OK, get out the pooper-scooper! Every pet owner knows that part of having a furry or feathered friend is cleaning up after it. But did you know that a quick look at that little gift may give you clues into your pet’s health? Some characteristics of stool to become familiar with are color, consistency, frequency, and any additions like blood, mucus, or non-food materials.

Color of stools may vary slightly, so get to know what’s normal for your pet. Bright red kibble may result in red poop due to food dyes. Bowel movements that are green may be due to infections, while gray can indicate digestion problems. Stools containing fresh, red blood occur with bleeding in the colon or rectum, while those that are dark and tar-like suggest bleeding in the stomach or upper intestinal tract. Certain material like plants, hair, bones, or plastic may come out in the stool virtually unchanged. This material can give you insight into your pet’s eating habits, which may need monitoring.

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It’s not a very pleasant topic of conversation, but we will all encounter the need for a stain and odor product sometime in our pet’s life.Puppies are perhaps the biggest creators of unexpected puddles. Just as a human infant has to mature to get bladder control, puppies do, too. Senior dogs may experience a loss of bladder function, or some dogs naturally have bladder control problems. Yet others simply need to be properly trained to eliminate in an acceptable place.

Dogs have a sense of smell that is at least one hundred times more sensitive than the human nose. That’s why they often go back to the same spot, because they can smell the ammonia from the last time there was an “accident.” Even though you think you’ve cleaned the area well, it is still necessary to treat the spot with an odor neutralizer. These products break down the chemical nature of the ammonia, which in turn eliminates the smell of ammonia that triggers a pet to “mark” the spot again.

Pet odor is protein-based and cannot be removed simply by washing the area. An enzyme product must be used to digest the odor-causing protein. It’s important to follow the instructions for these products in order for them to be successful. These products are safe to use not only on carpet, but on clothing, bedding, draperies, upholstery, and other water-safe surfaces. In addition to urine, they are helpful in neutralizing vomit, feces, blood, mildew and other organic sources.

First of all, be generous with the product and saturate the carpet. The urine most likely has soaked all the way down into the carpet pad and this must be treated as well. The product must have at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours, to digest the protein in the urine. The area must stay moist and not be allowed to dry out for this time period. You can do this by covering the area with a piece of plastic or garbage bag. Avoid plastic with print as the ink could “tattoo” the carpet. A phone book or some other heavy object over the bag will help secure it. After 24 hours, uncover the area and allow it to dry thoroughly. Resist the temptation to shampoo this area. The product should not be removed from the carpet.

If you want to make sure you’ve neutralized the spot, you can use a blacklight. If you turn off the lights, the blacklight will highlight any spots. Those spots that have been neutralized will have a dull glow rather than the vibrant, almost neon colored spots that those that have not been neutralized have.

If it’s not soft, just pick it up with a flushable waste disposal wipe and plunk the whole thing in the toilet if you’re on a sewer system (if on a septic system, bag the waste and toss it in a trash receptacle).

If the stool is soft, consider wearing rubber gloves, and then follow these steps:

1. Lay flushable waste disposal wipes on top of the waste.
2. Gently scoop the wipes from the edges to the center, picking up the stool as you go.
3. Thoroughly clean the area with an enzymatic cleaner (enzymatic cleaners help completely and permanently remove odor by “digesting” the odor-causing protein found in pet waste).

There are many enzymatic cleaners on the market today. Before using any enzymatic cleaner, it’s important to follow the instructions for these products in order to ensure they are appropriate for the affected surface (carpet, wood, fabric, etc.).

We always point out the dog in the cute dog clothes to whoever we’re walking or

driving with … a cool dog outfit can even be the highlight of some days. What’s more … it’s fun!Come on … you’ve seen it… the muscular Bulldog in the tight sweater regally pulling it’s master along for a brisk autumn walk… the Chihuahua in a poncho pullover with the little sombrero watching the parade go by from the safety of it’s owners arms… and especially the Weiner Dog in the bright yellow raincoat cautiously peering off the curb at the puddles in the street.

Avoid Getting Stuck With
The Wrong Dog Clothes

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