So worming your Labrador puppy is extremely important. But that’s not all, it is not just the children of dog owners (or the owners themselves) who are just at risk, but any child in the environment. Imagine an expanse of grass at a local park, or recreational area or a sand pit. If dog stools contaminate that area, and a child crawls through it and eats it then there is an increased risk of the disease spreading.
So the next rule is to clean up behind your dog using a ‘poop scoop’ and bag it. Many communities provide special bins for disposal of this mess. However, clearing up after your dog should not be limited to public places. Since infected dog feces can contaminate the ground for many years, it is worth giving some thought as to whether it is likely that a child (or adult) will get infected if you leave the dog mess where it lies (say, in a wooded, or off-the-beaten-track area).
The third rule is to make sure you wash your hands well and follow common sense hygiene. This not only applies to dog-owners with their own hygiene, but also to parents of children by teaching their child not to eat dirt. This should also include being proactive in teaching them to regularly wash their hands. There are many specialist gels on the market that allow hands to be washed where there are no hand washing facilities, thus helping prevent the spread of these diseases.