It’s a fact of life—your puppy has to “go.” It’s up to you to know what’s normal for your dog and to provide suitable outlets for nature’s call.
Before we get into how to do your part for the environment, let’s review what different poop colors mean. Regular scooping means you can use your dog’s poop as a method for monitoring their health! Your dog’s poop should be a chocolate-brown color, formed and segmented. Other colors to know about include:
- Red: Usually, you’ll notice red streaks in the poop or red liquid on the poop. This means your puppy has blood in their poop that’s coming from their large intestine or anal region.
- Black: Black stools often mean there is bleeding in the stomach or small intestine.
- Yellow or green: The stool may be moving through the intestinal tract too quickly. These stools are often loose. Causes could include infection, liver diseases or issues with the gallbladder.
If you’re noticing abnormal poop colors, mucus, foreign material or parasites in the poop, contact your VCA care team.
So now that you know what to expect when picking up poop, how can you scoop poop in a way that minimizes your pup’s negative impact on the environment?
Being environmentally responsible is healthier for the planet, for us and for our pets. If you live on vast acres of land, the environmental impact of a single dog taking care of business may be insignificant, but if you live in an urban area with a small yard or no yard at all, it’s a different story. If you’re in a city where hundreds of dogs eliminate in a tiny green space, the environment really takes a hit.
Responsible dog owners know how to “scoop the poop” but may not be aware that their environmental responsibility doesn’t end there. Plastic waste disposal bags (both new and recycled) aren’t all biodegradable, which means these bags linger in landfills for years before decomposing. So even though your pup’s poop is organic matter, it can’t break down when sheathed in non-biodegradable plastic.
How can you take a green approach to dog poop? Here are a few ideas:
- Biodegradable waste disposal bags. There are many varieties on the market. Some bags are even compostable, but you shouldn’t use compost containing pet feces around edible fruit trees or vegetable plants.
- Newspaper. Using newspapers is a great alternative to plastic bags.
- Pooper scooper. Using a scooper eliminates the need for plastic bags—as well as the need to bend over to pick up poop with your hands. You can empty it directly into the trash stored outside.
- Septic system. Like a miniature septic tank, these use enzymes to break down waste.
Here are even more ways to make a greener home for your pet.
