Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
.

Our Location

(513) 932-6625

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • What To Expect
    • Veterinary Resources
    • Payment Options
  • About Us
    • Services
    • Meet Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Photo Gallery
  • Products
  • veterinary topics
    • Pet Health
      • Chronic Conditions
      • Digestive and Oral Health
      • Diseases and Viruses
      • Pests and Parasites
      • Orthopedics
    • Today's Veterinarian
    • Choosing Your Pet
      • Finding Your Pet
      • Cats
      • Dogs
      • Exotics
        • Amphibians
        • Birds
        • Reptiles
          • Lizards
          • Turtles
      • Small Mammals
        • Ferrets
        • Rabbits
        • Domesticated Animals
          • Prairie Dogs
        • Pocket Pets
          • Chinchillas
          • Guinea Pigs
          • Hamsters
          • Hedgehogs
          • Rats
      • Livestock
        • Cows
        • Donkeys, Horses & Mules
        • Goats
        • Pigs
        • Poultry
        • Sheep
    • Living With Your Pet
      • Bringing Your Pet Home
      • Children and Pets
      • Providing Care
      • Travel
      • Saying Goodbye
    • Newsletter Library
      • Tips for Pet Owners
      • Seasonal Topics
      • Nutrition & Food
      • Recognizing Illness
      • Visiting the Vet
      • Equine
      • Cats
      • Keeping Pets Healthy
      • Fleas & Parasites
      • Pet Dangers
      • Behavior & Training
      • Newsletter Archive
        • Fun with Pets
        • Unbelievable Pets
    • Video Newsroom
      • Health Topics
      • Technology and Science
      • Other Interests
    • Client Survey
    • Pets4Kids
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletter Library >
  • Keeping Pets Healthy >
  • What Your Pet's Stools Say About Their Health

What Your Pet's Stools Say About Their Health

  • Created in Newsletter Library, Keeping Pets Healthy
kitten litter box

Do you favor the rapid swoop-and-bag approach to picking up your dog's stools or scooping cat litter? Although most pet owners would rather not prolong contact with their pet's feces, sneaking an occasional peak can provide valuable clues about your furry friend's health and habits.

Brown, Green or Yellow: What Stool Colors Mean

Normal stools are brown, although stool color may vary slightly depending on your pet's diet. Feces get their brown color from bile, a liquid produced by the liver that aids in the digestive process. If your dog's stools are yellow or white, he or she may have a liver condition. Pale stools may also mean that digested food passes through the gastrointestinal tract too quickly or might indicate that there is a problem with your pet's gallbladder or pancreas.

Have you noticed that your pet's stools are suddenly black or red? Red stools or red streaks in feces occur when bleeding occurs in the lower part of the digestive tract. Black stools may be a sign of bleeding higher in the digestive tract. Although the blood was originally red, it darkens as it makes it way through the small intestines. Does your pet enjoy snacking on grass? Although the habit is usually harmless, it can turn the stools green.

Stool Odor and Consistency Is Just as Important as Color

Feces never smell good, but some bowel movements smell worse than others. All stools have an odor, but the smell shouldn't be overwhelming if your pet is healthy. Ideally, stools should be firm but pliant and resemble the sausage link segments.

Both diarrhea and hard stools can be a sign of health problem. Soft, loose stools may be caused by:

  • The Things Your Pet Eats. If your pet foraged through the garbage for table scraps or found something interesting to eat on his nightly walk, it's not unusual for diarrhea to occur.
  • A Change in Diet. Switching to a different brand or type of food can upset your pet's gastrointestinal system and cause diarrhea.
  • A Food Allergy. A food allergy or intolerance may affect food absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
  • An Infection or Illness. Loose stools may be a sign of a viral illness or a bacterial or parasitic infection.
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). IBD doesn't just affect people, but can make your cat or dog's life uncomfortable too. Other IBD symptoms include vomiting, flatulence, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Stools may be harder and smaller than normal if your pet is constipated or dehydrated. The problem can occur if your pet eats a high-fiber diet, eats pet food that contains too many fillers or has kidney disease.

If hip dysplasia or arthritis is a problem, defecating may become such an uncomfortable experience that your pet avoids it as much as possible. Unfortunately, ignoring the urge to go may cause constipation. Cats may occasionally develop constipation because they avoid using a litter box that's too dirty in their opinion.

If it's been a few days since your pet has had a bowel movement, it's time to make an appointment with the veterinarian. In some cases, constipation can occur due to a life-threatening blockage in the gastrointestinal tract.

Greasy feces or mucus-covered stools may also indicate a health problem. Mucus may appear due to an inflammation in the large intestine or rectum, constipation, food allergies, dietary changes, stress, constipation, infections or illnesses, polyps, tumors, or an infestation of tapeworms, whipworms or other parasites.

