Faeces and pee. Even when you can't see or smell it you can test any piece of land and on it you'll find harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites that are the let overs of dog and "pet" waste.

Your house and garden can be literally smeared with an invisible layer of danger - on the lawn, in the soil or in your water supply.

This is also a problem in public places where people put young kids to play on the grass or ground and their hands come into contact with this "invisible" stuff. ........then they put their hands in their mouths...

Bacteria can cause cramps, diarrhoea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans, and of course the stuff is washed down drains and flushes untreated into the sea.

Dog faeces and urine are yet another threat to our fresh water supply.

Unlooked after dogs are a threat to your pets as well as yourself - "The eggs of roundworms and other parasites can linger in your soil for years. Anyone who comes into contact with that soil—be it through gardening, playing sports, walking barefoot or any other means—runs the risk of coming into contact with those eggs; especially your dog. "

Not forgetting the beaches in Thailand with many dogs that defecate etc. Full list of dog to human disease transmission at: http://www.gopetsame...noses_dogs.aspx

One is Gnathostoma spinigerum. Most human infections occur in Thailand and other Asian countries. The larvae may cause eosinophilic meningitis.

That's it, I'm convinced! I'm going into full lock-down mode here. Already ordered myself a biohazard suit online, in case I ever have to venture outside again. Thanks guys for making me aware of the microbiological inferno that is my neighborhood!

So, I appeal to everyone who is genuinely concerned (or annoyed) by the stray situation in Thailand to seek out and support these groups for the sake of the animals as well as the communities they live in.

The problem in our village is not stray dogs as they all have owners.

Since the dog cars stopped coming around, there are more households with 3,4 or 5 dogs. Even then, there are many that are no problem as they are mostly friendly or may bark, but not in a really threatening way.

It gets me that the owners must know how aggressive their dogs are, but will do nothing about it.

What really worries me is that I often see toddlers barely able to walk hitting dogs with sticks. It doesn't need much intelligence to realise what would happen if one of these small children hits the wrong dog one day.

Strange that parents will terrify children with stories about ghosts and spirits, but will not teach them about real life dangers!

We all get a tummy bug from time to time. there is a misconception amongst most that it was "the last thing they ate"

In fact many cases of upset stomach (and other illnesses) are contracted by our own hand to mouth contact (smokers note this) - You see people happily petting soi dogs and than a few minutes later are eating some street food in their hand......and then they have the temerity to blame the poor vendor for their bad stomach.

We all get a tummy bug from time to time. there is a misconception amongst most that it was "the last thing they ate"

In fact many cases of upset stomach (and other illnesses) are contracted by our own hand to mouth contact (smokers note this) - You see people happily petting soi dogs and than a few minutes later are eating some street food in their hand......and then they have the temerity to blame the poor vendor for their bad stomach.

I can't, for the life of me, find any studies that prove or even suggest a widespread connection between stray dogs and human gastrointestinal infections in Thailand, Asia or anywhere else. I would bet that there's considerably more science supporting the notion that poor food-storage, handling and hygiene practices are a problem.

That being said, I do wash my hands before meals, a habit I acquired since childhood. There are hundreds of surfaces which, especially in a climate such as ours, make excellent breeding grounds for bacteria and other pathogens. I'm sure the pelt of a shaggy mutt is on par with most of these. But I see no cause to single out soi dogs as the source of all tummy aches.

Edited November 13, 201213 yr by fstarbkk

We all get a tummy bug from time to time. there is a misconception amongst most that it was "the last thing they ate"

In fact many cases of upset stomach (and other illnesses) are contracted by our own hand to mouth contact (smokers note this) - You see people happily petting soi dogs and than a few minutes later are eating some street food in their hand......and then they have the temerity to blame the poor vendor for their bad stomach.

I can't, for the life of me, find any studies that prove or even suggest a widespread connection between stray dogs and human gastrointestinal infections in Thailand, Asia or anywhere else. I would bet that there's considerably more science supporting the notion that poor food-storage, handling and hygiene practices are a problem.

That being said, I do wash my hands before meals, a habit I acquired since childhood. There are hundreds of surfaces which, especially in a climate such as ours, make excellent breeding grounds for bacteria and other pathogens. I'm sure the pelt of a shaggy mutt is on par with most of these. But I see no cause to single out soi dogs as the source of all tummy aches.

