Skunks are known for their unique black-and-white look and their notorious spray. Aside from these features, they can also be harmful to your health by giving you roundworm infections. Roundworms are a type of parasitic worm that can live in skunks and their waste. These parasites can be harmful to people and animals’ health. This piece will talk about the risks of skunks and roundworm infections, as well as some important ways to avoid them.
The Link Between Skunks and Roundworms
Roundworms, especially the Baylisascaris procyonis species, can be spread by skunks. Skunks have these parasitic worms living in their guts, and the skunks shed their eggs in their poop. Then, these eggs can spread germs to the environment, putting other animals and people at risk who touch contaminated items, soil, or water.
Health Risks for People
People can get Baylisascaris infections, which are roundworm infections, when they eat or breathe in eggs from contaminated sources by mistake. Different infections are different in how bad they are, but they can all cause major health problems, such as:
- Visceral Larva Migrans: This disease happens when roundworm larvae move through the body’s organs, which can damage organs and cause severe symptoms.
- Ocular Larva Migrants: If the roundworm larvae move into the eye, it can make it hard to see or even make you go blind.
- Neural Larva Migrants: The larvae may sometimes get to the nervous system and cause neurological complaints.
Pet Safety Risks
It is also possible for pets like dogs and cats to get roundworm infections if they touch contaminated items, soil, or water. These are the risks for pets:
- Trouble with the intestines: Roundworm diseases in pets can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss.
- Visceral Larva Migrants: Just like our bodies, pets can have larvae move through their systems.
- Problems with the lungs: If dogs breathe in roundworm eggs, it can cause problems with their lungs.
Preventative Steps
For the safety of both people and pets, stopping roundworm diseases that are spread by skunks is very important. Here are some ways to keep this from happening:
- Don’t Touch Skunk Poop: If you come across skunk poop, stay away from it and follow good hygiene rules when cleaning up and throwing away trash.
- Properly Throw Away Waste: Properly throw away pet waste and wear gloves when handling it.
- Skunk-Proofing: To keep skunks from making dens under structures like decks, sheds, or porches, take steps to skunk-proof your land.
- Pet Hygiene: Make sure your dogs stay clean by deworming them regularly and taking them to the vet regularly.
- Education: Teach yourself and your family about the dangers of skunk poop and how important it is to stay away from it.
- Wildlife Control: If you think skunks are living on your land, you might want to hire a wildlife control service. They can get rid of skunks in a gentle and safe way, which lowers the risk of getting roundworms.
Right away action
If you think that you, your kids, or your pets have touched skunk poop or if you see signs of a roundworm infection, you should see a doctor right away or talk to a vet. Early detection and treatment can help keep health problems from getting worse.
In the end, skunks can carry roundworms that are bad for both people and animals’ health. Even though there aren’t many risks, roundworm diseases can have very bad effects. Keeping away from skunk poop, practising good cleanliness, and hiring professional wildlife control services are all things that can greatly lower the risk of getting roundworms. By learning about these risks and taking them seriously, you can keep your family and pets safe from the harm that skunks and roundworm infections can cause.
At Skunk Control Barrie, guarantees complete skunk removal using industry-standard methods that have been time-tested on numerous cases before and are approved by the federal and provincial governments.