What’s Your Dog’s Poo Telling You?

While your dog's feces cannot literally speak to you, it can convey valuable information. You just need to know what to look for. As a preventative care and emergency care animal clinic, our team at Pine Castle Animal Care Center in Orlando shares some insights about your dog's poop, specifically regarding its color and consistency.

What Should Ideal Dog Poop Look Like?

First, let's discuss what the ideal dog poop should look like. Ideally, the color of your dog's feces should be a chocolate brown. If your dog is eating colored food, those colors may occasionally show up in the poop. The stool should resemble a log in shape and maintain its form. It should be moist and intact.

Decoding the Different Colors of Dog Poop

Your dog's stool can vary in color depending on what's happening with your canine companion. Chocolate brown is the norm, but the presence of white spots resembling pieces of rice could indicate a tapeworm infestation. A black, tarry stool might signal upper GI tract bleeding, while a grey, greasy stool could be related to a pancreatic issue.

Green stool could be linked to a gall bladder problem or possibly excessive grass consumption, and an orange or yellowish hue may indicate a liver issue. If you notice red streaks in your dog's poop, this suggests the presence of blood in the stool, which could result from an anal cut or a more serious concern.

Why Consistency Matters

As mentioned earlier, feces should be log-shaped. Rounded feces are often a sign of dehydration, which can be more common in the summer. If your dog's poop is watery and unable to maintain the log-like form, this is an indicator that your dog may be experiencing intestinal upset.

Prioritize Preventive and Emergency Pet Care in Orlando, FL

If you've noticed that your dog's stool appears abnormal, it's important not to delay. While the stool variance might be a minor issue that won't harm your canine friend, it's also possible that these changes are indicative of a more serious problem that should be addressed by a veterinarian. Are you looking for a veterinarian near you? Pine Castle Animal Care Center in Orlando is your trusted destination for emergency and preventative care for your pets.