FGS - who's singling out?????

You might also consider that contact with hair is a great way to infect - especially under finger nails....bite your finger-nails?

If you really believe that Google is your gateway to knowledge then at least think for a proper search and try "hand to mouth" transmission of bacteria.....

Edited November 13, 201213 yr by cowslip

Faeces and pee. Even when you can't see or smell it you can test any piece of land and on it you'll find harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites that are the let overs of dog and "pet" waste.

Your house and garden can be literally smeared with an invisible layer of danger - on the lawn, in the soil or in your water supply.

This is also a problem in public places where people put young kids to play on the grass or ground and their hands come into contact with this "invisible" stuff. ........then they put their hands in their mouths...

Bacteria can cause cramps, diarrhoea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans, and of course the stuff is washed down drains and flushes untreated into the sea.

Dog faeces and urine are yet another threat to our fresh water supply.

Unlooked after dogs are a threat to your pets as well as yourself - "The eggs of roundworms and other parasites can linger in your soil for years. Anyone who comes into contact with that soil—be it through gardening, playing sports, walking barefoot or any other means—runs the risk of coming into contact with those eggs; especially your dog. "

Not forgetting the beaches in Thailand with many dogs that defecate etc. Full list of dog to human disease transmission at: http://www.gopetsame...noses_dogs.aspx

One is Gnathostoma spinigerum. Most human infections occur in Thailand and other Asian countries. The larvae may cause eosinophilic meningitis.

That's it, I'm convinced! I'm going into full lock-down mode here. Already ordered myself a biohazard suit online, in case I ever have to venture outside again. Thanks guys for making me aware of the microbiological inferno that is my neighborhood!

Very well said!

Faeces and pee. Even when you can't see or smell it you can test any piece of land and on it you'll find harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites that are the let overs of dog and "pet" waste.

Your house and garden can be literally smeared with an invisible layer of danger - on the lawn, in the soil or in your water supply.

This is also a problem in public places where people put young kids to play on the grass or ground and their hands come into contact with this "invisible" stuff. ........then they put their hands in their mouths...

Bacteria can cause cramps, diarrhoea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans, and of course the stuff is washed down drains and flushes untreated into the sea.

Dog faeces and urine are yet another threat to our fresh water supply.

Unlooked after dogs are a threat to your pets as well as yourself - "The eggs of roundworms and other parasites can linger in your soil for years. Anyone who comes into contact with that soil—be it through gardening, playing sports, walking barefoot or any other means—runs the risk of coming into contact with those eggs; especially your dog. "

Not forgetting the beaches in Thailand with many dogs that defecate etc. Full list of dog to human disease transmission at: http://www.gopetsame...noses_dogs.aspx

One is Gnathostoma spinigerum. Most human infections occur in Thailand and other Asian countries. The larvae may cause eosinophilic meningitis.

That's it, I'm convinced! I'm going into full lock-down mode here. Already ordered myself a biohazard suit online, in case I ever have to venture outside again. Thanks guys for making me aware of the microbiological inferno that is my neighborhood!

Very well said!

it would seem that some posters are unable to draw inferences or make rational risk assessments.

it would seem that some posters are unable to draw inferences or make rational risk assessments.

Oh, I think the emphasis here is on rational. Most of us long-timers are too busy assessing the risk of getting mowed down by a yaba-head bus driver on Sathorn road and such, to be worrying too much about eosinophilic meningitis.

I've handled literally thousands of stray animals in my work in animal welfare over the past 10 years, many with severe infections and infestations covering the whole spectrum. I am happy to report that I, as well as all my friends, are about as healthy as the average office workers in these parts. All it takes is some basic precautions and common sense.

Edited November 17, 201213 yr by fstarbkk

There goes my lunch...

it would seem that some posters are unable to draw inferences or make rational risk assessments.

And some are, "More papal than the Pope!"

as the standard of living in Thailand improves - and believe it or not education - expectations of the middle classes rise - this in the end will result in growing disgust with the "stray" dog problem.....and eventually it will become unacceptable, which is the case in other countries - in fat I can't think of any fully developed country that has a similar dog problem

Mexico USA,most of south America etc etc.