As a pet parent, you’re probably more familiar with your pup’s poop than you ever thought you’d be. You generally know what shape, size, color, and consistency are normal for your cuddly canine. But when the doo-doo you’re used to suddenly changes, it can be disconcerting. Luckily for you, there’s no need to rush to the vet when the dog poop littering your backyard starts to look anything but uniform. That’s because an app can help you discern what’s going on with your dog’s gut health. All you need is your smartphone.
Every Poop Tells a Story
The app is called Snappoo, and it was designed by Josh and Emily Braaten, a couple of dog parents from St. Paul, Minnesota. The app uses artificial intelligence (AI) to figure out if there’s anything amiss with your dog’s poop. All you have to do is submit a pic of your dog’s poop. The app critiques the color and consistency, matching it to various canine health issues through AI and data science. Because the Braatens taught the app to categorize a slew of dog feces, it can tell the difference between dry, brown poop and mushy, yellow poop. And everything in-between.
“They say your gut is like your second brain so you can learn a lot about it,” Josh told the Star Tribune.
Of course the couple volunteered their 7-year-old Glendale Terrier, Gertrude, to help develop the app, along with veterinarian Eric Ruhland, who owns St. Paul Pet Hospital. He told the Star Tribune that the app “may avoid a phone call to a vet’s clinic that isn’t necessary — ease anxieties with people that what they’re seeing is normal.”
The Future of Dog Poop
The app, which launched in August, is still in its infancy. But future plans for it include the ability to tell pet parents if their dog is getting a variety of nutrients in their diet. And the more pet parents who use the app, the more accurate it will become.
“Our users have the ability to correct the analysis, if the app doesn’t get the consistency or color right,” Josh told the Star Tribune. “It will get smarter and smarter to where it makes very few errors.”
You can find Snappoo on the Apple Store and Google Play. The best part? It’s free! Check it out, and the next time Fido leaves you a present on the lawn, snap a pic. This way, you’ll see what’s up with his insides.
