How bad is it for dogs to eat chicken poop?

[Ladies-Eight]

@dawg53 is correct, dogs *cannot* get worms from chickens, but they can some types of worms from eating poop from other animals I think.

http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2612&Itemid=2928
Internal parasites (endoparasites, worms, helminths)

Predilection sites are indicated in braquets.
Gastrointestinal roundworms (nematodes)

• Ancylostoma spp. HHH-FFF-CC. Hookworms. (Small intestine and larva migrans). A serious threat for dogs. Worldwide, with different regional incidence for the various species.
• Baylisascaris procyonis. H-F .The raccoon roundworm. (Small intestine and larva migrans). Not a major threat. Only in endemic regions with abundant raccoons.
• Capillaria hepatica. H-F Hairworms. (Liver). Not a major problem. Worldwide, but with different regional incidence.
• Gnathostoma spinigerum. HH-F (Stomach and larva migrans). Usually a secondary problem in some endemic hot and humid regions.
• Gongylonema spp. H-F (Esophagus and stomach). Not a major threat for dogs. Worldwide, but only regionally relevant.
• Physaloptera spp. H-F (Stomach and small intestine). Usually a minor problem in endemic regions.
• Spirocerca lupi. HHH-F (Esophagus). Can be a serious threat for dogs in endemic zones, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions.
• Strongyloides spp. HHH-F-CC Threadworms, pinworms. (Small intestine and larva migrans). A serious threat for dogs, worldwide but especially in warm and humid rergions.
• Toxascaris leonina. H-FF (Small intestine). Usually a minor problem, worldwide.
• Toxocara canis. HHHHH-FFFF-CCC The dog roundworm. (Small intestine and larva migrans). One of themost serious threats for dogs, especially for puppies. Worldwide and very frequent everywhere.
• Trichuris spp. HH-FF Whipworms. (Large intestine and larva migrans). Not the major problem worldwide, but occasionally serious.
• Uncinaria stenocephala. HH-FFF-CC The fox hookworm. (Small intestine and larva migrans). A significant threat worldwide, but usually less serious than other hookworms (e.g. Ancylostoma spp).

Respiratory roundworms (nematodes)

• Crenosoma vulpis. H-F. The fox lungworm. (Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles). Usually a minor problem in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Eucoleus spp. (=Capillaria spp). H-F. Hairworms, nasal worms. (Nasal cavities). Usually a minor issue. Worldwide, but with different regional incidence.
• Metastrongylus elongatus (=M. apri). H-F. (Bronchi, bronchioles). Very occasionally in dogs.

Roundworms (nematodes) in the eyes, skin, heart and other organs

• Angiostrongylus vasorum. HHH-FF. The French heartworm. (Lung arteries, occasionally heart). A serious threat for dogs, mainly in endemic zones in Europe.
• Dioctophyma renale. HH-F. The giant kidney worm. (Kidneys). Can be a significant problem in endemic zones.
• Dirofilaria spp. HHHHH-FFFF. Dog Heartworms. (Lung arteries, occasionally heart). A very serious threat for dogs. Worldwide, but especially in tropical and subtropical regions with abundant mosquitoes.
• Onchocerca lupi . H-F. (Eyes). Occasional problem in endemic regions.
• Pearsonema spp (= Capillaria spp). H-F. Hairworms, bladder worms. (Bladder). usually a minor problem. Worldwide, with varying regional incidence.
• Thelazia spp. H-F. Eyeworms (Eyes). Occasional problem in dogs. Worldwide but with endemic distribution.
• Trichinella spp. H-FF. (Muscle, small intestine). A minor health problem for dogs. Worldwide, but only in endemic zones, mainly in rural regions.

