With the utmost certainty, I assure you if the neighbors in our apartment building had ever heard the conversations in our house, they would have been horrified and moved on. That’s because most of the time, my partner and I talk about dog poop.
Our Labradors, Daisy and Jackson, have a manure problem. It makes city living in our no-backyard Boston neighborhood a challenge. When one of us returned from a walk with the dogs, the post-walk interrogation began: “Does Daisy eat poop? Why don’t you watch her more closely? Did Jackson poop? You know he hates pooping in that park! ”
Picky Thieves
For Jackson, the wind, barometric pressure, and temperature needed to be just right for him to poop. He also requires the perfect bush. When he found this precious shrub, he backed up his car right away and defecated. Sometimes his deposits fall on different branches, decorating them like Christmas tree decorations. When I picked it up with a baggie, I couldn’t shake my limbs or fall into my arms.
Why are some dogs so picky?
“Aren’t we all a little special about where we go to the bathroom? Veterinary behaviorist Lisa Radosta from the Florida Veterinary Behavior Authority said.
Canines have various reasons to be picky. “Some dogs have been taught by their human parents, sometimes unintentionally, to remove in one area or on a surface,” says Dr. Radosta. “If a dog lives in a house with a yard and is always exterminating in the grass, getting that dog to eradicate on concrete or rock can be a challenge.”
Dr. Radosta suspects that Jackson is scared when he’s outside. She said: “Frightened dogs are often hyperactive, surveying the environment. “It’s hard to be vulnerable and stable to find a good path when you →
Always looking for the monsters behind the next house. He can back into the bushes because that seems safer.”
What’s interesting is that before we adopted Jackson, he was lost in the countryside and likely took precautions to stay alive.
For some pups, being picky can be a turf battle. “Dogs can use urine and feces to mark territory,” says Dr. Megan Maxwell. “You might see a dog looking for an elevated spot to poop or a place where the wind can carry the scent.”
Eat Poop
While Jackson’s pooping is mysterious, Daisy suffers from seasonal synthesis disorder. In winter, she devours frozen dog waste and faeces left behind by her irresponsible owners. Anorexia – muscle spasms – is terrifying to humans, but experts say it’s common.
“This is normal dog behavior,” says Dr. Radosta. “The mother dog eats the droppings of the puppies to keep the burrow clean. Dogs can learn to eat poop through casual probing. Dogs can certainly lack proper nutrition or have an underlying systemic illness, which can also contribute. ”
Dr. Radosta adds that feces containing undigested food can have a pleasing odor to dogs. My guess is that Daisy, who eats almost anything, might think, “Oh, the scent! I need to eat this quickly before my mom flips it over! ”
Is this normal?
Cori Johnson certainly can’t get into those social media games where people are asked to post a third picture in their phone because most likely her photo is a bunch of doggie dooes.
The former nurse volunteers to join an animal rescue and uses her medical skills to support their concerns. Cori’s phone is filled with pictures and text that reads like: “Do you look normal?”
“Some dogs come out of shelters right away,” Cori said. “They don’t always have the best nutrition or care. The pictures are revealing.”
Board-certified veterinary nutritionist Lindsey Bullen of VetScoop.com says her inbox is also flooded with photos of poop, and she’s happy. “Poop is a window to the soul within. It tells us a lot about the body.”
So what is normal? “We want the poop to be formed and shaped like a log,” says Dr. Bullen. “When you pick it up, it won’t break. It shouldn’t smear, but it shouldn’t dry out. “
If your puppy’s poop changes shape, smells worse than usual, or turns a different color, it could signal a problem. If a dog walks more or less often, take note.
“You are your pet expert,” explains Dr. Bullen. “You know what their poop looks like. You know what it used to smell like. You know it’s easy or hard to choose it. Any change could warrant an investigation.”
Stool problems
Anything out of the norm deserves medical advice.
“Calling your vet is never wrong. I want to stress the importance of finding a vet pet that parents feel comfortable talking about pooping or sending photos of,” says Dr.
Your veterinarian can conduct tests to find the cause of the poop problem. But don’t wait for the predicament; Regular checkups, stool tests, and heartworm prevention with a dewormer are important to keeping your dog healthy.
Problem Solving: The Behavioral Challenge
The solution to doo dinner dogs and weird poopers? If dogs with joint pain don’t have a medical problem, shovel the backyard poop immediately, so there’s nothing to eat. And work on training.
“Teach the dog a signal to stay calm,” says Dr. Radosta. “When you see your dog moving toward the crate, ask him to ‘Let him go’ and when he comes back to you, reward him with a treat each time.”
Dr. Maxwell also suggests positive reinforcement for picky eaters like Jackson. She said: “You can take him for a walk in more open spaces, let him get used to being on the grass. “Bring the food, and as soon as he finishes the game on a flat surface, give him a cheerful compliment and enjoy a treat.”
Veterinarians, behaviorists, and certified trainers are great resources for pet parents worried – or even arguing – about their dog’s poop habits.
If your puppy’s poop changes shape, smells worse than usual, or turns a different color, it could signal a problem. If a dog walks more or less often, be aware as well.
Fecal variation
Manure problems can have many causes, which is why dog lovers have to become manure cops.
Causes include:
- stress
- stomach bug
- allergy
- diet
It could be a sign of:
- pancreatitis
- parasites
- poison
- vitamin deficiency
- gastrointestinal disease
- cancer
If a dog is stressed or poops less often, it could be:
Manure cleanup just got a whole lot easier with today’s manure products. Here are just a few:
Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain and Odour Eliminator $15.49; ruminant.com
Original Poop Bag: Peanut Coil and Bio-Based Peanut Dispenser USDA $4.99/60 bags and $4.99/dispenser; poopbag.com. * part of the company’s You Buy, We Donate program, which helps pet shelters, dog parks and animals in need.
