A dog’s faeces says something about its health. In a healthy dog, the stool is firm and dark brown in color. The stool is abnormal if it has a strong odor, is too hard or too soft, and has a different color. A visit to the vet is necessary for black or bloody stools. This may indicate internal bleeding. Normally, a dog poops twice a day. Does the dog poop more often, or does it have big poops? Then take a look at the diet. Cheap food contains more waste and is usually poorly digested.
Stool and health
The shape, firmness, color and smell of faeces say something about the health of the dog. You can see from the stool whether a dog is getting the right food. Abnormal stools can also be caused by disease, parasites or worms.
How does normal ?? feces out?
Dogs defecate about twice a day. Normally, a dog turd is firm and dark brown in color. The turd gets stuck during defecation and breaks off as soon as it falls to the floor. A dog turd should not give off a strong odor.
Why does a dog defecate more than twice a day?
A dog that poops more than twice a day is fed food with too many unnecessary ingredients. In some cases he gets too much nutrition. Cheap food often contains more unnecessary ingredients. Digestion is poor and the dog needs more food. More expensive dog foods are usually of better quality. The food has been composed with care and contains all necessary nutrients. The ingredients are easily digestible. In that case, the dog will produce less stool. He also needs less nutrition. The difference in price is ultimately not that big. Good nutrition generally ensures that the dog has fewer health problems.
A dog that gets good nutrition
- Is more lively
- Has a beautiful, shiny coat
- Has less chance of itching, skin flakes and extreme shedding
- Has less chance of intestinal problems
- Has less chance of an allergy or hypersensitivity to nutrients
Hard stools
Too little fiber in the diet makes stools hard. Permanently hard stools can cause constipation. When the dog has drunk too little, the stool becomes hard. Chunks contain little moisture, much less than fresh meat. Do you give the dog kibble? Then provide plenty of fresh drinking water. Cancer and a swallowed object also cause hard stools or constipation. In that case, a visit to the vet is necessary.
Soft stools or diarrhea
In many cases, diarrhea is harmless and easily remedied.
What Causes Diarrhea?
- Switching food
- Too much food / snacks
- Stress
- A deworming tablet
- Drinking too much cold water on hot days
If the dog has diarrhea for more than a few days, there could be more to it. A visit to the vet is then necessary.
Causes for persistent diarrhea
- An infection
- Worms
- Parasites
- A bacteria
Black stools
Black stools indicate bleeding at the beginning of the gastrointestinal tract, into the esophagus, stomach or small intestine. The blood can mix with the stool. It emits a pungent scent. A vet must treat the dog.
Gray stools
Gray, slightly greasy stools mean bile or pancreas problems. The liver produces bile. Bile aids in the digestion of fats. In addition, it contains bilirubin, a substance that provides the brown color. If not enough bile (for example with gallstones) is released during digestion, the stool may contain more fat and less color. Gray stools also arise when too few digestive enzymes are produced and secreted in the pancreas. If the stool remains gray, ask a vet for advice.
Green stools
The dog has eaten grass. Dogs eat grass when they don’t feel well, which is how they induce vomiting. If a dog eats grass frequently, he may suffer from gastrointestinal problems. After a strong course of antibiotics, the disturbed intestinal flora can cause green stools.
White stools
Feces turn white if the dog gets too many chew bones. The stool is dry and hard.
Light, yellow stools
The dog receives milk products or rice and cannot digest it properly.
Blood in the stool
Blood in the stool means bleeding in the last part of the intestines (colon, rectum) or at the anus. Blood in the stool can have various causes.
Inflammation of the colon
With an inflammation in the colon, there is a constant urge to defecate, even when there is no more stool. There is mucus in the stool and sometimes blood.
Inflamed anal glands
Dogs have two anal glands on either side of the anus. The anal glands contain a strong smelling liquid that comes out with the stool. This marks the territory. In addition, it is a signal that is issued as a warning or in case of stress. If the dog has soft stools, the anal glands will remain filled and become blocked. This causes itching and irritation. The dog bites and licks under its tail and scrapes the ground with its bottom. A blockage can turn into inflammation. In that case, the vet will flush the glands and prescribe medication.
Worms and parasites
A dog can become infected through breast milk or placenta, but also through contaminated dog turds. To prevent this, it is necessary to deworm the dog a few times a year.
Parvo
Parvo is an infectious disease that is fatal without treatment. Any dog is at risk of infection with the virus, but puppies up to one year old are most susceptible. They have not yet been fully vaccinated and in the period that they start to miss the antibodies from the breast milk and their own immune system is not yet working optimally, they are more susceptible. Vomiting and diarrhea are symptoms of the disease. Blood also comes with it.
Swallowing a foreign object or tumor
Swallowed objects can cause internal damage and must be surgically removed. A tumor can also cause complaints.
