Why Your Dog’s Poop Color Matters
If eyes are the window to the soul, poop is the window to the body (yep, we said it). Feces changes based on the health of a dog’ stomach and intestines. But it also changes depending on what’s going on with a dog’s liver, pancreas, and even systemic disease such as infections.
Changes to poop can include texture (solid to loose to liquid), odor, frequency, and contents (mucus, blood, worms). But another important change to look for in your dog’s poop is a change or difference in color.
For example, red feces indicates the presence of blood that has not been digested, meaning it most likely comes from the colon. Dark, nearly black stool means that there is digested blood, usually from a stomach or small intestinal ulcer. Green dog poop can indicate that the dog is eating grass or can be due to the liver not functioning properly.
Your dog’s poop should normally be a shade of brown. The specific shade has a lot to do with the kind of food your dog eats and how frequently he poops.
Your Dog Ate a White Object
The next thing to assess is whether the poop is white or there is something white in it. A dog who eats a white sock may be able to poop out the sock in which case there is likely normal brown poop around the sock.
Dogs who eat things that are not food—like toys, fabric, and rocks—are at risk for dangerous digestive obstructions if the object gets stuck. The only way to remove a stuck object is through surgery.
If there are white specks or strings in your dog’s poop, those could be tapeworms. Tapeworm eggs are visible to the naked eye and are often described as grains of short-grain rice. You are unlikely to see adult worms such as hookworms or roundworms in feces unless your dog has a severe infestation. If you see white specks or strands in your dog’s poop, call your veterinarian immediately for dewormer and don’t forget about the importance of decontaminating your yard too!
Mucus in dog poop can look white or yellow. A little bit of mucus can be normal but too much means your dog is having a problem digesting something. That something could be table scraps or non-food items like a tennis ball. When mucus has red in it that means blood and blood of any kind in poop always necessitates a trip to the veterinarian.
Fortunately, internal illness is the least likely of all the things that can cause your dog’s poop to be white. However, for those few who have white or gray poop, the problem is serious. White or gray poop means that digestion is not happening properly (maldigestion).
The liver produces bile, a green-pigmented material that turns poop brown. If the liver is not producing bile, or the gallbladder is not piping it into the intestines to mix with food, then the result is white or gray poop. Since bile is very important in proper digestion, a lack of bile is a serious problem that needs to be investigated by your veterinarian immediately.
Similarly, a pancreas that is not functioning properly can cause light gray poop in dogs. The pancreas is responsible for producing several important digestive enzymes including insulin. Problems with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas can all become life-threatening if not treated.
Dogs producing chalky, white poos are generally being fed a diet that is too high in calcium, or they’re being fed too many bones. This type of poo is most common in dogs that are being fed a raw diet. To better understand the right balance of nutrients that your unique dog requires, speak with your Greencross Vets or try our Dog Food Finder tool.
By checking over your dog’s poo before you chuck it, you can compare its appearance to our dog poo colour chart and gain an insight into their internal health status. Make sure that your dog is healthy and regularly producing brown poos by using our Dog Food Finder tool to understand the right diet for your pet, or by speaking to one of our trained team members at your local Petbarn.
If you’re finding what resembles white grains of rice or long, white strings in your dog’s poo then this is a sign that they have contracted intestinal worms. Bring a sample of your dog’s poo to the clinic and your Greencross Vets can diagnose which worm your dog is suffering from. To protect your dog from an intestinal worm infestation in the future, use our Flea, Tick and Worm Treatment Finder to discover the best product combination that will safeguard your pet.
A normal brown dog poo with red streaks of blood in it indicates that your dog has blood from somewhere in their lower intestinal tract, for example in their large intestine. This is less of a cause for concern than black dog poo, however if the problem persists or your dog’s behaviour changes, take them to your Greencross Vets to diagnose where the blood is coming from.
Black dog poo is typically caused by bleeding high up in the gastrointestinal tract, for example bleeding ulcers found in the stomach or small intestines. This colour of dog poo is often accompanied by a wet and sticky consistency, like tar. The dark colour of the poo means that the blood has been digested and your dog may have internal bleeding so it’s important that you immediately take your dog to your nearest Greencross Vets or Animal Emergency Centre if you see them produce a black dog poo.
¿WHY Are YOUR DOG’S POOP WHITE?
Although it’s definitely not our favorite job as dog owners, it is an important one: doody duty. It’s true; as dog owners, we spend a lot of time dealing with poop. By now, you’ve probably become accustomed to your dog’s typical bowel movements; you know what color, shape, and size to expect. Generally speaking, there is little drama to be found in cleaning up after your pooch, that is, unless you notice something alarmingly different… such as white dog poop.
Our dogs’ excrement provides us with an invaluable window into their health, so it’s important to pay attention to any sudden changes. Luckily, white dog poop is typically not cause for concern. Your dog’s bowel movements can fall on a wide spectrum of sizes, shapes, and colors (yes, even white), and still be considered healthy. Want the full scoop? Keep reading to learn more about the causes and treatments for white dog poop.