The Contents of Your Pet's Stools Provide Important Clues

It's not unusual to see small pieces of your lawn in your pet's stools if your dog or cat enjoys eating grass. From time to time, you may notice other objects in the stools, such as:

  • Hair. Hair may be particularly noticeable in cat feces, but can occur in any pet. Excess hair in the stools, coupled with bare spots on your pet's skin, may be signs of allergy or parasitic infestation.
  • Worms. If your pet's stools seem to move, it's not your imagination. you may spot a few wriggling worms that look like grains of rice in the stool if your pet has tapeworms. Roundworms resemble long strands of spaghetti.
  • Very Strange Things. Pets don't always limit their snacks to things we consider food. You may notice pieces of ribbons, string, aluminum foil, cotton balls, rocks or soap in your pet's stools.

Are you worried that changes in your pet's stools could be a sign of a health problem? Call us to schedule an appointment for your furry friend.

Sources:

PetMD: What Should My Dog’s Poop Look Like?

https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/how-should-my-dogs-poop-look

Rodale’s Organic Life: 6 Things Your Dog’s Poop Can Tell You About Its Health

https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/home/healthy-dog-poop

Pet MD: What Should My Cat’s Poop Look Like?

https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/what-should-my-cats-poop-look

  • Pet Health
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Digestive and Oral Health
    • Diseases and Viruses
    • Pests and Parasites
    • Orthopedics
  • Today's Veterinarian
  • Choosing Your Pet
    • Finding Your Pet
    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Exotics
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Reptiles
        • Lizards
        • Turtles
    • Small Mammals
      • Ferrets
      • Rabbits
      • Domesticated Animals
        • Prairie Dogs
      • Pocket Pets
        • Chinchillas
        • Guinea Pigs
        • Hamsters
        • Hedgehogs
        • Rats
    • Livestock
      • Cows
      • Donkeys, Horses & Mules
      • Goats
      • Pigs
      • Poultry
      • Sheep
  • Living With Your Pet
    • Bringing Your Pet Home
    • Children and Pets
    • Providing Care
    • Travel
    • Saying Goodbye
  • Newsletter Library
    • Tips for Pet Owners
    • Seasonal Topics
    • Nutrition & Food
    • Recognizing Illness
    • Visiting the Vet
    • Equine
    • Cats
    • Keeping Pets Healthy
    • Fleas & Parasites
    • Pet Dangers
    • Behavior & Training
    • Newsletter Archive
      • Fun with Pets
      • Unbelievable Pets
  • Video Newsroom
    • Health Topics
    • Technology and Science
    • Other Interests
  • Client Survey
  • Pets4Kids
No form settings found. Please configure it.

Featured Links

Click to find out more

  • Services

    We strive to provide complete care for our patients. Learn more about all the services we provide.

  • Make An Appointment

    Ww will do our best to accommodate your busy schedule. Schedule an appointment today!

  • Online Forms

    Our patient forms are available online so they can be completed in the convenience of your own home or office.

Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 am

6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am

6:00 pm

Wednesday:

By Appt.

6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am

6:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am

6:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am

12:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Closed

Location

Find us on the map

Featured Articles

Read about interesting topics

  • The Next Step

    The grieving process includes accepting the reality of your loss, accepting that the loss and accompanying feelings are painful, and adjusting to your new life that no longer includes your pet. How do I tell my family? Family members usually are already aware of a pet's problems. However, you should ...

    Read More
  • Battling Canine Cancer

    Every day, Cindy Fleischner lines up her crew of cuddly canines for breakfast. As the four other dogs eat, Cindy pulls Katy, her 12 year old Shepherd mix aside for a peanut butter treat. Katy is battling lymphoma and this treat hides her daily dose of chemotherapy drugs. Katy is not alone in this war. ...

    Read More
  • Gastroenteritis in Pets

    Lengthy bouts of vomiting and diarrhea can be a sign that your pet has gastroenteritis, a common condition that occurs when the lining of the stomach and intestines becomes irritated. Since frequent diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, a visit to the veterinarian is a good idea if you notice ...

    Read More
  • What You Need to Know About Antibiotics

    Using antibiotics incorrectly may harm, rather than help, your pet. ...

    Read More
  • Training Tips for Your Pets

    Has training your pet been a frustrating experience? These training tips may help. ...

    Read More
  • World Rabies Day

    Has your pet's rabies vaccine expired? Update it during World Rabies Day on September 28. ...

    Read More
  • Why A Vet Is Your Best Defense During A Zombie Apocalypse

    Could your veterinarian help you survive a zombie apocalypse? ...

    Read More
  • 8 Common Reasons Why Your Dog is Snoring

    Do you know why your dog snores? ...

    Read More
  • Becoming a Service Dog: Training and Temperament Are Key Factors

    Service dogs help thousands of disabled Americans become more independent. The first service dogs guided visually impaired people, but today, the dogs assist people who have a variety of disabilities, ranging from hearing loss to seizures to cerebral palsy. Before a dog can become a service animal, it ...

    Read More
  • How to Make Vet Visits a More Pleasant Experience for Your Pet

    Does your pet dislike visiting the vet? These tips may make visits less stressful. ...

    Read More
No form settings found. Please configure it.
  • Copyright © 2022 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map