Experts say an average dog generates about 3/4 of a pound of waste daily, depending on the breed and what it eats. But while horse droppings make good fertilizer, dog waste contains parasites and bacteria harmful to people. Some of those parasites, however, don’t become active for a few days. That means dog waste can be more harmful to people after sitting out for several days.
“Roundworms are not immediately infectious to other dogs or people when passed in feces but require several days to weeks become infectious,” said Dr. Michael R. Lappin, a Colorado State University veterinary professor. “Thus, cleaning up feces immediately after being passed can lessen the risk of exposure to people.”