To prevent cats and dogs from being infected with Toxoplasma gondii, we should start from the following aspects:
1. Diet management:
Feed cooked food: Provide commercial pet food or cooked homemade food for pets, and avoid feeding raw or undercooked meat, especially pork, mutton, beef and other meats that are easy to carry Toxoplasma gondii.
Drinking water cleaning: Provide clean drinking water to prevent pets from drinking potentially contaminated water sources.
2. Environmental cleanliness:
Regular cleaning: Clean the cat litter box regularly, at least once a day, to avoid long-term exposure of cat feces in the environment and reduce the hatching and spread of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts.
Use of gloves: Wear disposable gloves when cleaning the cat litter box, wash hands thoroughly after cleaning, and avoid direct contact with cat feces.
Disinfection: Disinfect the cat litter box and surrounding environment regularly, using pet-specific disinfectant or diluted bleach.
3. Outdoor control:
Restrict predation: Try to reduce pets from predating wild birds, small animals or coming into contact with potentially contaminated soil to prevent direct ingestion of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts. Leash for dog walking: Use a leash when walking your dog to prevent the dog from freely foraging outdoors or coming into contact with animal excrement that may carry Toxoplasma gondii.
4. Deworming and health care:
Regular deworming: According to the recommendations of veterinarians, deworm pets regularly, and use deworming drugs that are effective in preventing and treating Toxoplasma gondii, such as products containing ingredients such as milbemyxime and doramectin.
Immunization: Although there is currently no commercial vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii, some research is ongoing and a preventive vaccine may be available in the future.
5. Pregnancy management:
Pregnancy preparation examination: Pet owners who plan to become pregnant should have their pets tested for Toxoplasma gondii in advance to ensure that their pets are not infected before preparing for pregnancy.
Pregnant women's protection: Pregnant women should avoid direct contact with the cat litter box cleaning work. Let others do it for them or use automatic litter box cleaning.
6. New pet screening:
Pre-adoption inspection: Before adopting a new pet, you are required to provide or undergo a Toxoplasma test to ensure that the new pet is not infected before taking it home.
To sum up, preventing cats and dogs from being infected with Toxoplasma gondii requires comprehensive strategies from the aspects of dietary management, environmental cleaning, outdoor control, deworming and health care, pregnancy management, and new pet screening.Following the above recommendations can effectively reduce the risk of pets being infected with Toxoplasma gondii and protect the health of pets and family members.