Pets and their excrement is a parasitic threat

The most common pets - cats and dogs - can be infected with parasites, which means they become a real threat to the infection of household members. It's not about the paranoid idea. Undoubtedly, communication of children with animals is emotionally important, but it is worth knowing about the possibility of infection and ways of solving this problem.

As studies have shown in European countries, about 30% of domestic cats and dogs are infected with parasites. At the same time, it turned out that 50% of owners of pets do not know that they can catch a disease from their pet, and 23% of respondents did not know that parasites are dangerous to health.

How can I get infected?

The probability of infection of eggs by parasites through feces is great. This can happen even with a normal walk. And it is not necessary to touch animals at the same time. After all, dog excrement, unfortunately, can often come across on the way of walking people. It would seem that it is enough not to touch the contaminated land with your hands. However, excrement is a biological material, the particles of which can easily be mixed with dust and settle on all sorts of objects.

Another point is that people have a close emotional relationship with pets. Communication is accompanied by constant physical contact: the owners pat the animals, they lick, bite, sleep with them side by side. No matter how embarrassed this topic, but the owners have to clean up feces for them on a daily basis. This may not even be so acutely perceived by a person, because when performing an unpleasant duty, he will take any steps to protect himself. Nevertheless, the peculiarity of making a toilet the same, at first glance, clean-cat, leads to the fact that cat feces fall on her body anywhere.

How to protect yourself from parasites?

First, it is necessary to observe a minimum of hygiene and veterinary requirements. According to the advice of European veterinarians, every three months, pets should be given antiparasitic drugs.

Secondly, when walking with dogs, you should avoid getting them into ponds with stagnant water. Again, touch on an unpleasant topic, but in such reservoirs from animals can get infected feces, this place will become very dangerous, as in the water the eggs of parasites can easily be saved.

Thirdly, the owners themselves must comply with hygiene requirements: remove their pets for a walk, do not lick their faces and always wash their hands after talking to the animal.

How do I know about parasite infection?

As for animals, in the event that antiparasitic prophylaxis has not been performed for a long time, it is necessary to observe the condition of the animals. Parasitic infection in the first place can affect the state of their gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea, vomiting, etc.). In case of doubt, it is important to contact the veterinarian.

As for people, here, in addition to the described symptoms, it is recommended to listen to their feelings: the appearance of gastric, headaches, loss of appetite, weakness, the presence in the stool of mucus, blood or even the parasites themselves. In either case, it is important to consult a doctor immediately for help.