What’s normal dog poop anyway?
It's tough to say because every dog is different, and the type of food your dog eats impacts their stool. Usually, dog poop is moist and soft, but firm. Ideally, the color should be medium brown.
When a dog’s poop is too hard, it may be a sign of constipation. When poop is too soft or watery, it can be an indication of an upset stomach. If these symptoms are reoccurring, it is best to contact your vet for further examination.
Make sure to take note of your dog’s “normal” poops (look at the color, consistency, and frequency) so you can identify when there’s a problem.
What if the consistency is good, but it’s a funny color?
Orange Dog Poop
This may mean that there is an issue with the dog’s liver or biliary disease. On the other hand, it could be an indication that the dog’s food migrated too quickly through its gastrointestinal tract and did not pick up bile along the way. Bile is the thing that changes poop to the medium brown color we usually see. If your dog has orange diarrhea, get in touch your vet immediately.
Yellow Dog Poop
Loose stool with yellow mucus in it can be an indicator of a food intolerance. This may happen if you change your dog’s diet. Examine your dog’s food and try to exclude any new ingredients that could be causing a stomach upset and yellow colored poop.
Polka Dot/White Specks In Dog Poop
If you see white specks in your dog’s poop, this may be an indicator of worms, yuck! Worms often look like white grains of rice in your pup’s stool. This is treatable but you’ll need to take a trip to the vet for some deworming.
Grey and Greasy Dog Poop
Dog poop that looks fatty, glistens or comes out in large, soft amounts can be an indicator of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). This is commonly referred to as maldigestion, which means the pancreas is not functioning properly. This condition is treatable, but serious, so take your dog to the vet right away.
Green Dog Poop
This could just be too much grass! But it can also indicate a parasite, ingestion of rat bait poison or other serious issues.If your dog has green poop, you should take a trip to the vet. Better to be safe than sorry!
Red Dog Poop
This could mean blood in your dog’s stools. Examine his butt closely to make sure it is not a cut on the anus. If not, then take your dog to the vet. Streaks of blood in your dog’s poop could indicate colitis, a rectal injury, an anal gland infection or a tumor.
Black Dog Poop
Black dog poop can be the result of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract or a stomach ulcer. Many human medications can cause stomach ulcers in dogs, especially aspirin. Make sure to never give human medication to your dog without first consulting your vet.
Pink Or Purple Dog Poop
Anything that resembles raspberry jam could indicate hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE). Seek emergency medical attention. Many dogs die each year from HGE but most will recover with rapid treatment.
