In response to increased levels of two diseases found in cattle and sheep which can be spread by dogs, new advice has been issued to dog walkers.
Neosporosis, which can cause abortions in cattle, and Sarcocytosis, which can cause neurological disease and death in sheep, have been linked to the presence on grazing land of dog faeces from infected dogs. Dogs can be infected without showing any symptoms and are most likely to pick up the disease by eating contaminated material, including raw meat, infected placentas or other material which the dog might find on farmland.
In the advice, which is endorsed by the Kennel Club and NFU, dog owners are being asked to pick up dog waste from farmland and to try and ensure their dogs do not eat contaminated material. The advice also urges farmers to clear away carcasses and other possible sources of infection from their land quickly and to use the same precautions for working dogs. Currently, the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 makes it an offence for dog walkers not to pick up dog waste in all public areas but grazing land is exempted. The new advice is now urging dog walkers to pick up dog waste on farmland as well.