This week’s topic is POOP.  You laugh, but there is a lot that can be said about POOP.  On Friday our medical staff will let you know about the many ways POOP can tell you what might be wrong with your pet, and of course we are all trying to find ways to keep POOP out of our homes, which you will learn more about on Wednesday from our behavior blog.

Today, let’s discuss POOP in regards to adoption.  What does POOP have to do with making a choice on an animal?  When considering a new pet, consider these questions:  If you walk your dog what size baggy will you need to bring along?  How often do you clean up in your yard?  If you are getting a cat what type of litter box do you need?  If you don’t like scooping the litter to remove the poop, do you get an electric litter box, train the cat to go in the toilet or perhaps use a litter that you don’t have to scoop twice a day?  If you are thinking of getting a puppy, are you ok with POOP being in the house during his or her training period?  If you have a dog at home and are preparing to adopt a cat, did you know that dogs love to eat cat POOP? You may want to find a creative way of elevating the litter box to discourage Rover from this behavior.

Be aware that sometimes a change in food or a change in environment can change the consistency of the dog or cat’s POOP.  Many of our adopted animals go home and begin to have loose POOP or don’t POOP at all the first couple of days. A new pet needs time to adjust to a new environment. 

Return here for more POOP talk throughout the week.  We’d also like to read about your experience with POOP. Leave your stories and questions in the comments section.

Today’s blog author is Makena Yarbrough.  Makena is the director of operations at the Richmond SPCA.

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