Dog Poo 101: A Pet Parent's Guide to Dog Poo

Illustration of a dog walking away from its poop.

Health & Wellbeing

3 min read

In this Guide

It might sound weird, but your dog's poo can provide valuable insight into their health. A healthy dog poop should be chocolate brown, firm, and easy to pick up – nothing too messy.

This guide is here to help you understand what's normal and what's not when it comes to your dog's stools, but if you're ever unsure or worried, always check in with your vet.

Diagram of the perfect dog poo — chocolate brown, firm and easy to pick up

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What your dog's poo is telling you

My dog's poop looks weird

Colour can tell you a lot. Normal dog poo is light to dark brown. If your dog's poop is a different colour now and then, it's probably fine, but if it keeps happening, it's a good idea to let your vet know.

What different colours in your dog's poo might mean:

White or chalky: This could be a sign that they have too much calcium in their diet. It's normal for dog poo of a dog fed a raw, unprocessed diet to turn white within 24 hours, but a fresh white, crumbly poo isn't normal.
Orange: Might be from carrots or food dyes in processed foods.
Green: Could be from eating grass, or a sign of a problem with the liver or gallbladder.
Grey: Might mean your dog's eating too much fat, or something's up with their pancreas.
Red streaks: Could be bleeding in the lower digestive tract or a sore near (or just inside) their bottom.
Very dark/black: Might mean bleeding further up in the digestive system.

Chart showing what different dog poo colours can mean

My dog's poo is too soft or messy

Healthy poop should hold its shape and be easy to pick up. Here's what might be going on if it's not:

Big, messy poos: Often caused by highly processed food.
Hard, dry poos: Could be a sign your dog is dehydrated or constipated.
Diarrhoea: Usually means your dog ate something they shouldn't have or picked up a bug.
Watery poo: Might be stress or an infection.
Mix of soft and firm parts: Could be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Chart showing dog poo shapes and consistency and what they can mean

There's weird stuff in my dog's poop

Every now and then, you might see odd things in your dog's poo like bits of their toys, grass and leaves. Here's what else to watch for:

Worms: These can show up in poop and are often picked up from other dogs or places like the park. Your vet can recommend the right dewormer.
Mucous coating (like sausage skin): This might mean a gut infection. A one-off usually isn't concerning but if it persists speak to your vet.
Greasy-looking poop: Could mean your dog's not digesting fat properly or they're eating too much of it.

Chart showing what unusual contents in dog poo can mean

Keep an eye on your dog's poo

If your dog's poop is occasionally weird but they're acting normal and eating, playing, and happy, then it's probably nothing serious. But if things don't go back to normal in a day or two, or if your dog seems unwell, or you're seeing more serious symptoms (blood in stools, dark stools) play it safe, don't wait, and give your vet a call. Monitoring your dog's poo is one of the easiest ways to keep tabs on their health.