Although not a high risk, animals on a farm or in a zoo can carry some dangerous bacteria that if ingested, can cause serious illnesses in your toddler.
The best defence is good hygiene. If you are taking your child to a petting zoo or a farm, you must make sure that they properly wash their hands after coming in contact with the animals.
There is a chance that an animal will carry bacteria such as cryptosporidium or E. coli which can result in severe illness or can even result in death.
You shouldn’t let this scare you away from allowing your child the experience of interacting with such animals, but it is wise to be cautious. Here are a few tips:
When you visit a farm or petting zoo, check first to see where the washrooms are located so that you can take your child to wash their hands right away. Always have some sort of sanitizing cloths or sanitizing hand gel in your bag. If there is not a place to wash up after petting the animals, this will do until you can wash properly. Alcohol wipes or alcohol hand gel will also kill the majority of dangerous bacteria.
