Raw dog food manufacturer Poppy’s Picnic has revealed that the highly processed kibble most dogs are fed is causing a poo pandemic, with 1.26 million tonnes of excrement paving the UK’s streets.
Poppy’s Picnic believes this poo mountain can be made smaller. To help the nation’s dog owners determine whether a dog’s digestive system is healthy, the company has released a new downloadable poo-ometer showing what to look for when a dog does it’s business, and simple changes owners can make to improve it.
Canine nutritionist Anna Webb says: “We know for ourselves that what we eat affects our health and toilet habits, but many don’t make the link between diet and doggy doo-doo.
“What goes in one end very much determines what comes out of the other! Dogs are carnivores with short digestive tracts and need a high meat content diet to thrive.
“Many highly processed pet foods contain as little as 4% meat and are bulked with grains and fillers that you and I can digest, but dogs can’t. When a dog is absorbing all the goodness they need from natural high protein food, their poo becomes smaller, firmer and odourless.”
As irreverent as a Poo Pandemic might sound, the issue is tied to something much more serious - the health and lifespan of a dog. The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association’s 2019 Obesity Report highlights that over 50% of dogs in the UK are obese and suffering from associated conditions such as diabetes and cancer. A dog’s weight and overall health can be easily improved by feeding fresh raw dog food that contains simple ingredients such as meat, bone and vegetables.
Dylan Watkins, founder of Poppy’s Picnic, says: “Picking up after your dog is something many dog owners argue over. It’s seen as an unpleasant job that many dread, but that needn’t be the case.
“Dogs fed a biologically appropriate raw food diet absorb all the goodness from their food meaning their poo is small, hard and easy to pick up. Because there’s no odour attached to it either, picking it up is not a stomach-churning ordeal. Simple diet changes can make a huge difference.”
If you and your pup are new to raw dog food, you may be surprised to know that improved digestion and easier weight management isn’t the only benefit of feeding a fresh raw dog food diet. Raw fed dogs also experience reduced allergy symptoms, a healthier skin and coat, enhanced oral health and are often calmer and happier from not receiving sugar spikes from their food.
Not only is rethinking a dog’s diet best for the nation’s four-legged friends, it’s also a good idea for the community. Poppy’s Picnic’s research shows that nearly half of Brits (44%) say that they or a family member have stepped in dog poo in the last year. 56% think the amount of squelch on the streets has increased, or would go as far as describing the pavements as ‘treacherous’, and a whopping 74% think that owners that fail to pick up after their dog should be fined, 46% think they should be named and shamed and 10% think irresponsible owners should go to prison for the offence.
Poppy’s Picnic hopes its Poo-ometer will help the nation to take the faeces of its four-legged friends more seriously and help to inform owners of the simple switches they can make to see a difference in their dog’s health.
To download the Poo-ometer visit poppyspicnic.co.uk/poo-mountain
