The Most Common Dog Poop Issues and How to Help
Disclaimer: All serious concerns related to your dog’s health should be immediately addressed by your veterinarian. Do not rely solely on the information in this article.
Dog poop gives direct insight to the health and wellness of your dog’s digestive system. So why don’t more dog lovers take advantage of this knowledge and put it to good use?
There are a handful of signs that can lead you to believe that your dog’s poop is not healthy, including color, consistency, issues, or even a combination of the three. By allocating even a minimal amount of time to checking over your dog’s poop, you can visibly see if there are any issues with your furry friend.
The most common issues with dog poop are related to diet and water intake. If these seem to be consistent and normal, further observations may link these issues to parasites, bleeding, and mucus. All of these issues are ones you can see left behind in the poop outside. The great thing about this is by quickly looking at their poop, you can figure out what needs to be done - especially if you are using the Daisy app to help track your dog’s digestive health.
So what is there to learn about when it comes to common issues your dog might have? Let’s find out.
Dog Poop Issues, a Summary:
1. When Should I Worry About My Dog's Poop?
It’s always concerning when you think your dog might not be feeling the best after you see a runny poop left behind outside on a walk. You may be wondering if they ate something they shouldn’t have or if it’s a virus - and more important, you want to make sure they are getting better and that there isn’t a larger issue at hand. So when is a good time to really worry about the health of your pet when it comes to their poop?
One sign that gives you as an owner reason to be more concerned about their poop and health is if you see a substantial change in a short amount of time. Preventive Vet states that “the earlier you catch potential poop problems, the better it will be for you and your dog.” If the issue seems to go on for more than a couple days, or if your dog appears to be uncomfortable or is in clear distress it’s definitely a cause to investigate more. If any of these seem to be a common theme with your furry friend, it might be time to reach out to your veterinarian for help.
2. Why Is My Dog Having Poop Issues?
Issues With Current Food
A reason your dog might be having poop issues could be a direct result of the food they are consuming. Your furry friend could possibly have a dietary restriction or issue that is not well-suited with their current food. If you recently changed their diet or gave them a new treat, take a few days to see if your dog’s belly adjusts. If the food has not been recently changed and the issue seems to persist, consider reaching out to your vet for more answers and next steps.
Water Intake
Poop issues can also be linked to water intake. Your dog may be drinking too much water which can result in diarrhea, or too little, resulting in very firm, dark poops. Consider monitoring your dog’s water habits and bowel movements over the following few days. If there seems to be no change in drinking habits and no improvement with their poop, consider contacting your vet .
Medication
Certain medications can be linked to digestive issues in dogs. A common one to see is either diarrhea or constipation. If your dog has been given a new medication in recent days or weeks, consider reaching out to your veterinarian if digestive problems are not resolved within a few days. If your dog seems to be in immediate distress, get help as soon as possible to eliminate more serious concerns.
Underlying Issues
Poop problems from your dog can also arise from unknown underlying conditions. This could be due to an infection, a parasite, an obstruction, or a variety of other health related issues. If your dog continues to have issues with bowel movements for a period of time with no known cause, you should probably reach out to your veterinarian for more information, and to make sure your furry friend’s health is getting back on track.
3. The Most Common Issues With Dog Poop
Worms and Other Parasites
There are multiple different types of parasites a dog can experience in its lifetime, and The American Kennel Club states “According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), many dogs will be infected with parasites at some point in their life.” Worms are most commonly seen in their poop, resembling small, white, grain-like specs. Because worm parasites are so common, most cases can be treated if you pay attention and seek out a veterinarian's help. Let's go over the most common types and how to best resolve this issue to get your dog’s health back on track:
Roundworms: This is an easily treatable issue and can be identified in your dog’s fecal sample. Roundworms are an intestinal parasite common in puppies, and can cause growth issues if not taken care of at a young age. They can also be troublesome to older dogs if they ingest eggs, which are often found in feces left behind. This parasite will oftentimes not have any symptoms if the case is mild. When it is extreme, vomiting, weight loss, and diarrhea are commonly seen. If you think your dog may have this issue, it’s best to reach out to your veterinarian for further treatment.
Tapeworms: This type of worm is also an intestinal parasite, but cannot infect through ingestion of fecal matter. Tapeworms have to go through a host, such as a flea, or be ingested from an animal who had the disease. These worms grow in the intestines, and can be viewed in a dog’s poop as a grain of rice. Signs your dog could have this issue may be scooting their butt along the ground, seeing pockets of eggs in their stool, or vomiting. If you think your dog may have this parasite, reach out to your veterinarian for treatment.
Hookworms: If left untreated, this disease could be very harmful to dogs - especially young puppies. Hookworms are an intestinal parasite that can infect puppies most easily through the mother dog. Hookworms can also be passed down through stool where they can continue to live for several months, so any dog that comes into contact with this can potentially become infected as well. These worms are known for consuming large amounts of blood and are linked to anemia in dogs. Signs of this worm infection may be weight loss, anemia, or intestinal distress. Reach out to your veterinarian immediately for solutions and treatment for hookworms.
