As a dog owner you can sometimes find yourself obsessing over dog stool. From the colour of it, to the shape and consistency, you may be wondering what's normal. Our guide to dog stool aims to answer all of your questions and more.
Stool can seem like an unremarkable thing; but did you know that your dog’s stool can be a great indicator of your dog’s overall health and even prevent some health issues down the road if you know what to look for? That’s why over at PURINA (and your local vets!) would like to get personal about this experience. The next time you’re out on a walk with your dog, take a good look at your dog’s stools – this way you’ll be able to get a good whiff of the important information that your dog is trying to tell you.
What ‘should’ dog stool look like?
Every dog is unique, so your dog’s standard of normal, healthy stool may differ somewhat to that of another dog. Keep tabs on your dog’s usual routine and toilet habits so that if something changes, you know what to tell your vet. Remember: if you discover any changes in your pup’s normal routine, talk to a veterinarian.
Dog stool should be chocolate brown. If your pup is eating food with added colours in it, some of these may also come through in your dog’s stool.
Dog stools should be log-shaped and maintain their form. If droppings are round, it’s possible that your pup might be dehydrated.
The size of your dog's stool is related to the amount of fibre in your dog’s diet. Stool size increases as the fibre content in your pup’s dog food does. As a general rule, the volume of your dog’s waste should be proportionate to the amount of food that they are eating. If this doesn’t seem to be the case, consider flagging this with your dog’s vet.
What’s in my dog’s stool?
When you go to pick up your dog’s stool, look at what seems to be going on in there. Mucus in your dog's stool could indicate an inflamed colon, whereas a lot of grass could mean that they’ve been grazing on too much grass or have a gallbladder issue.
Dog stool consistency
When you bend down to scoop your dog’s stool, and feel its consistency through the plastic bag, take note! Dog stool should be compact, moist and easy to pick up – feeling a bit like Play Doh when squished. Dog diarrhoea or watery faeces, as an indicator of intestinal upset, can be a sign that something is amiss with your dog’s tummy. And if your dog’s stool is hard or dry, it could be a sign of dog constipation. If you notice that the consistency of your dog’s stool seems ‘off’, make sure to discuss this with your vet.
Causes of dog constipation
Dog constipation can be caused by several factors:
- Too much or too little dietary fibre.
- Not enough exercise.
- Blocked or infected anal glands.
- Excessive self-grooming (if there is dog hair in the stools).
- Not enough grooming (if there is matted hair around your dog’s back end).
- Objects like gravel, bones, plants or plastic caught in the intestinal tract.
- A side effect of medication.
- Dehydration (a possible symptom of more serious diseases).
Causes of dog diarrhoea
There are also many things that can cause dog diarrhoea:
- A stressful event like adopting a new dog, the arrival of a new family member, moving home etc.
- Quickly switching to a new dog food.
- Eating food designed for humans.
- New medication.
- Drinking water from a puddle or stagnant pond.
- It could also be an indicator of another disease or infection.
If your dog has diarrhoea or constipation for a prolonged period of time, speak to your vet.
Dog stool colour chart
Take a look at our handy dog stool colour chart below to find out more about what the colour of your dog’s stool means.
This is just the colour that your dog’s stool should be – a healthy chocolate brown. This is a good sign that your dog’s tummy is healthy and doing what it should.
Green dog stool can mean that your dog has eaten too much grass or has a gallbladder issue.
If your dog’s stool is orange or yellow, this can point to a biliary or liver issue, and is definitely something you should raise with your vet.
Red streaks in your dog’s stool can indicate that there is blood present. If you see blood in dog stool, it’s advisable to check your dog’s anus for cuts to investigate where the blood may be coming from.
If your pup’s stool is black, this can be a sign of bleeding in the upper GI tract. Talk to your vet as soon as possible.
Grey, greasy dog stool can indicate a biliary or pancreatic problem.
If your dog’s stool has white rice-like spots in it, this can point to the presence of worms in dog stool.
There is blood in my dog's stool, what should I do?
Sometimes blood in your puppy's stool (showing up as red streaks in dog stool, for instance) can be a sign of a slight tear or trauma around their bottom or in their rectum. This will be just a tiny trace usually. Check your dog's bottom to see if anything is obvious. Bright red blood in dog stool indicates fresh blood and sometimes this can be due to problems in the bowel. Sometimes, but not always, the stools may be runny too. It's best to have any blood checked out by your vet. Bring along a sample of the stool if you can.
Why does my dog eat stool?
When dogs eat their stools, this is also known as coprophagia. But why do they decide to chow down on their own faeces? Well, to be honest, experts still don’t quite know. Some theorise that your dog eating their own stools can be a sign that they are trying to get more nutrients out of what they have already eaten, but there are currently no studies to confirm this. Maybe it just smells and tastes good to our dogs – there’s no accounting for canine taste…
How to stop your dog from eating their stools? As with many things, you may need to try a little trial and error – but we recommend cleaning up your dog's stool immediately, teaching your dog the ‘leave it!’ command, and spraying taste deterrents on the stools. Find out more in depth about coprophagia and preventative measures. Of course, it’s always advisable to talk to your vet if you have any questions.
Why is my dog scooting on his bum?
Bum scooting can be normal for dogs, especially if they’re having trouble with loose stools. However, as we’ve said, it’s important to keep a close eye on your dog’s behaviour and their stools. This way, if your dog seems uncomfortable, and bum scooting becomes a routine behaviour beyond the initial bum wiping post-poo, you can flag this to your vet. Your dog scooting their bum can point to their suffering from impacted anal glands.
Why does my dog’s stool change after he starts a new food?
If there comes a time when you have to change your dog’s food, it may affect their stools – at least for a while. Just like we humans experience a period of adjustment when we eat a new cuisine in a foreign country, your dog experiences something similar when you start them on a new food.
To help avoid dietary upset, make a slow, measured change from his old food to his new food over a 7-10 day period.
My dog has had diarrhoea from the day I've got them, is this normal?
If you have a new dog, it’s important to remember that moving to a new house is a stressful time not only for us, but for your new pup. Being in a new environment can lead to stress and tummy upsets. Make any diet changes very gradually over a week to 10 days and seek your vet's advice if things aren't settling down.
Stress diarrhoea in dogs
Dogs can suffer from diarrhoea just like we do. Stress diarrhoea in pets is a common response to stress or anxiety – that is, your dog’s diarrhoea might happen because they’re worried about something. Examples of stressful situations that can trigger digestive problems in dogs are wide ranging – and it depends on what your dog finds particularly anxiety-inducing!
Stressful situation that may trigger stress diarrhoea in dogs include:
- Adoption
- Boarding
- Separation from you
- Changes in your household or their environment
- The introduction of a new pet or family member, even if they are destined to become best friends!
Your dog will be at less risk of stress diarrhoea if you ease them into changes gradually and make transitions as smooth as possible. Some vets may recommend a pro-biotic supplement, which adds beneficial bacteria to your dog’s intestine to restore balance.
Pro-biotic supplements can also be used if you know a stressful situation is coming up; this way, you may prevent the problem before it starts.
Dogs are natural scavengers and often like to explore everything! Sometimes this will mean that they eat something inappropriate out on their walk. Depending on your pup’s particular gut activity, signs might be seen soon after they've eaten it. Often this will take the form of runny stools. If this persists, then seek veterinary attention. Make sure there is plenty of fresh, clean water available to help them stay hydrated.
