Updated on August 12. 2022
When talking about dog poop (let's face it: dog owners talk about poop 😅), there's always one question that comes up: what's the best way to get rid of dog poop? More than one of us has wondered: "should I flush dog poop?" If this is your case, continue reading. We give you the answer based on what the experts point out.
Flushing Dog Poop: Yes Or No?
If you are wondering: should I flush dog poop?, the answer may be disconcerting because it is a big NO.
Disposing of dog feces by flushing it down the toilet may seem like a good idea at first. After all, our waste goes down the toilet and nothing happens, right? In fact, water purifiers are responsible for cleaning the water so that it is drinkable again. So why not flush dog poop?
Quite simply, because dog poop contains pathogens that are a real danger to human health. Let's look at this point further.
Why NOT Flush Dog Poop?
Many parents of animals have considered at some point disposing of dog (or cat) waste by flushing it down the toilet. It's fast, it's cheap, and we avoid having to throw it in the trash.
However, the experts are clear on this: you don't have to flush dog poop... and you don't have to flush cat poop either, in case you were wondering. Flushing your dog's poop down the toilet is not a good environmental decision.
1. Dog Poop Has Pathogens
Different investigations indicate that dog poop contains thousands of pathogens that can affect human health. For this reason, you must pick up your dog's poop when you go for a walk and do not leave it outdoors.
2. Dog Waste Can Cause Diseases In Humans
Exposure to dog poop (and other animals) can cause all kinds of disease in humans, as published in the article "Exposure to Animal Feces and Human Health: A Systematic Review and Proposed Research Priorities". For example, it is mentioned that it could provoke diarrhea and increase the risk of EED, STH infection, and trachoma.
3. Water Purification Treatment Cannot Eliminate All Pathogens
For its part, the specialized website PetMD explains that dog poop can be a carrier of cryptosporidium. This pathogenic agent is not eliminated with the water purification treatment; that is, it would enter the waterways.
Cryptosporidium is one of the parasites that cause diarrhea in humans and is also a leading cause of waterborne illness. As you can see, flushing your dog's feces is not a good idea.
You may be interested in: 6 Things You Need To Know To Safely Compost Dog Poop At Home
Best Ways To Get Rid Of Dog's Poop
If flushing dog poop is not a good idea, you have to look for options to minimize the impact generated by dog waste.
1. Throw Dog Poop In The Trash
The easiest option is to throw the dog waste in the normal garbage can. In this way, it will reach the landfill, the place where it belongs.
Now, if you're going to throw dog poop in the trash, how should you package it? Pick a bag that is thick enough not to leak or tear, and tie it off tight.
A word on labels: many bags sold as "biodegradable" or "compostable" will not do anything special in a landfill, because landfills are built to keep out the air and water that rotting needs. So choose a bag that does its job on the walk, and don't count on it to vanish in the trash.
GIVE A SH!T® extra-thick dog poop bags are thick, leakproof, and easy to open and tear.
2. Compost Dog Poop
Composting dog poop is possible, but only at home. Most municipal and commercial composting programs in the US do not take pet waste, so don't put dog poop in your green bin or your garden compost. At home it works in a dedicated pet-waste composter, kept separate from any compost you use on the garden. Options include an in-ground pet-waste digester (the Doggie Dooley type), a dedicated bin, or additives that speed the process up.
Keep the pet-waste composter well away from vegetable beds, streams, and wells, since runoff can pollute groundwater. The finished compost is for non-edible plants only, never for anything you eat.
Composting dog waste is not difficult, but it is a process that you have to pay attention to, as USDA explains. Pathogens present in dog poop can only be killed if the compost reaches high temperatures.
For this reason, you must use a thermometer to verify the safety of your compost and, of course, always handle it with gloves. In our post on how to compost dog poop, we tell you everything in detail.
