Reasons It’s Harmful To Let Your Dog’s Waste Sit in the Yard
Jul 13, 2023
Some dog parents leave their pup’s waste in the yard. Maybe they don’t want to touch the poop because it’s gross. Perhaps they believe the doggy waste isn’t harming the lawn, so what’s the point? Well, this blog post will provide reasons it’s harmful to let your dog’s waste sit in the yard. It’s actually worse than you may think.
Leaves Diseases and Parasites Sitting in Your Yard
Your dog’s waste is full of parasites and diseases. What are some of these diseases and parasites? They include:
- Salmonella
- Giardiasis
- Parvo
- E-coli bacteria
- Tapeworm
- Campylobacter
- Ringworm
These diseases and parasites are harmful to humans, especially kids and pregnant women. Allowing your dog’s waste to sit in the yard exposes you and other family members to these parasites and diseases. It’s important to know that these harmful things will stay in the soil for years.
If you have artificial grass, this will ruin the turf. One of the tips for maintaining artificial grass is to clean up after your pet; otherwise, the germs will stick around and begin to smell. The diseases and parasites will sit there with nowhere to go.
Dog Waste Isn’t Fertilizing the Lawn
Many people believe the myth that dog poop is a fertilizer. It actually has the reverse effect. Your dog’s diet is high in protein, which causes excess phosphorus and nitrogen. This excess will burn a hole in your lawn and flower garden. It’s too acidic and will kill the grass and flowers around the waste.
Your dog’s waste can throw off the ecosystem’s balance. It’s not the same as cow manure, which contains a lot of plant matter. People can use cow waste as compost in fields and gardens. You can’t do the same with dog poop.
It Won’t Break Down on Its Own
No matter how hard it rains, your dog’s waste won’t break down or disappear. It can take up to a full year before dog waste completely disappears. Plus, when it rains, it moves the dog poop into the drainage system, contaminating rivers, streams, lakes, and other large bodies of water near you. In fact, dog waste is responsible for around 30 percent of the bacteria found in water systems. Think about that the next time you want to go swimming.
And now you understand why letting your dog’s waste sit in the yard is harmful. If you don’t have time to clean up the waste, hire a professional dog waste removal company. It’s one less thing you have to worry about as a pet owner.
Disclaimer: healthcareforpets.com and its team of veterinarians and clinicians do not endorse any products, services, or recommended advice. All advice presented by our veterinarians, clinicians, tools, resources, etc is not meant to replace a regular physical exam and consultation with your primary veterinarian or other clinicians. We always encourage you to seek medical advice from your regular veterinarian.
