Toxocara - The Facts

Dog fouling is a dirty subject!

Cleaning up after your dog is extremely important, not only is it unpleasant to look at; tread in or walk into your home, but it can cause illness and disease. Toxocara eggs are present in the faeces of dogs that are not regularly wormed or pregnant bitches or puppies.

You can catch Toxocariasis if you swallow toxocara eggs. Children and toddlers are at most risk as they often come into contact with soil or sand whilst playing, however adults can also catch toxocariasis.

When Toxocara eggs are swallowed they hatch in the intestine. The juvenile (not fully grown worms) burrow through the intestine wall into the bloodstream, which can then carry them to any part of the body.

Eventually the worms die. At the point where they die, small abscesses or granulomas (small masses of inflamed tissue) may develop. In some cases, fibrous tissue may build up around the worm, sealing it in.

Direct contact with dogs that have Toxocara worms cannot lead to infection, as Toxocara eggs need to mature in soil for several weeks before they are able to infect humans.

Therefore it is very important for dog owners to ensure that their dogs are regularly wormed and that they clean up after their dogs’ as soon as possible, using poop scoops or plastic bags and dispose of the dog faeces in the dog fouling bins that are located throughout the district or in their non-recyclable bins at home.

Remember, it is an offence not to clean up after your dog under the Dog Control Orders made by Rochford District Council using the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 and any person/s found not to clean up after a dog that they are responsible for can receive a fine of up to £1,000, even if they are not the owner of the dog.

Rochford District Council is committed to educating dog owners and enforcing the law where appropriate.

Please clean up after your dog.

It should be noted that Toxocara eggs are also present in cats.