The Scoop on Poop: Dog Waste Tips You Should Know About

Dog Waste

Though cleaning up your dog’s poop may not exactly be enjoyable, it’s still something you need to do as a responsible owner. It’s not just to keep public areas looking pretty, either. In fact, leaving dog waste around could result in serious health hazards for everybody in your community. Whether you’ve been picking up after your doggie pal for a while or are new to pet ownership, it’s a good idea to learn a bit more about the impact of dog waste and how to deal with it.

Don’t Leave Dog Waste in Public Areas

Dog Waste

Some pet owners mistakenly believe that it’s okay to leave dog poop around, thinking it can act as a natural fertilizer. However, dog waste is considered a pollutant that can damage soil and plants. To make matters worse, your trusty pal’s waste could contain bacteria like salmonella and E. Coli or nasty parasites like tapeworms. If it rains, any dog waste you’ve left behind will be washed into storm drains, which means it could end up in—you guessed it—your community’s local watershed, river, or stream. Yuck!

Always Bring a Poop Scoop or Bag

You never know when your dog needs “to go,” so remember to bring something to pick the droppings up with. Most owners bring dog waste bags for easy disposal, but if you have difficulties bending over, you could use a dog scoop instead. You might want to get a sturdy dog collar with a leash to train your dog to sit still while you’re dealing with their poop. Plus, you can attach a bag dispenser to the leash so that you always have enough bags on the go.

Dispose of Dog Poop in the Proper Place

Don’t throw filled bags into other people’s trash cans if you don’t want them to give you the stink eye. Remember: you might be bringing undesirable bacteria and parasites into their homes! As unpleasant as it is to carry it around, you should wait until you find a public disposal unit for dog waste.

Compost Dog Poop in Your Backyard

Dog Waste

You might think it’s enough to throw the waste into the trash as long as you use a biodegradable doggy bag. However, it will only end up in a landfill, where it won’t really decompose. One alternative is to compost your dog’s waste, as mentioned earlier. However, you’ll need a separate compost container for it, as its chemical makeup could kill rather than nurture your plants.

Flush Your Dog’s Poop Down the Toilet

The best way to dispose of dog poop is to flush it down the toilet, just like you would do with human poop! Unlike storm drains, any poop you flush down the toilet will be washed away to a wastewater treatment plant, where all of the nasty bacteria will be eliminated. Just keep in mind that you shouldn’t flush the waste with the bag unless you’re using an earth-friendly water-soluble one. Otherwise, you might have to deal with dog poop and a clogged drain.

Take Note of What Your Dog’s Poop Looks Like

The color and consistency of your dog’s waste can give you a clue about your pet’s health. Chocolate-colored feces in a firm brown log means they’re healthy, while black waste could mean they have bleeding in the stomach or small intestines. If your dog produces loose stool or tiny rock-like feces, immediately take your pet to the vet, as they may have a health condition such as constipation or infection.

Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll have a somewhat easier time picking up after your canine companion. Taking the time to scoop up their poop will not only make your community look cleaner, but it’ll also help save the environment, too. As an added bonus, your neighbors will thank you for never leaving undesirable surprises on the sidewalk!

Article Submitted By Community Writer

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