Britain might be a nation of animal lovers, but it turns out there’s a surprising fact most pet owners won’t know about.
Whilst nearly everyone knows not to flush kitty litter down the loo, one vet has advised against deposing of cat and poop in the same way.
Though you might think he’s going over the top, there is a wild explanation behind his reasoning. Take a look below:
Ben, also known as @ben.the.vet on TikTok, has amassed a huge following on the app as he provided pet owners with useful tips and tricks.
Though the UK-based vet is used to going viral, his latest video might be one of his biggest gaining a staggering 412,500 views in just a few days.
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It’s unsurprising as in the short clip he revealed that cat and dog owners should never flush their animal poo as it contains harmful bacteria.
Sharing a letter from the local water company, Anglian Water, he revealed that these nasty bugs were even able to survive the high temperature of water processing plants.
Known as toxocara, this worm parasite is particularly worrying as it is zoonotic – meaning it can be transmitted to humans.
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Those who are especially vulnerable include people with health issues, such as weakened immune systems, pregnant women and little children. (Grim!)
If you weren’t grossed out enough, the vet revealed the reason why this happens.
“We don’t develop the adult worms in our intestines - but what happens is that we accidentally swallow the eggs (in poo particles) which hatch into larvae and these move around inside our bodies,” he told viewers.
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According to the pet expert, people who have been exposed to toxocara can also have an infection known as visceral larva migrans – caused by the larva moving around the internal organs.
“Another form is ocular lava migrans where the larvae move to the eye and cause damage to the retina, potentially leading to sight loss,” Ben warned.
“There’s also evidence that exposure to toxocara in childhood can reduce cognitive development and IQ.”
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Before you start putting your beloved pet up for adoption, please note that this is incredibly rare and can mostly be avoided with good pet care.
“But worming your dog or cat regularly will reduce the chance of them shedding these eggs. Don’t flush your dog or cat’s poo down the toilet,” he advised.
Hopefully, this new information won’t give you too much of a sinking feeling about your pet.
Katherine Sidnell