Understanding Dog Digestive Health: What the Poop Says

It’s gross, but it’s important. Dog digestion tells a story about the inside of our furry friends from the moment they chew their food to when it leaves as poop. To keep our dogs healthy and to avoid health problems, we must examine this poop every time our dogs use the restroom.  There are many types, ranging in severity ^1. One of the healthy poops should be a sausage with almost no smell and easy to pick up^1. The second kind of healthy poop looks like a log, is softer, but still holds its shape when picked ^1. These are the poops that signify that your dog is healthy, happy, and is eating the right foods. Now we’ll get into the other kinds of poops that may indicate an issue.

If your dog’s poop stinks, has no form, or is just pure liquid, this is diarrhea. It can mean a couple of things. It can mean a new diet adjustment ^1. Some dogs are more sensitive than others and need more time to transition to new foods ^2.  Or maybe they got into something that they shouldn’t have eaten, as dogs tend to do. When this happens, the best thing to do is to wait and see if other symptoms align with diarrhea. If it continues, then talking to a vet is the next step because something could be wrong.

Dog poop that smells terrible, is soft, mushy, and loses its shape when it’s picked up might be a sign of foods that aren’t the best for your dog such as highly processed kibble with few nutrients that your dog might be getting^1. To prevent this, balanced foods high in nutrients and fiber are critical for your dog’s health^1. Hard lumps that are dry and have no moisture might be an indicator that your dog needs more water or water added to their food^1. Some dogs may need a food switch up to help them with digestion^1. It depends on the dog, and it may need to be adjusted based on each dog’s needs.

When it comes to poop colors, it is just as important as the poop’s shape. Different colored poop could indicate a serious problem that needs attention. Light to medium is what it should look like^1. Black is a warning sign that something is very wrong. From bleeding, parasites, or something inside that shouldn’t be there^1. In this situation, seeing this means you need to take a trip to the vet, pronto! Red that shows up in your dog’s poop could be caused by “bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract but may or may not be a problem” ^1. And if your dog is just pooping blood, then you may want to see your vet right away^1. Green poop could mean “eating grass, an issue with the gallbladder, or poisoning”^1. Dogs are curious, sticking their noses into things where they don’t belong. So, if there is any suspicion that your dog might have eaten poison or if something else is wrong, then a trip to the vet is critical! A best-case scenario is that they just ate grass, but a trip to the vet is the best just to be sure.

A serious problem with your dog could arise if they have orange or yellow poop. This could mean they have a problem with their liver^1. Grey or greasy may be a problem with the pancreas, or hopefully, your dog is just eating too much fat^1. White specks in poop may mean worms, which is never a fun situation^1. Tapeworms, or roundworms that are found, need to be treated because they are risky for humans, especially kids ^3. Or maybe too much of that good calcium^1. Very mucus-y poop could mean an infection or other issues^1. The vet is the best case for this scenario to help assess and get treatment^1.               

Healthy dogs should poop once or twice a day^4. More or less poops than normal is something that should be looked into, because it could be a problem^4. Overall, it is important that we humans examine our dogs’ poop each and every day when we walk them. It is important to make sure they are in the best of health, so they live long and happy lives. Whether the poop is healthy and nothing is wrong, or medical issues arise, our dog’s poop tells us what we need to know.

References:

1. Dog, The Farmer’s. 2022. “Dog Poop Quality Chart.” The Farmer’s Dog – Digest. April 22, 2022. https://www.thefarmersdog.com/digest/dog-poop-quality-chart.
2. “Years.com | Fresh Dog Food Subscription & Delivery.” 2025. Years.com. September 22, 2025. https://www.years.com/blogs/guides/how-to-introduce-new-foods-without-upsetting-your-dogs-stomach.
3. Ford, Holly Cooper. 2018. “Pinworms, Roundworms, Tapeworms: The Microscopic Invaders That Could Infect Your Kids.” Pinworms, Roundworms, Tapeworms and Your Kids. July 9, 2018. https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-balance/pinworms-roundworms-tapeworms-kids.
4. Lowrey, Sassafras, CTDI Published: Nov 08, 2022 | 2 Minutes Updated: Nov 09, 2022 Published: Nov 08, 2022 | 2 Minutes Updated: Nov 09, and 2022. n.d. “How Often Should My Dog Be Pooping?” American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-often-should-my-dog-be-pooping/.

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