dog poo encounter ... AGH!!!

[Evita]

Not sure if this is the right discussion area. Just took my 14 month daughter to the park and she picked up a handful of vile green dog poo and squidged it in her hand and all over her coat before I could stop her. I'm furious as it's a tiny area of a playpark in the middle of an enormous park which has a massive sign saying 'no dogs'. But even if someone did have to take a dog into that little area you'd have thought they'd have the decency to clean up after themselves. All I had with me to wipe her was some baby wipes and it was all in her nails. I raced her home but she kept putting her fingers in her mouth and I couldn't completely stop her. I'm terrified this will do her some harm. What do you think?

[BadHair]

Evita, I think the main worry is eyes, as dog poo has some toxic stuff in it that is nasty to eyes. However, I don't think that at this stage there's much you can do, just keep an eye on her and visit your gp if she develops any rash or sore.
Don't worry too much, children are unbelievably resilient to all sorts of vile stuff, and as long as she's all cleaned up now I'm sure she'll be just fine.

[elena2]

Could you ring NHS Direct for advice, Evita?
Not much experience of this I'm afraid, but sounds vile.
There is a nasty thing you can pick up through cat poo isn't there, not sure about dog poo tho.

[norma]

dog poo can pass on worms if the dog was a puppy or hadn't been regularly 'wormed' by it's owner.
Your local vet may be quite informed on what dangers they may be for humans.

[Evita]

Think I may do a bit of internet research on it as I'm a bit worried still. She's got an awful cold at the moment and has had a lousy evening which I'm sure is to do with the cold rather than the poo but I am a bit paranoid about it. Trouble is, her dad's away as his dad's dying at the moment and I don't want to phone him with such a horrible story right now. Does anyone else hate it when their partner's are away? I get so afraid something will happen to me and my daughter will be just stranded in her cot. See what a worrier I am ...

[harman]

Message withdrawn

[FairyMum]

Awful. DS picked up some poo the other day too, but luckily he's passed the stage where he puts things in his mouth. I hope she will be okey. I think most kids eat a little poo once in a while and although totally disgusting most are fine. It's so vile! You can hardly take your child for a walk in the park for all the dog shit. I think irresponsible dog owners who were caught should be made to eat a massive portion of dog poo!

[tealady]

Just a thought Evita, but did it actually smell like dog poo? - sorry to be so graphic - but when you said it was green I immediately thought of those canadian geese that leave horrible green poo everywhere they go. Just hoping for your sake that it might be that, rather than dog poo as then maybe it is less likely to cause any problems. Try not to worry to much - I'm sure she will be ok.

[lyndsey66]

It really annoys me that people dont clean up their dogs poo. I have lost count of the number of times I have got dog poo on my buggy wheels. have you rung NHS Direct like elena2 suggested?
Went to the park the other day and there was broken glass under one of the swings. Starting to think of parks as hazadous areas!
I am sure your dd will be ok - but check it out to put your mind at rest. I know what you mean about when you are on your own. I always worry during the day incase something happens to me and my ds will either be stranded in his cot or left to roam the house! Hence why I have a 1000 stairgates! I think motherhood brings out all these protective fears - it is natural - you are not alone!

[miranda2]

Relieved I'm not the only one who worries about what would happen to ds if I died before anyone found me!! DH thinks I'm paranoid, but these things just all flit through your mind all the time once you have a child don't they? I'm sure thats behind the 'pregnancy brain' thing - its not that we've lost brain cells its just that 70% of them are fully engaged on background saftey checks the whole time!!
Sorry, irrelevant to original post.

[Evita]

FairyMum, I love your punishment idea for irresponsible dog owners! Yes, a dog poo sandwich and a huge fine too. It's absurd, this little area of the park the size of a tiny lounge is surrounded by black railings with a large gate which clearly says it's for children under 6 and no dogs are allowed.

miranda2, I worry like this all the time. I think it's something to do with realising how vitally important you are to another person's existence. My partner gets cross with me too and doesn't understand why I'm so worried. The first time he went away, I attached a beaker of water to my daughter's cot bars when i went to bed and also left a little pile of rice cakes at the end of the cot! Now I've got a friend to text me first thing in the morning and if I don't reply, to phone me, if still no reply get over here fast! It probably is absurdly paranoid but it helps me get to sleep at night. I literally can't bear the thought of my daughter being abandoned or alone.

[lyndsey66]

Evita - dont think you are paranoid at all - sounds really rational to me (but then we are all mothers arent we and I am sure paranoid comes with the teretory!)
I carry my mobile around with me ALWAYS - so that if something happens (say I fall through the stairs - my stairs scare me as they are very steep and creaky) then I will be able to phone for help!!
I thought what you said about attaching the drink an scattering the rice cakes was the sweetest thing! Your daughter is lucky to have a mum who cares so much.

[handlemecarefully]

Fairymum,

Your views are often a bit on the strong side for lily livered me(although always interesting!) - but must say I do agree with your rough justice idea of force feeding irresponsible dog owners a handful of poo

(and the mental picture has given me a good laugh!)