04/30/2025
🚨 Toxic Hammerhead Worms Spotted in Ontario! 🪱
What pet owners (and garden lovers!) need to know 👇
Hammerhead worms — alien-looking flatworms with a distinctive shovel-shaped head — have been recently spotted in parts of Ontario. They may look fascinating, but these worms are highly toxic and dangerous to pets, wildlife, and even humans!
⚠️ Why They’re a Threat:
They release a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin (yes, the same as pufferfish!).
This can cause illness if touched or ingested by pets or children.
They prey on beneficial earthworms and disrupt local ecosystems.
🐾 Pet Safety Tips:
Don’t let pets sniff or eat unknown worms in the garden or on walks.
Wear gloves if you need to remove one — never touch it with bare hands!
Dispose by sealing in a bag with salt, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol.
📍 If you think your pet may have come in contact with one, call us ASAP.
Stay informed. Stay safe. Let’s keep our furry friends out of harm’s way 💚
📍 Cornwall Animal Hospital — Oakville, ON
📞 (905)842-8800
🌐 www.cornwallvet.com
