We’re not only in the business of cleaning up after your pet and ensuring your property is clean and safe, we also want the very best for all of our four-legged friends. Even when we’re in the business of picking up after our precious pets, we can’t always be there to witness every one of their outdoor (or indoor), bathroom behaviors.
For example, certain breeds of dogs, especially some smaller terriers, can build up a mass of hair around their hindquarters (necks, paws and other areas), creating a certain kind of dilemma not experienced by other canines. Without getting too graphic, you could call it a “Klingon” type of a situation, and not in the nerdy, Star Trek sort of a way. It’s not in a “galaxy far, far away,” but sometimes found much closer to home … literally.
Even the most diligent and loving of pet owners may not notice a little bit of … well … poop … leftover from their daily business. Even the tiniest portion of this regular deliverance could cause them problems with invasive forms of bacteria, not to mention a buildup of odor. We’ve all witnessed some pets who are dragging their butt behind the carpet.
It may be cute the first time, possibly smelly the second, the third could be damaging and then after that, beyond being really annoying, it could mean there’s an actual medical problem. Instead of assuming they’re using our flooring as toilet paper, they could have an uncontrollable itch, rash or other type of an issue instead of a behavioral problem.
Time For The Vet
We may assume they’re wiping their behind on our floor coverings, but this could also be the sign of a more significant problem. If this type of behavior is repetitive, even after training, careful inspection and cleaning, they could have another issue brewing. Speaking of brewing, a yeast infection could be the cause of this behavior. More serious issues could be an anal disorder, a urinary tract disease or digestive issue could be causing to these problem behaviors.
If your pet is relieving themselves outside, in a backyard, on a patio or garden, you may not be aware that their stools are less than ordinary or productive. As we clean the yard, if we see something that looks unusual we’ll be sure to let you know.
Advice and Recommendations
Watch for signs of unusual behaviors beyond what your pet is doing when they’re peeing and pooping outdoors. Take the time to witness if they have changes in their:
- Appetite (loss or increase)
- Intake of fluids (ditto)
- Activity levels (again an increase or decrease)
- Nesting or sleeping behaviors (too much or too little)
- Overactivity or listlessness
- Changes in their behaviors or normal habits
While we’re checking and cleaning your backyard, we’d like to lovingly suggest you to do the same with your four-legged friends for the same reasons. Look for build up, leftovers or other causes for alarm. If you suspect something is amiss, especially excessive moisture, odor or something that just isn’t quite right with their bowel movements or urinary patterns, take them to the vet immediately for the ultimate safety of your pet!
Author Bio: Travel junkie, Amber Kingsley, is a freelance writer living in Santa Monica, CA. Her art history background helps her hone in on topics that are of interest to readers. She is a dog enthusiast and loves spending time with her Pomeranian, Agatha.