Companies that care about their reputation make crayons that can be safely chewed by young children (at least in moderation). The packaging for Crayola brand crayons expressly states that they are non-toxic.
This means we can take this hint at face value.
By bringing in a tablespoon of their pet’s stool at the time of the appointment, rather than having the colon probed, clients can participate in our SBI program, which is described here. The pet’s level of relaxation during the visit is greatly enhanced by this.
But what if you have two cats and they have to use the same litterbox?
One option is to wait near the collection box until someone climbs in and makes a donation.
Then you can wait around until the other person gives money.
Who has that much spare time? and tolerance?
Each cat could be put in its own room with a fresh litterbox. Many cats, however, object to having their routine interrupted.
Alternatively, you could serve each cat a special treat of canned food in a small bowl. In one bowl of cat food, combine a half teaspoon each of red and green crayon shavings.
Keep track of which crayon bits went to which feline.
Now, you can tell which cat’s waste is whose by the color of the crayon that’s visible when you scoop the litter box.
The same applies to dogs, which is helpful if you have multiple animals of similar size and can’t tell them apart.
Both your pet and the veterinarian will appreciate it. In fact, we offer a discounted rate for SBIs as a special perk to our customers.
Whose Poop Is Whose?
If you have more than one pet at home, you’ve probably dealt with the “whose poop is this?” dilemma at some point. At some point, you may want to ask that.
Finding out which pet is having potty problems is always the first step in figuring out why, whether you need to know because a pet is having diarrhea or because one of them is pooping on your carpets.
Fortunately, there is a simple method for telling whose poop is whose. You could install a webcam in the bathroom or outside to watch your pet urinate, but there’s an easier option. There are crayons involved.
Using this method, you can quickly identify the animal experiencing digestive distress (in the case of diarrhea) without bringing them all in for veterinary examination.
You might be able to help your pet without having to take it to the vet, which will save you money and time if you have multiple pets and are trying to figure out which one is sick.
Check out our advice for handling the problem in canines and felines alike.
What You’ll Need for This Crayon Tip
- Each animal gets its own color of crayons. The use of vibrant hues such as turquoise blue, hot pink, etc., is recommended. If your pet defecates a color other than yellow or orange, those tones may be too difficult to distinguish. The colors black, dark blue, and red may be the most difficult to see.
Warning! Make sure the ingredients in the crayon you choose aren’t harmful before you buy it. If there is no MSDS information on the packaging, you should find it online. Look into any product recalls that may have affected that brand as well.
- The diet of your pet
Food coloring (gel paste) can be used as a substitute for crayons. Once more, please use a separate color for each pet in your “experiment.” ”
Crayon Safety
Crayons can be used without worry for this purpose. All Crayola Crayon colors are made with paraffin wax and color pigment (with some exceptions for special effects crayons). The Art & Creative Material Institute has confirmed on the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) that they are safe to use. The trick is to use just a pinch of crayon dust.
How to Feed Your Pets Crayons
- Make crayon shavings of varying colors for each pet using a vegetable peeler.
- Add a pinch (about 1/8 tsp) of these shavings to a bite-sized serving of wet food for each pet. If your pet isn’t lactose intolerant, you can also put them in a pill pocket or pill paste, a large marshmallow, a “meatball” of bread or cheese, or mix them with peanut butter (xylitol-free) or greek yogurt.
- Then, put your pets in separate rooms while they enjoy their “bright little snack.”
- Keep an eye out to make sure no one is consuming another participant’s color, as this will skew the results.
- Then, keep an eye out for bowel movements that seem out of the ordinary; the crayon used will reveal the owner.
Use only a few drops of concentrated gel paste food colorings (sometimes referred to as icing colors) for small animals (five drops for cats, ten drops for dogs of varying sizes).
If you decide to use gel paste food colorings, it is crucial that you check the label to ensure that it does not contain xylitol.
Please read the label carefully, as this sweetener is used in “sugar-free” products. Brands containing the sweetener may exist or become available in the future, but we aren’t aware of any at this time.
Solving the Poop Mystery
There are a number of potential causes for diarrhea or elimination outside the litter box in a dog or cat.
Diarrhea can result from:
- Overindulgence in unhealthy foods or being fed unhealthy foods
- Viral, bacterial, worm, and other parasitic infections.
- Diseases and disorders involving hormones (such as feline hyperthyroidism, Addison’s disease, and others)
- Causes related to inflammation (such as IBD or pancreatitis)
- Anxiety and stress
- and a great many others
Defecating in the wrong place can also have a variety of causes, including:
- Dog and cat arthritis.
- Disturbances to the nervous system (including, but not limited to, canine cognitive dysfunction)
- Irregular urination and defecation in cats is a symptom of stress.
- And many more
Questions? Click here to talk to a vet about your pet’s diarrhea.
Diarrhea and inappopriate bowel movements in pets can have many causes, and your vet is your best resource for narrowing them down. Leave a comment below if you have any questions about coloring with crayons.