(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Julia Wuerz, University of Florida (THE CONVERSATION) Have you ever been out on a walk ...

Have you ever been out on a walk, and as you take that next step, you feel the slippery squish of poop under your foot? It’s not just gross. Beyond the mess and the smell, it’s potentially infectious.

Sometimes, dogs do strange things. Beyond rolling in mud puddles or biting themselves, your pet might drink from toilets or lick its butt. In other cases, it may eat its own poop or, worse, the poop ...