As veterinarians, we use poop as a window into your dog’s digestive health – and you can too! Here are the key steps we recommend to help you examine your dog’s stool and spot early signs of trouble:

• Look at Consistency: A healthy stool should be firm but not too hard – think log-shaped and easy to pick up. Very soft, mushy, or watery stools can indicate dietary issues, gut infections, or even stress-related inflammation.
  
  
• Check Colour: Normal dog poop should be a medium brown shade. Black, red, or white poop can be a serious red flag, signaling anything from bleeding to liver or gallbladder issues.
  
  
• Watch for Mucus or Blood: A little mucus is normal, especially if your dog has had mild digestive upset. But excessive mucus or any visible blood means it’s time to check in with your vet – these can indicate inflammation or infection.
  
  
• Look for Foreign Objects: Dogs love to chew on things they shouldn’t. Bits of plastic, string, or even grass can pass through and show up in their stool. If you see these regularly, your dog might need more supervision or a vet check to prevent gut blockages.
  
  
• Do a Sniff Test: While healthy dog poop isn’t exactly pleasant, it shouldn’t be especially pungent. An overpowering or foul smell can be a sign of gut imbalances or poor digestion.

Well-formed, medium-brown stools that hold their shape without being too dry or crumbly are the gold standard for healthy digestion. They’re easy to pick up, don’t leave residue, and typically mean your dog’s diet is well-balanced and their gastrointestinal system is working efficiently.

Stick with your current feeding routine, and continue monitoring for consistency.

Poop that’s soft, squishy, or collapses when picked up, but isn’t fully watery, often suggests your dog’s food isn’t being properly digested. This can happen due to a new food, dietary sensitivity, a mild imbalance in gut bacteria, or too many rich treats. You may also notice more frequent bowel movements or gas.

What next? Try switching to a limited-ingredient or sensitive digestion diet, and consider adding a probiotic to help restore balance in the gut.

Should I see my vet? If stools remain soft beyond three days, worsen in texture, or become more frequent or foul-smelling, speak with your vet. Persistent shapeless stool may indicate underlying inflammation or a developing food intolerance.

Liquid or pudding-like stool with no form is often a sign of acute gastrointestinal upset. 

Diarrhoea in dogs may be caused by stress, dietary indiscretion (like scavenging something outdoors), parasites, or bacterial imbalance. These stools may be light in colour, smelly, or contain mucus or undigested food. Dogs may seem restless, strain to defecate, or have multiple urgent bowel movements in a day.

What next? If your dog seems otherwise well, you can offer a bland diet of plain turkey or chicken and pumpkin, and ensure they’re drinking water. Avoid treats or table scraps entirely.

Should I see my vet? If the diarrhoea lasts more than 24–48 hours, or if your dog becomes lethargic, refuses food, or begins vomiting, call your vet. Puppies, seniors, and small breeds can dehydrate quickly.

A slimy film on the outside of otherwise normal or soft stool usually indicates inflammation in the large intestine (colon). You might also notice that your dog is pooping more frequently, or straining at the end of the bowel movement. 

This can be triggered by a sudden food change, mild infection, parasites, or post-antibiotic disruption to the gut flora.

What next? A gut-soothing food rich in fibre, paired with a high-quality probiotic, may help settle the inflammation. If your dog hasn’t had a recent dewormer, this is also a good time to check that box.

Should I see my vet? If the mucus continues for more than two days, appears alongside blood, or your dog is uncomfortable during defecation, consult your vet.

Stools that are small, dry, and passed with difficulty suggest your dog has constipation. You may see your dog squatting repeatedly without success or whining while trying to poop. This can result from dehydration, too little fibre, lack of exercise, or excessive bone content in the diet (common in some raw diets).

What next? Increase water intake by offering wet food or broth, and ensure they have regular access to water throughout the day. Feeding moisture-rich meals and adding fibre (like pumpkin or psyllium husk) can help soften the stool.

Should I see my vet? If your dog hasn’t passed stool in more than 48 hours, is visibly straining, or appears to be in pain, schedule a vet appointment promptly. Severe constipation can escalate into impaction and may require medical intervention.

Well-formed, medium to dark brown stool is a strong indicator that your dog’s digestion is functioning normally. The colour comes from bile and digested food pigments: a good sign that food is moving through the system at the right pace. 

Healthy poop will be uniform in colour, log-shaped, and easy to pick up without leaving residue.