Whipworms: Whipworms are parasites that live in the large intestine of dogs. They can become infected with this parasite from ingesting infected soil, feces, water, or food. This type of worm is very harmful to dogs, causing serious issues such as bloody stool and weight loss. Whipworms can be tricky to identify, so if your dog continues to have problems that are similar to that of whipworms, consider taking them to the veterinarian for testing and further treatment.
Heartworms: Heartworms are a dangerous disease in dogs, but are easily preventable. Transmitted by mosquitoes, prevention by veterinarian treatment starting at a young age is the best option. Heartworms are not seen in dog poop, but are identified through a blood test. If preventable treatment is not given, heartworms can cause lasting effects to your dog’s lungs, heart, and arteries. If your dog becomes infected with this disease, treatment is available, but it can be pricey and take time to treat.
Parvovirus: This is a contagious, viral disease that causes gastrointestinal illness in dogs. It can be spread by dog-to-dog contact, through feces, and from touching surfaces like dog bowls, kennels, and leashes. Parvovirus is most dangerous to young puppies, causing lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. There is no specific medication to kill the virus, and treatment of a sick dog can be very pricey with no guarantee of survival. The best way to protect your puppy or dog is to have them vaccinated against this disease at a young age.
There are multiple different types of parasites, but it is something that can typically be treated easily with medication given by a veterinarian. If you do think a worm parasite is something that may be affecting your furry friend, get help as soon as possible. By getting the help you need, you’ll help your dog live their happiest and healthiest life.
Mucus
Seeing mucus in your dog’s poop shouldn’t cause too much concern if it’s not excessive. Mucus actually comes from glands in the intestinal tract that help bowel movements along, so it can be common to see some of it in your dog’s poop. Mucus might cause concern if there is an excessive amount, when it is accompanied by blood, or if your dog is having further issues such as vomiting or lack of eating and weight loss. If the amount or kind of mucus seems concerning to you, reach out to your veterinarian for further explanation and to eliminate any underlying conditions.
Blood
If you see a red, purple, or black poop from your dog, it’s most likely due to a bleed somewhere in their digestive tract. The bleed could be coming from the upper digestive area, the lower digestive area, or could even be from cuts around the anus. Bloody stool is an issue that should cause concern and be taken seriously. If it seems to be small amounts and is not present too long, check for cuts around your dog’s anus. If it is seen in larger amounts and is clearly not from a small wound, you should reach out to your veterinarian for help immediately. Bloody stool is an issue that needs to be resolved as quickly as possible to ensure there are no larger issues at hand.
Blockage or Constipation
If your dog is having long periods of time between bowel movements or is having dark, dry poops, there is a good chance they might be constipated or dealing with a blockage of some sort. Dog’s might have this issues arise from meditations, an obstruction in their digestive tract, or from dehydration. According to Preventive Vet, “regardless of the reason for a dog’s straining, too much straining, or straining for too long, could actually lead to a prolapse (“popping out”) of their rectum, which itself would require medical attention.” Constipation is an issue that is usually brushed over, so make sure you pay attention to it see if the issue is resolving. If you know your dog has recently started a new medication or upped a dosage, monitor their bowel movements for a few days to see if their digestive system regulates. The same monitoring can be done with water intake. Again, if the issue doesn’t resolve within a few days, contact your vet to make sure it is not an obstruction or another problem.
Overeating
This is an issue that is often overlooked, yet is one of the easiest to monitor. If your dog is overeating, they are consuming more food than their body can digest. This leads to bioavailable nutrition in your dog’s poop, resulting in them wanting to eat it. By limiting your dog’s diet, you can help avoid overeating and reduce their desire to eat their own poop.
4. How You Can Monitor Poop Issues With the Daisy app
The Daisy app offers you as an owner an instant analysis of your dog’s poop contents, making sure their digestive system is doing what it’s supposed to. Being the first AI powered smartphone app, there is a lot you can learn! All you need to do is download the free Daisy app, take your phone with you on a walk or potty break, and snap a photo of your dog’s poop - Daisy will do the rest! Here are some of the features the app has to offer users:
History Tracker
Save and stores all poop information and findings
Automatically organizes information for easy finding
Quick A.I Analysis
Scans the photo of poop for any problems
Identifies poop based on color, consistency, or visable issues
Gives recommendations for improving your dog’s digestive health
Signals
Sends signals for contents found in your dog’s poop, listing significance of findings. This includes all issues such as worms, mucus, blood, and constipation, plus suggestions for treatment and monitoring moving forward.
Danger
Worrisome
Interesting
Concerning
Needs Work
Pretty Good
Healthy
Settings
Can switch to dark mode
Ability to use blur mode to cover up the poop photos
Privacy
All privacy settings available to users
High security standards for data collected and stored on the app
Can contact the Daisy team for questions
More on the privacy policy
5. Final Thoughts
Dog poop can teach you a lot about your furry friend’s digestive health, and it isn’t abnormal to see issues arise every once in a while. However, it is important to make sure you provide help to your dog when circumstances seem to be more serious. By allocating a few minutes a day to observe and document your dog’s bowel movements with Daisy, you can discover things that can be extremely beneficial to their overall health and wellness, ensuring they are living their happiest and healthiest life.