Why Does My Dog Have Yellow Poop?
While there are a handful of reasons as to why your dog’s poop has turned yellow, there is not an immediate concern that would leave you feeling the need to rush to the pet hospital. Think of it this way: consider yellow dog poop as a warning sign. Pet owners should familiarize themselves with the main causes of a change in fecal matter colors because it is a simple, yet effective approach to better understand what is going on inside your furry friend.
Yellow poop can be a little alarming at first, but there is no immediate need for pet owners to fret. Food intolerance is one of the leading causes of yellow dog poop, and owners can hopefully be traced back to when exactly the change happened.
If you recently changed your pet’s food, it can take a little time for your dog to adjust to new food or treats.1 If you noticed that your dog’s poop turned yellow around the same time that you may have changed your dog’s food or tried out some new treats, give it a few days to determine how your dog’s body will adjust before calling in for medical reinforcements. If the yellow dog poop continues on for too long or does not resolve itself, consider changing the food back to avoid further upsetting your dog’s stomach.
Another cause of yellow dog poop can be a result of indigestion. As we know, a change to our dog’s food or diet can lead to an upset stomach, which in turn often results in yellowish dog poop. When this irritation is prevalent, your dog’s body works diligently to try to quickly get rid of the so-called foreign matters or food that it is not used to, and thus often leads to diarrhea that tends to be yellow in color. The reason that the dog poop becomes yellow is because when the body is trying to get rid of these upsetting trigger items, it does not give the body enough time for the bile to properly process.
If you are certain that your dog has not eaten any new treats or food, then it is possible that your dog’s yellow poop is a sign of a bacterial or parasitic infection in your dog’s digestive tract. If an infection is left untreated, it could develop into a greater, and more serious issue.
Aside from a bacterial infection, another one of the possible causes of an infection could be a result of a parasite in your dog’s intestines or digestive tract. If you notice that the yellow dog poop persists with no self remedy, it may be time to schedule a visit with a veterinarian to best diagnose if your pet has an infection.
What Does Healthy Dog Poop Look Like?
Hopefully it is no surprise here, but healthy dog poop is typically brown in color. While there is no “correct” shade of brown that is the clear-cut definition to equal healthy poop, the shade of brown does depend on what exactly your dog eats. You will also notice a variation of brown coloring if certain treats or dog food are infused with food dyes.
So, what is it that turns fecal matter into a brown color anyways? The brown color is a result of the digestion process, which is when a breakdown of bile and food matter occurs. Bile is a key component of healthy digestion since it assists the intestines with breaking down food. While most bile is typically reabsorbed as food is digested, some does get trapped. As food continues to break down and get digested, the leftover bile changes color until it eventually turns brown.
Though, do note that every dog’s body processes foods differently based on the type of food or treats consumed, and what food dyes or ingredients are included. While there is no “one size fits all” for what is a normal dog poop, it will vary by dog.
Yellow dog poop — is it serious?
Seeing yellow dog poop can be a little surprising. Sometimes, it happens because of something your dog ate, like yellow Crayons or chalk that’s just passing through. A clue that your dog might have eaten something containing yellow dye is if the yellow color in the poop appears in blotches or only in parts of the poop.
If the dog poop is uniformly yellow in color, however, the reason might be more concerning. “That is bile pigment that has not been reabsorbed and is passing through the feces and turning it yellow,” says Tracey Jensen, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, medical director at Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Wellington, Colorado. “It’s not normal. Basically, it means that the transit time in the GI tract is increased.”
Yellow Dog Poop: 7 Causes & What Pet Owners Should Do About It
As the writers of Canine Journal, we feel it’s our, ahem, duty to keep you in-the-know about what’s coming out of your pup. So, here’s the low-down on dog poop of every color.
Most mild changes in dog stool color are related to dietary changes and aren’t cause for alarm. But poop color and consistency can be an indicator of serious health problems, which is why you need to make your dog’s business your business.