Tonya Wilhelm, a dedicated dog training specialist, author, and public
speaker, has traveled the USA presenting dog behavior seminars.
Normal dog poop is log-shaped and is easy to pick up.
Tonya Wilhelm
10 Common Types of Dog Poop and What They Can Possibly Mean
- Watery diarrhea: It is not uncommon for a dog to have a bout of diarrhea every once in a while. Some common reasons include stress, food change, or eating something that does not agree with his body. If your adult dog is otherwise healthy and is not showing any other health concerns, such as lethargy, fever, or mood change, you can withhold food and see if it clears in a day. If it does not clear up in a day, or your dog is a young puppy or shows other symptoms, make a vet appointment.
- Soft and mucousy stool: Occasional mucus in a dog’s stool isn’t a huge concern. A dog’s colon makes some mucous to assist in lubrication. However, if this is a common occurrence, or you see a lot of mucus, there could be other reasons, including intestinal parasites, tumors, or bacteria overgrowth.
- Wormy poop: If you see worms or something that looks like rice in your dog’s stool, he likely has a parasite. Take your dog and a stool sample to your vet immediately.
- Thin poop: If your dog poops and the poop forms into squiggly, thin, wormy piles, this could be a sign of an obstruction. If your dog has a foreign object in his intestine, the stool will narrow to pass. An obstruction can be anything from something he ate to a tumor. If this stool shape is unusual and your dog shows other signs of distress, seek your veterinarian immediately. If this has been ongoing, speak with your veterinarian about a possible tumor or polyp.
- Bunny pellets: If your dog’s stool reminds you of bunny poop, i.e., small, hard pellets, he may be constipated. If his stool doesn’t go back to normal in a day, contact your veterinarian.
- Black or tarlike stool: If your dog’s stool is black or tarry, seeking immediate veterinary care is important. This coloration is typically due to digested blood in the intestines or internal bleeding that has passed into the intestine.
- Gray poop: Most dog poop should be rich brown in color. If your dog’s poop is on the grayish side, it could indicate a problem in the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas. If this color persists for more than a few days, contact your veterinarian.
- Things in poop: When your dog poops, it should just contain, well, poop. If you see other things such as hair, grass, or vegetables, he is not digesting his food properly. Excess hair can be an indication of shedding and possible compulsive grooming. Eating grass can indicate an upset belly. If he’s pooping out veggies, try cutting raw veggies into smaller pieces or cooking them first.
- Blood: Blood in your dog’s stool can indicate a lot of different things. If you see a lot of blood, contact your vet immediately. If you only see a strip of blood, and otherwise, he seems happy and healthy, wait a day to see if it clears up.
- Brown solid and formed: Congratulations, your dog seems to have a happy bowel! Keep up the good work.
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This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It
is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription,
or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.
Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.
Comments
shehu on April 30, 2017:
Good info