The Scoop on Poop

An important article you never thought you'd want to read.

You are probably thinking that I have lost my mind to write about pet poop. But alas, I am very sane. This is not the first time I've written about this subject. I first wrote about this way back in 2006 and to my surprise, people liked what I had to say and found it worthwhile, so I thought I'd put my thoughts about the scoop on poop here - in my little pet sitting blog in cyberspace.

Knowing the scoop on your pet's poop is important when you are a pet owner, or a pet sitter, because a pet's excrement can tell you some things about their health.

The next time you take out your dog, or if you are a pet sitter, the next time you take out your clients' dogs for a walk, take a good look at what comes out of them and their behavior while they are doing their business. The next time you see the cat head into the litter box, take some time to observe their bathroom habits too.

Here are a few things to watch for:

Is your pet straining and pushing and constipated?

Is your pet straining like crazy with nothing coming out at all?

Is your pet bloated?

Is the poop hard, mushy, or firm?

Does the poop come out in tiny marble forms?

Does your pet have diarrhea?

Is your pet whining or look distressed?

What color is the poop?

Is there blood in the poop?

Does only a little poop come out, or more than what is normal?

Pay attention to the color of the poop on a regular, healthy day, so you can know the difference if / when the pet becomes ill.

Be aware of how many times a day your pet poops and ask your vet how many times a day is normal. Knowing this simple information can help you watch over your pet's health.

I'm of the opinion that cats should be solely indoor cats and one reason I believe that is because when they are allowed outside day after day, an owner usually doesn't see the cat's bathroom habits and what their poop looks like. A cat can have some serious issues but the owner can be unaware until it has gone too far and gotten really serious.

Do some good internet research or get a good book on the subject of the health of the type of pet you have, or you are caring for if you are a pet sitter. Talk to your vet and bring it up if he/she hasn't. Ask questions.

Knowledge of all aspects of a pet's health - physical and psychological - will help you keep your pet healthy and happy.

And that's the scoop on poop!!

Sit Happens

Thanks for reading my blog!