Vet experts reveal the reasons why owners should not flush their pets' poop down the toilet.
On TikTok, a vet, a famous content creator, shares a tip for animal care, leaving numerous people shocked after revealing the reason why the owner should not flush your pet's poo down the toilet.
In the video, Ben, who is known as a vet expert, displays a section of a weabsite's information section and explains: 'This is the FAQ section of the Anglican Water website.'
In the video, the experts were seen reading the site and explaining why owners should not flush their pet's poop down the toilet.
Ben explained that pet poop contains the presence of toxocara, known as a worm parasite, in animal feces.
He continued to explain that the presence of the toxocara is a cause for concern because it's zoonotic. According to Ben, toxocara can survive high temperatures and harsh conditions when the wastewater treatment system uses water
The presence of toxocara can pose a threat to human health.
In the video, Ben continued to leave numerous viewers stunned after explaining that toxocara not only spreads pathogens from humans to animals but also makes children particularly susceptible, as humans are the main 'intermediate host' for toxocara.
He added that toxocara can develop into adult worms in their tissues.
In the video, he explained, we 'accidentally swallow the eggs [from the animal poo particles], which hatch into larvae and these move around inside our bodies'.
The vet continued: 'There's also evidence that exposure to toxocara in childhood can reduce cognitive development and IQ.'
In the comments, the owner felt mixed emotions after Ben explained that shocking truth.
In the comment section, numerous pet owners admitted that they don't flush their pets' poop down the toilet due to the convenience and cost-effectiveness of toilet paper, while others expressed shock after learning that some people do it regularly.
One person said: I guess I have never thought of flushing animal poo down the toilet. I always throw it in the garbage.
A second wrote: If your pet is wormed and/or you're on septic, you will be absolutely fine to flush!!
While a third commented: I used to look after a dog, and they told me when he pooped in the garden to pick it up with toilet roll and flush it down their downstairs loo. You can bet I bagged and binned the lot.
Someone else said: My dog uses our toilet. Although she's not got much choice, as I've become quite accustomed to using her litter tray in recent times.
In short, flushing pet poop into the toilet leads to harmful bacteria and parasites entering water systems, posing risks to human health and environmental water quality.
Additionally, vet experts recommend using environmentally friendly alternatives for disposing of pet waste. Biodegradable bags contribute to landfill disposal and composting.
