care of their dogs
• Looking for a way to get our members a break on the cost of worm medicine (please help us figure out how to do this!)
• Spraying with Borax, also known as boric acid. Borax is a non-toxic salt commonly used against cockroaches and fleas. In the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, boric acid falls between table salt and aspirin. It works by scratching eggs and larvae of worms, causing them to dry out and die. This same approach is used at the Philadelphia 4-H farm.

More Information

• Common preventative treatments for dogs include monthly tablets of Heartguard Plus or Interceptor which protect against intestinal parasites and heartworm (and are easy to give).
• More information available on the internet, in books, or from your veterinarian.
• Sources for this article include “Hookworms” by Holly Nash, DVM, MS (PetEducation.com), “Managing Hookworms in the Landscape” by Robert Dunn and Ellis Greiner (University of Florida Extension), and “The Safe Use of Boric Acid and Boron No. 10” by J.R. Blasius.