Dog Waste Facts

Dog waste facts every pet family should know to stay safe and healthy. Believe it or not, dog waste can take a year to fully decompose, leaving your lawn brown and patchy. But regular dog poop cleaning can turn it around in just a matter weeks. Keep your lawn looking great with our tips on how to prevent dog urine from killing grass in your yard.

This dog waste fact is… dog poop is NOT good for grass because it is not a fertilizer, like cow manure. Contrary to popular opinion not all poop is created equal. Dog’s have a high protein based diet that creates a very acidic excrement or waste product. Far more info than you ever wanted to know about your favorite furry friend’s business, right? But, it’s true. Cow manure is in fact good for vegetation because it in fact started out that way. Dog’s diets are very different. Most dog foods today are composed of beef, chicken and/or pork products. This creates a high acidic waste product that is not good for grass and can leave your back yard looking like, well, not looking like much of a yard at all.

One gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which can contaminate our waterways and cause illnesses in humans. Dogs are a very significant host of bacteria that is harmful to humans.

Until they learn to wash their paws (hey, at least the cat makes an effort) regular scooping can protect you from parvo, trichinosis, whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, giardia, coccidia, and other troublemakers.

Certain “pooper-scooper” laws require pet owners to remove dog waste on public and private property. This includes the neighbor’s yard, sidewalks, parks, schools, and — in some states — even your own backyard!