What the color of your dog's poop can tell you

As a dog owner, you have probably noticed your dog’s poop can come in all shapes and colors. Some of these colors are normal, while others can point to serious medical concerns. It’s a little bit gross, but important for pet parents to learn:

• What should healthy dog poop look like?
• What do different colored poops mean in dogs?
• What does my dog’s stool consistency say about their health?
• What do I do if my dog’s poop looks abnormal?
• Can unhealthy stools be prevented in dogs?

The consistency of a dog’s stool usually has more significance than the overall color. Different foods and health conditions can cause dog feces to appear in a multitude of colors. It’s important to remember: if your dog is behaving normally and the stool looks normal — other than the strange color — the change in stool color is most likely related to something your dog ate.

Normal, healthy dog poop appears as chocolate brown, fully formed, soft logs that keep their shape as they are picked up. Unformed, loose, or watery poop is classified as diarrhea, while hard or crumbly poop that is difficult to pass occurs when a dog is constipated. Small changes in a dog’s stool color and consistency are common and usually not concerning. However, a drastic change can indicate an underlying health concern.

Changes in stool color are often harmless. The color of food or treats are the main causes of color changes in a dog’s stool. Occasionally, a change in color can indicate a health issue, especially if it happens on an ongoing basis. If your dog’s poop is consistently a strange color, it’s best to consult a vet.

Chocolate brown poop

Brown dog poop is normal and healthy. Healthy poop can vary in shades of brown based on what has been eaten. The more consistent a dog’s diet is, the more consistent the brown color of their stool is expected to be.

Green poop

Eating something green is one of the most common reasons for green poop. A dog that eats grass or green crayons can have green streaks in their stool as the green food or items pass in the feces.

Sometimes, a dog who has ingested a very small dose of rodenticide can have green stools. Rodenticides are often dyed green, and their flavor is enticing to dogs. Green stools can be the only clue if a dog has eaten a non-toxic dose. However, if a dog has ingested a larger dose of rodenticide, other life-threatening symptoms will appear before the bait has had time to pass in the stool. If you think your dog has ingested something toxic, it’s important to call an emergency vet clinic right away.

Sometimes green stool might have a physiological source rather than being directly related to something your dog ate. The entire bowel movement may take on a uniform green hue with disorders that cause rapid transit of food through the digestive tract such as gastritis, gastroenteritis, and colitis. Green stools can also point to gallbladder issues or occur as a side effect of medications, especially antidiarrheal drugs.

Orange or yellow poop

Poop can appear yellow due to yellow mucus in the stool or a disorder causing food to pass too quickly through the digestive tract. Yellow mucus appears similar to chicken fat. Fully yellow dog poop can also point to liver issues.

Meanwhile, finding orange in a dog’s stool usually points to something they have eaten. Carrots and foods that contain orange food dye can give an orange appearance or spots of orange within the stool.

Gray or white poop

Occasional white dog poop can be normal for dogs when they consume a lot of calcium, such as bones and eggshell supplementation. Light gray or white stools can also occur in dogs experiencing issues in the pancreas or gallbladder. Changes in stool character related to pancreatic or gallbladder dysfunction often appear greasy in addition to their light color.

Red or red-streaked poop

Red poop is alarming because it looks like blood, but it may also be due to something red being eaten. Red berries and dyed treats or foods can make your dog’s stool appear red. Bright red blood in or around a bowel movement indicates the presence of fresh, undigested blood from the lower intestinal tract. A few drops or a small streak of blood around the stool often occur due to excessive straining and irritation related to diarrhea or constipation. If there is a large amount of blood in the stool or blood clots are present, contact emergency veterinary services right away. Deadly diseases such as parvovirus cause large volumes of bloody diarrhea in dogs, especially puppies. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) is associated with sudden onset of frequent, jelly-like clots of red blood.

Black poop

Formed stools that happen to be black or have a black outer layer may be due to something your dog ate, but passing black and tarry loose stools is an emergency. Tarry, black dog poop indicates bleeding that has passed through the stomach and been digested. Seek immediate veterinary attention if your dog passes black and tarry stools.

White specks in the poop

White specks or spots in fresh, otherwise normal-appearing poop point to a tapeworm infestation. Tapeworm segments look like small grains of rice in fresh dog poop. Insect larvae that have hatched in feces look like tapeworm segments, but won’t be present in fresh poop.

“The consistency of a dog’s poop tells a vet a lot more about their health than the color,” explains Dr. Jo Myers. Veterinarians often use a fecal scoring chart to help describe the consistency of dog stool. Diarrhea describes unformed, loose, or liquid stools that may contain mucus or blood. A dog with diarrhea may also present with frequent unproductive straining while defecating, as if it’s hard to tell when they’re done going. Constipated dogs also strain to defecate, but do so unproductively or only produce a small amount of very hard and sometimes crumbly stool. Greasy-looking stools point to a problem with the pancreas, and tarry stools point to an upper GI bleed.

If a dog begins passing blood clots, large amounts of blood in the stool, severe diarrhea, or tarry stools, contact a veterinarian for emergency care right away. It is best to connect with a vet if a dog experiences mild diarrhea or constipation that lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours even if they seem fine otherwise. Likewise, if your dog’s stool has an abnormal color that does not go away within a couple of days, a vet visit is warranted.

How does a veterinarian treat abnormal stool in dogs?

Color and consistency changes in dog poop can occur due to a number of reasons ranging from life-threatening to harmless. When these changes occur, a vet may recommend diagnostic testing to find the underlying cause, including fecal tests, bloodwork, urinalysis, and imaging. If needed, treatments for abnormal poop vary based on the cause of the change.

How to collect a fecal sample

A vet may recommend bringing in a stool sample to be tested. Use a clean ziplock bag or a small, clean container with a lid for the stool sample. Collect about a gram of stool (a tablespoon is more than enough) without touching it directly or using an absorbent material, as this can impact the test result. A fresh, same-day stool sample is best. If this is not possible, refrigerate the sample before bringing it to the vet clinic.

Not all stool changes can be prevented, and small, temporary changes are usually normal. A consistent diet without variation, including treats and table scraps, is expected to prevent changes in a dog’s poop. If a food change is needed, slowly introduce the new food with the old to allow the GI tract to adjust. Staying up to date with regular wellness exams and testing to help catch underlying medical conditions early. Keeping vaccinations and parasite prevention on schedule are also important as they protect from contagious diseases and internal parasites that can cause stool changes.

If your dog is experiencing abnormal stools, an online vet can help answer your questions from the comfort of your home. Most cases of mild diarrhea or fecal color changes resolve on their own or with minimal help from a vet before an in-person appointment is necessary.

What does unhealthy dog poop look like?

Ideal poop in dogs are fully formed logs that are soft but hold their shape when picked up and are chocolate brown in color. Any prolonged changes in color or consistency for more than 24 to 48 hours can indicate a medical concern. Tarry, black poop, very bloody poop, or passing only blood clots may indicate internal bleeding and need to be addressed by an emergency vet immediately.

What color is a dog’s poop with pancreatitis?

A dog with pancreatitis may have brown diarrhea or loose stools that contain yellow mucus or are light-colored throughout. Pancreatitis can vary in severity as well as be acute or chronic. Always consult a vet if a dog has unresolved diarrhea lasting longer than 24-48 hours.

What does parvo poop look like?

Parvovirus causes severe, completely liquid diarrhea in dogs that is often bloody and foul-smelling. Parvo isn’t the only disease in puppies that causes this symptom. Other diseases, such as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, can also cause severe, bloody diarrhea. A dog needs to be seen by a vet anytime severe, bloody diarrhea is occurring.