Health tips to keep your new baby healthy!

From the Companion Animal Parasite Council.

Aren?t babies wonderful?! They?re the embodiment of your hopes and dreams and so full of wonder and curiosity. But the explorations and investigations of young children can bring some unexpected exposures to dangers you may not see. These risks are completely avoidable in most cases.

While you are pregnant:

During pregnancy Toxoplasmosis presents an uncommon but serious risk to your pregnancy. Some simple steps can be taken to eliminate the risk. Be sure meats you eat are properly cooked. Do not choose this time to introduce a kitten into your home. Avoid contact with cat litter boxes if possible. Wash produce before consuming and wash your hands after working in the garden.

Infants, toddlers and pets:

In addition to the concerns you might have about Toxoplasmosis impacting your pregnancy, there are some parasites of animals that can directly impact young children and adults alike. You may already have a pet in your family. You may be considering adding a pet in the future ? after all kids and pets just go together. But even if you choose not to have a puppy or kitten in your home, your baby will almost surely come in contact with dogs and cats. Animals add so much to life. However, there are some precautions you can take to protect your family and particularly your young children from diseases that can pass from animals to humans, including some of the easiest-to-prevent parasites. Check the list below for 10 quick steps you can take now.

  1. Wash your hands well after any exposure to soil (gardening), sandboxes and raw meat.
  2. Eat only well-cooked meat.
  3. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables to eliminate contamination.
  4. Have a spouse, partner or friend change the litter box. If changing the litter is unavoidable, change it daily. Be certain to wash hands well after changing the litter.
  5. Supervise infants sitting on the ground or on the floor. Do not allow them to eat dirt or food that has fallen.
  6. Pick up dog and cat feces from the yard daily.
  7. Cover sandboxes and play areas to prevent wildlife and strays from contaminating these areas.
  8. Take your pet to the veterinarian regularly and have your pet tested for parasites at least yearly.
  9. Deworm your cat or dog per your veterinarian?s recommendations.
  10. Administer year-round products to help control Toxocara infections and other products as directed by your veterinarian to control other parasites.

Making sure your pet is on a year-round parasite control program is good health care for your pet and your family. Also, be sure your pet receives regular checkups from your veterinarian and is treated for any external and internal parasites that might be present. Soon your infant will be an exploring toddler. Be certain that pet feces are picked up outdoors at least daily and that any play areas and sandboxes are covered to prevent animals from soiling them. Parasites carried by wildlife can be particularly concerning, so do not feed wildlife and do not allow children to play in areas frequented by wildlife.

Toxocara (a type of roundworm) is a zoonotic parasite that can be acquired from soil contaminated with the feces of cats and dogs. It is of little concern during pregnancy but does pose a potential risk to infants and small children. Roundworm eggs are extremely hardy and remain in the environment (e.g., dirt, sandboxes) for a long time. Young children are particularly vulnerable to exposure and infection because they are more likely to put dirt, contaminated food or other objects into their mouths.

Pets greatly enhance our lives. However, precautions for preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases are necessary, particularly when small children are involved. Do not allow children to put foreign objects from the ground in their mouth, and always wash children?s hands and your own after playing with pets.

Though the risk of these diseases affecting your baby is low, any danger can be further minimized with a few simple measures.


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