Stool that’s bright yellow, mustard-coloured, or orange may suggest food intolerance, an overly fast digestive transit, or irritation in the small intestine. 

Sometimes bile isn’t reabsorbed properly during digestion, leading to this colour. You might also notice a slightly sour or metallic smell. A recent diet change, new treats, or medications can all contribute. 

What next? Try feeding a gentle, single-protein, sensitive-stomach formula, and avoid table scraps or processed chews.

Should I see my vet? If the yellow/orange stool continues for more than 48 hours or is paired with soft texture, appetite loss, or vomiting, it’s time to speak with your vet. Persistent yellow stools can indicate liver or bile duct issues that require further investigation.

Green poop can be caused by your dog eating large amounts of grass, which may be a behavioural response to nausea or boredom. However, in some cases, it may indicate gallbladder problems or intestinal parasites. Green stools are often soft or loose, and you may notice that your dog seems restless, slightly off their food, or gassy.

What next? Start by observing your dog’s behaviour and removing access to grass for a few days. Re-evaluate their diet and ensure they’re not chewing on any plants that could be causing irritation.

Should I see my vet? If the green colour persists across multiple bowel movements or is paired with vomiting or fatigue, consult your vet to rule out underlying issues.

Bright red blood in stool (often seen as streaks or droplets) typically indicates bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract. This may result from anal gland irritation, straining, colitis, or rectal trauma (especially after constipation or prolonged diarrhoea). The stool itself may look normal, soft, or slightly mucus-coated.

What next? Monitor your dog’s behaviour and bowel habits for 24 hours. You can increase fibre (like steamed pumpkin or psyllium) to ease straining and keep the anal area clean.

Should I see my vet? If the bleeding increases, recurs, or is accompanied by other symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, or visible pain when defecating, book a vet appointment. Ongoing blood in the stool should never be ignored.

Black, shiny, or tar-like stool is a serious red flag. This appearance is often caused by digested blood from higher up in the gastrointestinal tract, like the stomach or small intestine, and may indicate bleeding ulcers, clotting disorders, or internal injury.

Dogs with black stool may also appear tired, have pale gums, vomit dark material, or refuse food.

What next? This is not a wait-and-see situation. Seek veterinary care immediately. Your vet may run bloodwork, imaging, or faecal tests to identify and treat the cause. Delaying care in these cases can be life-threatening.

Stool that appears white, light grey, or chalky often occurs in dogs on a raw diet with too much bone content. It may also indicate a lack of bile, poor fat digestion, or dehydration. This stool is typically dry, crumbly, and may be harder to pass.

What next? If your dog is on a raw diet, assess their calcium-to-phosphorus balance and reduce bone-heavy meals. Offer more water-rich foods, and ensure hydration throughout the day.

Should I see my vet? If chalky stools persist or your dog begins to strain, skips bowel movements, or shows discomfort when pooping, contact your vet. Pale stools outside of a raw diet context may point to liver, gallbladder, or pancreatic issues.

Grey, shiny, or slippery-looking stool often means your dog isn’t digesting fat properly. This can happen due to pancreatic insufficiency or a high-fat diet. These stools may also be bulkier and carry a pungent, sour, or oily smell.

What next? Switching to a low-fat, easily digestible veterinary diet is a good first step. Avoid feeding rich treats, fatty meats, or leftovers while you monitor your dog’s progress.

Should I see my vet? If the grey colour remains for more than 2 days or your dog is losing weight, experiencing appetite changes, or having frequent stools, consult your vet. Fat malabsorption often requires medical diagnosis and enzyme supplementation.

Your dog’s stool isn’t the only way they show digestive discomfort. Keep an eye out for these behaviour changes:

• Straining during a bowel movement → could mean constipation or anal gland irritation
• Restlessness before pooping → often a sign of nausea or urgency
• Frequent grass eating → can indicate gut irritation or digestive upset
• Avoiding their own poop → may react to unfamiliar smell due to infection or imbalance
• New accidents inside → could point to poor stool control, often from inflammation

Keeping an eye on your dog’s poo is an essential part of caring for them. It’s how I’ve picked up early signs of allergies, pancreatitis, infections, and even stress-related gut issues in dogs who otherwise seemed “fine.”

Trust your instincts. Take note of what’s changing. And know that you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

This article was written by Dr Jane Miller