A Calgary study is giving pet owners a new reason to pick up their dog waste.
Vets have commonly believed that due to Calgary’s cold weather, parasites weren’t a problem here.
However, research has shown that’s not the case. In fact, over 16 per cent of dogs and seven per cent of cats have parasites.
If their waste is left out for over a week, parasite eggs can hatch and that can put kids at risk if they come in contact
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“They can pick up round worms from dogs and cats and become quite sick. It can cause a flu-like illness. Most important, it can cause eye disease. In the United States about 100 children lose vision due to canine or feline roundworm,” says Dr. Danny Joffe, Centre Animal Hospital.
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To minimize the risk of a parasite infection, owners should regularly de-worm their pets and always clean up after them.
For more information on dog bylaws, visit the City of Calgary’s website.
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