Our head vet Hamish definitely drew the short straw to illustrate National Pet Month’s top tip number 5 for responsible pet ownership!
Clean up after your pet and worm it regularly
There are two very good reasons why we should be bagging up and binning our dog’s mess:
1) Dog mess is anti-social and unpleasant
2) It carries a serious health risk
If a dog has roundworm, eggs or larvae emitted when the dog fouls can lead to Toxocariasis in people if ingested. As well as becoming seriously ill, the larvae can cause blindness. It usually affects young children as they are more likely to explore and are less likely to wash their hands thoroughly, but anyone can contract Toxocariasis and there are cases reported every year.
Cats can carry roundworm too (be aware when cleaning out litter trays or gardening) so it’s very important to worm both cats and dogs regularly according to veterinary recommendations to keep you and your pets safe.
Did you know…
You can be given an on-the-spot fine if you don’t clean up after your dog. The amount varies from council to council. It’s often £50 but can be as much as £80. If you refuse to pay the fine, you can be taken to court and fined up to £1,000. (Source: www.gov.uk)