The Unseen Hazards of Dog Poop
How regular poop scooping can prevent illness and disease in your home.
Scooping dog poop is an ongoing chore as a dog owner, but did you know that just one-quarter gram of dog poo contains 23 million fecal coliform bacteria?! If your yard isn’t scooped regularly it may be a theme park for bacteria and parasites that can spread disease to your dog and your family. One of the biggest misconceptions is that dried dog poop is less hazardous, but in fact, the biggest risk comes from poo that has been sitting for a long time.
Negative Impacts on Dogs
The fecal coliform bacteria found in dog poo can make your dog sick and cause disease or illness. Harmful bacteria from unattended dog poop can be transferred to other dogs or other pets, and your dog can come in contact with hookworms, whipworms, roundworms and giardiasis that may be hiding in fecal matter. Your dog could even be at risk of Parvo just from sniffing or licking feces with the virus. Even if you only have one dog, they may continue to reinfect themselves once recovered if the contaminated poo is still in their environment.
Negative Impacts on People
The fecal coliform bacteria found in dog poo can also negatively impact humans. When someone comes in contact with this bacteria it can illness such as cramps, dehydration, diarrhea, intestinal illness, or kidney disorders, and in severe cases, it can even cause blindness. Anyone who loves walking barefoot in their yard, or has children who play in their yard, will appreciate the value of keeping that environment free of bacteria and parasites.
Negative Impacts on the Environment
The bacteria in dog poo can pollute water sources, such as local lakes and creeks, and fecal coliform bacteria pollution of water can be harmful to fish habitats. Dog poo is one of the highest contributors to contaminated water, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that when dog poo is left on the ground it can encourage algae growth in waterways. This growth causes oxygen levels in the water to decrease which can cause sickness and even death in sea life.
Seasonal Hazards
No matter the time of year, you need to be regularly cleaning up your doggy’s doo-doo. It may seem more important in the summer to keep your yard clean when you’re most likely to be enjoying your outdoor space, but dog poo does not dissolve in snow, as much as it might be camouflaged by it. Just as it does not dissolve in the muck and mud that comes with the snowmelt and rainfall of Spring. Despite seasonal changes, the collection and disposal of dog poo must be done year-round.
How to Prevent Harmful Bacteria from Dog Poo
Regular scooping is the best way to manage dog waste, and therefore avoid any build-up of dangerous or unhealthy bacteria. At Poo Worx, we offer weekly and one-time scooping services. We’re here to clean up after your dog and make sure your lawn is a healthy place for your family to enjoy ALL YEAR ROUND. We pick up your dog's poo so you don’t have to! We also offer chemical-free yard disinfection and sanitation, it is a good practice to disinfect your yard every 6 months. By using chemical-free disinfectants to kill the bacteria, we ensure that any ageing dog waste does not become a serious health issue. Click here to learn more!