Flukes (trematodes, flatworms)

• Alaria spp. H-F. (Small intestine). Usually a minor issued for dogs. Worldwide, but only in endemic regions.
• Dicrocoelium spp. H-F. Lancet flukes. (Bile ducts and gall bladder). An occasional problem for dogs. Worldwide.
• Fasciola hepatica. HH-F. The common liver fluke. (Biliary ducts and gallbladder). Mostly an uncommon and not very threatening problem for dogs. Worldwide, but mainly in rural regions.
• Heterobilharzia americana. HH-F. The dog Schistosome. (Mesenteric veins). An occasional problem in North America.
• Opisthorchis felineus. H-F. The cat liver fluke. (Hepatic and biliary ducts). Very occasionally found in dogs. Worldwide but only in endemic regions.

Tapeworms (cestodes)

• Dipylidium caninum. H-FFFFF-CCC. The flea tapeworm. (Small intestine). Usually not seriously harmful for dogs. But very frequent worldwide.
• Echinococcus granulosus. H-FF-CCC. The hydatid worm. (In dogs, small intestine). Rather benign for dogs, but a serious threat for livestock and humans. Worldwide but mainly in rural zones of less developed regions.
• Echinococcus multilocularis. H-F-CCC. The small fox tapeworm. (In dogs, small intestine). Rather benign for dogs, but a serious threat for livestock and humans. Worldwide but not very frequent.
• Mesocestoides spp. HH-F. (Small intestine). Usually not a serious threat for dogs. Worldwide, but not very frequent.
• Taenia spp. H-FFFFF. (In dogs, small intestine). Usually not seriously harmful for dogs, but a significant problem for livestock (cysticercosis). Quite frequent worldwide.

Other

• Linguatula serrata. H-F. Tongue worms. (Nasal cavities and pharynx). Usually a minor problem. Worldwide but rather occasional in tropical regions.

This is very educational and I appreciate your time and effort to put it out there for us.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Update my dog was not sick from chicken poo! Turns out she had a tick illness. Thanks for sharing the information about worms!

I think that is very important to know!

 

[casportpony]

Update my dog was not sick from chicken poo! Turns out she had a tick illness. Thanks for sharing the information about worms!

I think that is very important to know!

Thanks for the update! How is your dog doing?

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Thanks for the update! How is your dog doing?

She is good as new after a few doses of antibiotics. I am glad I took her in.
They did a blood test and in 8 minutes they knew she had anaplasmosis - a tick illness.
FYI my husband had the same thing and it took 3 weeks for antibodies to to test positive.
My husband said next time he will go to the vet for his bloodwork!

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Thanks for the update! How is your dog doing?

She is healthy!

 

[Cardwellpet]

We have a dog she is not even 2 years old she likes to eat chicken poop duck poop and cat poop. We can feed her dog food but she will still go to the trash can and will eat a tips napkins we blow our noise on. She scoots her but on the floor and kibbles or bits on her butt and bottom. Why?

 

[WsG]

We have had an issue or two with two of our dogs getting sick... wobbling, not being able to stand, etc. They eat all kinds of stuff in the yard, so we really have no way of pinpointing any specific thing. I just want to know if chicken poo, one of the things im sure they eat, is toxic, and if so, just how toxic.

Thanks,

My dog has a grand mall epileptic fit (vet confirmed) the day after he eats chicken droppings.
Took us several months to filter out what was causing it.
Now he has NO access to the chickens and has not fitted.
Beware dogs eating chicken / bird droppings. It is dangerous for some dogs.

 

[oakhavenmama]

As a habit, I don't think dogs eating chicken poop is a good thing. I fenced my chickens off so my dogs can't get to their poop.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

As a habit, I don't think dogs eating chicken poop is a good thing. I fenced my chickens off so my dogs can't get to their poop.

Probably not, but sometimes they get into stuff. Duck poo or chicken poo.. do the best you can.

 

[oakhavenmama]

Probably not, but sometimes they get into stuff. Duck poo or chicken poo.. do the best you can.

Agreed. A healthy dog can do ok but I had a sick dog and that’s all she wanted to eat, which is why I fenced them off. She’s better now but I also cook homemade meals for her, etc. Yes everyone just do the best you can unless you need to do more. Then you can. Or not! It’s all our choices.