What does a dog poop say about a dog's health?

It may not be the most appetizing topic, but did you know that you can tell if your dog is feeling well by looking at its stool? The smell, texture, frequency, and color of your dog's stool can tell you a lot about your four-legged friend's health. That's why it's important to keep a close eye on your dog's stool and know how to assess it. In this blog, we explain the different types of dog poop, what these types mean, and how to recognize a good dog stool.

What does a normal dog stool look like?

It’s difficult to paint a perfect picture of an ideal dog stool. This depends on the food a dog eats, and every stool also varies per dog. Using the following factors, we provide a guideline on what to look for when assessing a dog’s stool:


Smell. Poop is poop; it will never smell pleasant. But if the stool has a really strong, penetrating odor, it’s likely that something is not being properly digested in the dog’s body.


Consistency. Obviously, loose stool is not desirable, but a stool that is too hard is also uncomfortable for the dog. The texture of a good dog stool is right in between: firm enough to break into pieces but not falling apart completely when it hits the ground.


Amount. The size of the stool naturally relates to the size of the dog. A small dog will have smaller stools than a larger breed. Additionally, diet greatly influences the amount of stool. Dogs fed high-quality food with lots of meat generally produce less stool than dogs fed food with many carbohydrates like grains. This relates to digestibility. If your dog poops frequently during the day, it’s likely the dog is not digesting the food well or is eating too much.


Frequency. How often a dog poops varies per dog. It’s more important to look for regularity in the number of times a dog poops each day. If a dog poops multiple times one day and not at all the next, something is wrong.


Mucus. Normal dog stool does not have a mucus layer. If there is a mucus layer around your dog’s stool, it may indicate giardia or inflammation in the large intestine. Normal dog stool should be easy to pick up and should not leave a trace on the ground.


Color. Normal dog stool is chocolate brown. However, there can be variations that are not necessarily cause for concern. The food your dog eats greatly affects stool color. Certain animal species in the diet can make the stool appear darker or lighter. We will explain this in more detail below.

Different stool colors

Brown stool
Good news! Brown dog stool is normal and healthy. The shade can vary from dark to light depending on the ingredients in the food.


White stool
White, chalky dog stool can mean your dog’s diet contains too much calcium. Calcium is found in raw meat bones, certain vegetables, and grains. Too much calcium often results in overly hard stool. If your dog’s stool is white, reduce the amount of bones in its raw meat diet or look for dog food with a lower calcium content.


Yellow stool
A dog with yellow stool may be eating a diet too rich in grains. Yellow stool can also indicate a food intolerance or problems with the gallbladder, pancreas, or liver. Always consult a veterinarian if you suspect this.


Green stool
Green dog stool usually occurs because the dog has eaten too much grass or other green products. Read here why dogs eat grass.


Red stool
Red-colored stool can indicate bleeding in the last part of the digestive tract. Causes can vary widely, such as infection, parasites, or a foreign object stuck in the intestines. In this case, always contact your veterinarian.


Black stool
Black stool usually points to bleeding higher up in the dog’s gastrointestinal tract. Again, call the vet if you find your dog’s stool is black.


Stool with white spots
Brown stool with white spots (or longer white strands) can indicate that a dog has worms. Worms are usually relatively easy to treat with a deworming medication, which is available from the vet or pet store.