Meera Pal is a Northern California-based writer with a background in journalism and books. She covers pets, real estate, tech, and everything in between. You can follow her on Twitter @Meerakat ...

Have you ever been out on a walk, and as you take that next step, you feel the slippery squish of poop under your foot? It’s not just gross. Beyond the mess and the smell, it’s potentially infectious.

That’s a lot of dogs and a lot of poop, which explains why we need a week to remind us about such a stinky subject and why picking up the mess is important. Many fatal disease‑causing bacteria and ...

You can wash your hands with soap and water to prevent the parasite Giardia from spreading. Do not swallow water from pools, lakes, or rivers to avoid Giardia infection. Giardia can spread for weeks ...

Along with ticks, fleas and heartworm, there’s another parasitic organism that can cause a host of problems for dogs. Giardia (also known as giardiasis) is an intestinal infection caused by a parasite ...