Be a Responsible Dog Owner.

I'm sure we all know that the poop fairy doesn't exist. So why do some dog owners feel it's acceptable to leave their dogs poo for someone else to either clear up or tread in? It takes a second to do and is your responsibility if you want to own a dog. A toddler in Britain named Aimee became news across the country as she had fallen in dog mess and lost partial sight in her eye from suffering from toxocariasis. Keep Britain tidy then started to use the image of a fairy carrying a poop bag on billboards, phone boxes and bus stops across the country.

So What is Toxocariasis?

Toxocariasis (or visceral larva migrans) is a condition when the common parasites of dogs and cats infect the human system. It is the larvae of parasitic worms, that live in the intestines of dogs and cats. A lot of the time it can go undiagnosed and doesn't cause problems, but if it does the eyes may become affected. The warning signs are, skin becoming swollen around the eyes, vision decreasing or a cross-eyed appearance. If toxocariasis is left it can go on to cause vision problems and retinal damage. Sometimes the symptoms don't show, but if they do, they can appear as a fever, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, swollen glands , coughing or wheezing, enlarged spleen or liver and a rash that can look similar to hives. Children especially at risk are those who are under ten, don't wash their hands, like to put things in their mouths, or those whose families have pets. After entering the body, the eggs hatch into larvae that penetrate through walls of the digestive tract and may move to a child's liver, lungs, eyes, and elsewhere. Experts in the United States estimate that about 20% of dogs pass Toxocara eggs into their stool. In Great Britain, 24% of soil samples taken from public parks contained the eggs. Toxocariasis isn't contagious and so can't be passed from person to person.

How to Stop Children From Being Exposed to Toxocariasis:

The best way to prevent children from catching toxocariasis is to have your pet regularly de wormed at the vets, especially puppies up to six months old. Get kids used to washing their hands when they've been playing with animals and their individual pets. Also make sure children understand that a dog or cats play area is not for them and vice versa with kids sand boxes. Ensure that you frequently wash your toddlers hands and discourage them from putting their hands in their mouths. Another tip is to carry wipes and anti bacterial gel with you if you're at the park with your pet.

The eggs of the toxocara worm take up to two weeks to hatch and become active, so there are no health risks to you from immediately clearing up after your dog as long as you use sensible hygiene precautions.

So, in short, if you own a dog, be aware of how dangerous it can be for a child to fall into the dog mess you can't be bothered to pick up!

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