What Your Dog Poop Can Tell You

Some people will feel unpleasant talking about dog poop, but it is actually very important to keep an eye on your dog's poop, and you need to know what your dog's poop indicates about your dog's health. In reality, dog poop is a doorway to a dog's overall health.

So the next time you take your dog for a walk, and he does his business, you must know what it tells you about dog health. If you want to know what your dog's poop can tell you, read this article to the end.

What a normal dog poop look like?

Dog poop is highly dependent on your dog's diet. Any change in the dog's diet will change the dog feces' color, appearance, and odor. However, the normal color, shape, and size of dog poop are:

Normal poop shape

Normal dog poop has a specific shape and is usually shaped like a log and holds its shape. If your dog's poop is round, it may indicate your dog is feeling dehydrated.

Normal poop color

A dog in perfect health will produce chocolate brown poop. If your puppy is eating something with color additives, it may come in your dog poop.

Normal poop size

The size of dog poop is directly related to the amount of fiber in dog food. If your dog's food is high in fiber, the size of the poop may increase. According to the general rule of thumb, the amount of dog poop is directly proportional to the amount of food dog eat.

Consistency of dog poop

Like the color and shape, dog poop's consistency says a lot about the dog's health problem. When you are trying to scoop out dog poop, pay close attention; you should notice that if your dog poop is moist, compact, and feels a bit like play dough, then it is normal.

However, watery feces, diarrhea, and poop that have a hard consistency indicate different problems. The different colors and consistencies of dog poop are discussed below:

Chalky white dog poop

Dogs that eat a raw diet high in calcium pass the chalky white poop. Also, it may indicate that there is a high chance that your puppy can suffer from constipation. Constipation is defined as the inability to pass stool without outside help. This condition can also cause anorexia, lethargy, and vomiting.

Green dog poop

Green dog poop may indicate that your dog is eating too much or has a gallbladder problem.

Yellow or orange dog poop

Yellow or orange dog poop may indicate a biliary problem, and you should take your pet to the vet.

White Specks in dog poop

White specks on dog poop can indicate that your puppy may have a parasitic infestation such as tapeworm or roundworm.

Red stripes on dog poop

Red stripes may indicate blood in the dog's stool. If you see red stripes, it is recommended that you ask your vet to investigate why this is happening.

Gray dog ​​poop

Gray, greasy poop may indicate that your dog has too much fat in his diet, and it's time to make some changes to his diet. Too much fat can also cause pancreatitis and is a life-threatening problem. So you should contact your vet for confirmation.

Black dog poop

Black dog poop is likely to indicate injury to the gastrointestinal tract. Such a problem requires immediate veterinary attention.

Watery diarrhea

Diarrhea occurs as a result of any digestive problems. If your pup has diarrhea and its frequency is more than three to five bowel movements a day, this may indicate a problem in the small intestine. Problems that can occur in the small intestine are:

• Bacterial infections
• Viral infections
• Food allergies
• Injuries

Similarly, if your pup has three to five bowel movements in a day but with a low volume of diarrhea, it may be due to other problems like worms, ulcers, polyps, and cancer in the large intestine.

Bloody dog poop

If you see bloody stool in dogs, it may be due to an injury or slight tear in the rectum. It may be a minor injury. You can simply check your dog's rectal area to see the injury. If you see bright red blood in your dog stool, it means that the blood is fresh, and sometimes, this occurs due to a problem with your dog bowel movement.

If you see these changes in the dog stool, the best thing to do is take your pup to the vet, and if you also take the dog poop sample, it will be easy for your vet to diagnose the problem.

Mucus in dog poop

If your dog is passing loose stools with a layer of mucus, then your dog may be suffering from parasites or parvovirus. Similarly, eggs and worms in dog loose stools also indicate the presence of parasites.

If you see slimy dog poop, don't worry, take your dog feces sample to the vet clinic, and they will inform you if it is due to a parvovirus infection or a parasitic infection.

Foreign material in dog poop

Dogs eat foreign material in a condition known as pica. If your puppy is suffering from pica, chances are high that he also has pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel disease, or it is maybe due to a nutritional deficiency.

If you see string or cloth in your dog feces, your dog is eating dirty carpet or laundry when you are not around. In such cases, this obstruction can occur in the dog's intestines and can only be treated with surgery.

Likewise, suppose your pup is eating dirt or rocks. In that case, it is also a sign of pica, and you can overcome this problem by dealing with nutritional deficiencies in dog food.

Similarly, suppose you have seen hair in your dog's poop. In that case, it may indicate that your dog is grooming any other pet, or it may be that your dog is grooming himself too much due to some skin disorder such as fleas, mites, ticks, or food allergies. This can also occur due to behavior problems.

Why Dogs Eat Poop? Dog eating poop behavior

Dog eating poop behavior is very rare, but it can happen. It can be due to heredity, instinct, illness, or stress. Stopping dogs from eating poop is a difficult task. First, try to find out the reason behind the dog poop eating behavior and then act accordingly. Try to stay alert, remove the dog feces as soon as possible after defecation.

Conclusion

Dog poop can be an indicator of your dog's overall health. It can help you prevent different health problems in dogs if you notice any symptoms early before they get worse. If you notice any changes in dog poop, you should consult your vet for early diagnosis and treatment.