Dog Poop

If a dog is eliminating more than the number of feeding per day it may be an issue of poor quality food with low digestibility and or a high fiber diet which causes a large volume and increased defecation frequency and poor stools. (Loose & smelly) [1]

“As a diet’s digestibility increases, fecal volume decreases significantly. In addition, a highly digestible pet food produces firm and well formed feces”
— Canine And Feline Nutrition: A Resource For Companion Animal Professionals - Linda Case

How Much Time End-to-End (Feeding to Elimination)

As a rule of thumb it takes about 12-14 hours for the stomach to empty and between 12-30 hours for food to transit through the intestines. [2] The amount of time food takes to transit the system will vary depending on the food being fed and the individual dog. Adding a small amount of canned pumpkin (not pie filling) or canned spinach to a dog’s food “allows you to track the transit time due to color change in the stool, either orange-y or dark green.” {3]

What is normal poop?

“you want it to be a cigar you can kick across a shag rug”
— Dr. Richard Patton

“you want it to be a cigar you can kick across a shag rug”

“Consistency - Your pup’s poop should be firm enough to pick up but not so hard that they struggle to defecate.” https://early.sundaysfordogs.com/blog/what-should-my-dog-s-poop-look-like

“Color - Your pup’s poop should be light brown to dark brown in color. Sometimes their poop can be multiple shades of brown depending on the variety of food and treats they eat. Other colors - such as yellow, orange/green, red, grey or black could be a sign of an underlying health issue and a cause for concern.” https://early.sundaysfordogs.com/blog/what-should-my-dog-s-poop-look-like

“Bright red streaks may indicate bleeding low in the GI tract, while tarry black or maroon stools can be caused by bleeding in the stomach or small intestines. Clay-colored or pale yellow stools can be caused by problems with the liver, gallbladder or pancreas. Any significant deviation from the chocolate brown color that persists for more than one or two stools is cause for concern.” http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/what-you-should-know-about-your-pets-poop

“Shape - Stool should be formed into little logs (2 being optimal) - Firm, but not hard, pliable. Segmented in appearance. Little or no residue on ground when picked up. https://www.proplanveterinarydiets.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PPPVD-Fecal-Scoring-Chart-EN-FINAL.pdf

If it is too round (think small little balls) that can mean your dog is constipated (score of 1 ) or if it’s very skinny that could be a sign of soft stool or impending diarrhea” https://early.sundaysfordogs.com/blog/what-should-my-dog-s-poop-look-like

There is actually a poop quality scoring chart. (2 being the optimal score)

Fecal Scoring Chart

Constipation

https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/11/11/constipation-in-pet-dogs.aspx

“If your pet is consistently producing narrow, loose stools, he may benefit from the addition of a soluble fiber called slippery elm bark to his food. When slippery elm combines with digestive juices, it produces a gel-like material called mucilage, which coats and soothes the GI tract and helps to firm the stool. About one-half teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight per meal should do the trick.”“Another very beneficial add-in to pet meals is canned or freshly steamed 100% pumpkin at about one teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight, one to two times a day.”

“One of the most frequent causes of constipation in dogs is dehydration. If you suspect your pup is constipated or you’ve noticed dry, hard stools when she’s able to go, it’s important to monitor her water intake.”

How Much Water?

“If your dog ingests a non-food foreign object, which dogs are known to do, or even a big chunk of bone, it can lodge in his bowel and cause an obstruction around which stool cannot pass. If your dog is having trouble pooping and he’s been known to swallow things he shouldn’t, my advice is to contact your vet if the situation doesn’t resolve in a day or two.”

“If you know for a fact your pet has ingested something large that could create an obstruction, don’t delay as this can develop quickly into a very serious, even fatal, problem.”

6 Ways to help your constipated dog

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2023-12-20-dog-constipation/?ui=028fe7d59afdcef4cfb230515731984204e5fc3af1c6b8a62459172cbc1dd3ba&sd=20140224&cid_source=petsnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1HL&cid=20231220Z1&foDate=true

Types

The type or consistency of poop can provide clues to the source of the problem. You can view pictures here of the differing types of diarrhea listed below.

“Firm, soft or runny poop containing blood or blood clots is almost always a sign of a serious health problem requiring immediate attention. Fresh blood indicates current bleeding, typically from the large intestine or the anus or anal glands.”

If your dog is “sluggish, running a fever or feels warm to the touch, or there's a change in her behavior, you should contact your veterinarian.”

Mastering the Art of Bringing Your Pet's Stool to the Vet

Normal poop

Normal and healthy poop should be like a cigar you can kick across a shag carpet without leaving a trace.  

Soft poop

Soft poop and/or large volumes of poop can be caused by poor quality proteins in the food.

