If you own a dog, you know what goes into dealing with its poop. Not becomingly, you know a stinky pile of dog poop immediately needs picking up before it becomes an eyesore for neighbors.
In the United States, there are more than 89 million dogs[1] and an average dog deposits ¾ pounds of poop every day; that makes up nearly 66 million pounds of pet waste each day!
If left unattended, that is a dangerously large pile of dog poop!
Dangers of Dog Poop to the Environment
In 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, placed dog poop in the category of “dangerous environmental pollutant,” where it shares its spot with toxic chemicals and pesticides.
While it may be a shock to some, an estimated 40% of dog owners do not pick up after their pet. This waste accumulates over time and gets washed away during rainstorms, polluting the waterways! To put this into perspective, if 100 dogs go to the bathroom and their waste is not picked up over the course of 2 to 3 days, enough bacteria would be generated to close bodies of waters, such as bays, within a 20-mile radius.[2] WOW!
Which Bacteria and Parasites May Be Contracted by Humans?
Apart from being unsightly, dog poop carries numerous harmful bacteria which pose severe risks to human health. So, if you ask yourself, “Is dog poop dangerous?” it sure is!
Dog waste is a source of many fatal disease-causing bacteria and parasites. Only one gram of doggie waste contains about 23 million fecal bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control reports that these bacteria can be transmitted to humans, especially small children.
Your pets feces may include the likes of:
- Salmonella
- E. coli
- Giardia
- Parvo Virus
- Tapeworms
- Roundworms
- Campylobacteriosis
- Hookworms
- Echinococcus
- Corona
Is Dog Poop Dangerous?
If infected with any of the above-stated elements, symptoms may range from rashes to fever, diarrhea, liver damage, vomiting, or nervous system breakdown. CDC data shows that 14% of Americans are infected by roundworms, and this is alarming!
Campylobacter is another danger of dog poop that can cause gastrointestinal issues in the adults and life-threatening conditions in infants and adults with weak immunity.
Pesky parasites like Giardia attack the digestive system, and hookworm larvae cause skin infections.
What’s the Remedy?
A proactive approach of picking up immediately after your pet can help in averting the dangers of dog poop. It should be removed from your lawns every 1-7 days depending on the number of dogs in a household. Larger pooches need frequent cleanups, as their waste is usually larger and more abundant.
If you are too busy to scoop the poop on your own or you don’t want to deal with your pet’s waste, call the experts at POOP 911. Our professionals clean up the pet waste as often as you would like and haul it away from your property. You won’t even know they are there!
References
[1] https://www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp
