Can I use Dog Poop as Fertilizer?
In an effort to be green, dog owners have longed considered using dog poop as Fertilizer. Unfortunately reusing dog poop as fertilizer leads to retinal diseases in children. In a paper written by an Extension Veterinarian and Extension Soil Scientist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, they indicated "two major concerns to bring to your attention: Public Health Aspect, Fertilizer Values."
Given that cattle manure is considered the standard fertilizer, the vet and scientist compared dog poop with cattle manure to determine it's potential application to lawns and gardens. They determined that dog poop has 2- 1/2 times as much nitrogen and half as much potash as cattle poop, meaning dog poop won't provide the same fertilizing as cow manure.
The other concern reported by experts is the potential health concerns of the people exposed to the dog poop. They stated "both dog and cat manure may contain organisms that cause human health problems." The most common hazard in dog poop is "large roundworms, called Toxocara canis."
What kind of symptoms would a person have who is infected by dog worms?
1) A condition called Visceral Larval Migrans. the ascarid eggs hatch in a person's small intestine. The little worms or larvae get into the blood stream and float to the liver and get into the blood stream that goes to the lungs. Some may enter the general circulation and end up in different parts of the body. They have been found in the human heart, brain, spinal cord, skin, and other tissues. The symptoms would vary depending on where the larvae become attached.
2) Another conditionis called Ocular Larval Migrans. The immature ascarid worms or larvae can effect the human eye. The larvae attack the retinal and cause blindness. Many eyes of children have had to be removed which until recently was the only treatment for this problem.
In a pediatric hospital 37% of all the retinal diseases of children's eye were positive for dog ascarid larvae. This is definitely a potential human health hazard.
They also considered the benefit of composting the manure to sterilize it but determined that, in order to sterilize the poop the compost heat temperature would need to exceed 165F for almost a week and "backyard compost heaps rarely reach this temperature, and the outer several inches never do."
These results led the Vet and soil Scientist to conclude.
There are many sites online that will tell you how to compost dog poop for fertilizer. Reflect on the fact that using dog poop as fertilizer leads to retinal diseases in children and if you still want to move forward, please pay particular attention to the Soil Scientist's statement about needing to reach 165F for at least five days. An alternative is to eliminate your dogs poop and mantain a green home!
The health hazards associated with Cat and Dog Poop are greater than the potential benefit from it's fertilizer value. Cat and Dog poop should be disposed of by flushing it down the toilet in ends up in or water supply.
You can bury it deep into the soil(six inches or more) or place in tight plastic bags for the garbage collection.
I recommend you let the proffesionals come scoop the poop, clean your cat boxes, and remove the poop from your home. That's the safest!
CONTACT : THE POOP SQUAD PET WASTE REMOVAL & PET SITTING SERVICES
We will keep your yard GREEN and POOP free. We will pick up and remove from your property!
Why wait?
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