Disposing of your pet's waste might be one of the biggest downsides of having a furry friend.
Many dread it, and some people like to cut corners with disposing of it - like flushing it down the toilet instead of putting it in the bin.
However, this could come back to haunt you.
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A vet has revealed exactly why you should not dispose of your pet's waste down the toilet, and the reason is quite disgusting.
Ben, a veterinary surgeon, made a TikTok explaining exactly why pet owners should steer clear of this method completely.
The UK-based medical expert begins explaining: "This is the FAQ section of the Anglican Water website."
In looking at whether you can flush dog or cat poo down the toilet, he says: "They say no, you cannot flush any type of animal faeces down the toilet."
The scientific reason behind this might be a bit gross to hear, but Ben continues, saying: "This is because of the presence of toxocara, a worm parasite in animal faeces, which is tolerant to the high temperatures and harsh conditions found in the final stage of processing used water.
“The reason toxocara is a worry is because it’s zoonotic, we can pick it up and children are particularly susceptible.”
Sounds lovely - you can watch the full TikTok below:
Unfortunately, humans are described as an 'immediate host' for the parasite, which can be passed through contact with animal faeces.
Not to worry though, 'we can't develop adult worms in our intestines, instead we accidentally swallow the eggs [through the poo particles] which hatch into larvae and these move around inside our bodies.'
Ben also says evidence supports links drawn between the parasite causing reduced IQ and cognitive development if caught during childhood.
However, the vet did go on to say it is 'thankfully rare' in the UK, and that worming your pet is the best way to prevent this from happening. So, we can all breath a (slight) sigh of relief.
In the comments, viewers felt mixed emotions at finding out about this shocking truth.
One user said: "why is this not more advised? ive been doing it for a year or more. since having one cat and then adding another and now a dog."
Another viewer revealed their relief at finding this out: "I used to send 'surprises' in the house down the toilet, but no more!"
A different user expressed their shock: "my cat's litter says 'flushable'.
It's handy information for pet owners to have, as I think we can agree that no-one wants a bunch of tiny worms swimming around in their bodies.
Joshua Nair