What Does Your Dog’s Poop Tell You?

Photo by Caleb Fisher on Unsplash

Monitoring a dog’s health through its stool should be a priority of every fur parent. Since your pup’s stool can reveal much about their health, regular monitoring can help you identify and address health issues before they escalate. In this article, we’ll delve into the significance of understanding your dog’s poop and explore practical tips that can help you ensure their overall well-being. 

Understanding Healthy vs Unhealthy Dog Poop

While dog stool varies by dog, as dogs have different lifestyles and diets, there are general guidelines you can follow when assessing their poop. The colour, consistency, content, and size of your dog’s stool are vital aspects to which you must pay close attention, as deviations from the norm can indicate health issues. 

  • Colour: Chocolate brown is the normal colour of a dog’s stool. While the shade of brown may vary, a healthy poop’s colour is always medium to slightly dark. If your furry four-legged pup is consuming a colourful diet, expect that some colours may appear on their poop. However, if the colour of their stool is yellow, orange, black, grey, red, or white streaks, it is best to consult the vet for a proper diagnosis. 
  • Size: Your dog’s stool size should be proportional to their food intake. The more food they consume, the larger the size and vice-versa. If their poop’s size is smaller than usual, then it may indicate a decreased appetite which is often a sign of illness. 
  • Consistency: a healthy dog stool is firm, compact, and tubular. It should be easily picked up using a simple pooper scooper or tools used by professional pet clean-up services such as Doo Good Pooper Scoopers

If the stool is watery, your dog may have diarrhoea, often caused by stress, anxiety, diet changes, parasites, liver disease, medications, and pancreatitis. On the other hand, hard stools usually indicate constipation caused by various factors, such as not enough or too much fibre, inactivity, medication side effects, blocked anal glands, and dehydration. 

While dog diarrhoea and constipation are typical in certain instances or occasionally, they can be life-threatening if they occur frequently. They can indicate severe underlying conditions such as digestive disorders, parasites, viruses, kidney disease, and even cancer. Make sure to bring your dog to the vet immediately for proper care and treatment. 

  • Content: However challenging, make it a habit to inspect your dog poop’s content as they can be cause for significant concern. Excessive grass, mucus, hair, undigested food, foreign objects, and worms are symptoms of health issues like inflamed colon, digestive problems, and intestinal blockage. 

When to Consult a Veterinarian

While abnormal stool often requires professional attention, it’s not always a reason to worry. If your dog is happy, energetic, and not displaying other health symptoms, monitoring them at home is best. However, bringing them to the vet is highly recommended if they’re showing behaviour problems or if their stools are not improving. 

Endnote

Your dog’s stools can efficiently provide clues to their health condition. With proactive monitoring of their waste and timely veterinary consultations, you can prevent serious medical conditions and keep your furry loved one healthy, happy, and strong.