Firm followed by loose/soft poop

Issues involving small intestine

  • bacterial overgrowth

  • maldigestion

  • malabsorption

  • food intolerances

Soft unformed poop (no visible mucous)

  • Change in diet*

  • Indiscriminate eating

  • Over-eating

  • Giardia

  • Intestinal parasite

 Watery diarrhea

  • Sign of stress

  • Viral infection (e.g. parvovirus)

  • Parasite infestation

 Watery diarrhea w/ mucous

  • Viral infection (e.g. parvovirus)

  • Parasite infestation (e.g. Coccidia)

Greasy-looking gray or off-color soft poop/diarrhea

  • too much fat in diet.

Soft or watery stool with visible worms, or eggs

  • Parasite infestation

Soft poop with mucous

  • Parvovirus

  • Parasites

Diarrhea w/blood

  • Parvovirus

  • giardia (long-standing)

  • Whipworms

Black, tarry poop (Injury to GI track)

White chalky poop

  • Raw diets too high in calcium or bone

causes

Change in diet

  • Dogs lacking a healthy GI system that don’t eat a variety of foods are subject to sensitivities with diet change. Healthy dogs can change foods often without GI upset. It’s actually recommended to rotate differing foods and brands on a regular basis.

Indiscriminate eating

  • e.g. getting into trash, or eating other animals poop.

Over-eating

  • The most common source of diarrhea is eating a large volume of food. This can be corrected by lowering the amount if over-feeding which you can judge by a dog’s body condition score. 4 or 5 being ideal. Change diet to higher fat and lower carbs to lower the volume of food fed.

Food Intolerance/Sensitivity

Intestinal parasites

Giardia is a common source or reoccurring diarrhea. This parasite is not shed with every poop so vet in-house testing will often miss it. It’s recommended to have poop sample sent to the lab (Antech or Idexx) for a full panel. (ELISA or PCR)

Viral Infection

  • Parvovirus

GI Tract Problems

“The term irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is often used interchangeably with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but they are actually somewhat different conditions. However, left untreated, I believe IBS can progress to full-blown IBD in dogs.”

Stress & Anxiety

Analysis by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker

Occasional episodes of diarrhea are to be expected if you have a dog in the family

  • There are many potential causes of diarrhea in dogs, but the most common is dietary indiscretion

  • Diarrhea comes in many forms, and you can sometimes tell the cause by the appearance of the stool

  • Diarrhea symptoms include not only explosive loose, watery stools, but also hunching and straining that looks more like constipation than the opposite

  • Home care for a bout of diarrhea in an otherwise healthy dog can include a short-term fast, followed by a bland diet

“Puppies, small breeds and older dogs are at high risk of becoming dehydrated from even a single episode of diarrhea. If your dog seems fine and healthy after a bout of diarrhea, it's safe to simply keep a careful eye on her. But if you notice any lethargy, a fever, or a change in behavior, you should call your veterinarian.”

“If your dog seems fine otherwise but is having recurring episodes of diarrhea that don't seem to be resolving, or episodes that last more than three days, it's also time to call the vet for an appointment. And needless to say, if she's passing blood in her stool or you notice any weakness or other signs of debilitation along with diarrhea, it's important to get her to the vet immediately.”

Parvovirus

“Diarrhea has never had a reputation for smelling good, of course, but when a dog has parvovirus, his odor can be particularly foul. The smell comes from dead tissue. The virus mounts such an attack on the lining of the intestine that it causes intestinal cells to die. The dead cells slough off and make their way into a dog’s waste. “Dead tissue has a really nasty odor,” says Dr. Berg.”

“Parvovirus, often accompanied by lethargy and vomiting in addition to smelly (and often bloody) diarrhea, is an extremely serious, life-threatening disease if left untreated. Just about all pet dogs are inoculated against the condition, but if for some reason yours has missed his booster shot — or your puppy has missed one of his initial vaccinations — and he exhibits the characteristic symptoms of the illness, don’t delay in getting him to the doctor. Young dogs are more apt than others to develop the problem.”

https://www.tuftsyourdog.com/doghealthandmedicine/clues-to-your-dogs-health-can-be-just-a-whiff-away/?MailingID=5&st=email&sc=WU20200404&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Clues+to+Your+Dogs+Health+Can+Be+Just+a+Whiff+Away&utm_campaign=WU20200404

Giardia

Giardia is a common source or reoccurring diarrhea. This parasite is not shed with every poop so vet in-house testing will often miss it. It’s recommended to have poop sample sent to the lab (Antech or Idexx) for a full panel. (ELISA or PCR)

“Most giardia infections are asymptomatic, meaning there are no obvious signs your pet is infected. When symptoms are present, the most common is diarrhea, which can be acute, chronic or it can come and go.”

“Due to the intermittent nature of loose stools associated with giardia, many people assume the dog got into something he shouldn't have, or had a meal that didn't agree with him. Consequently, many cases of giardia go undiagnosed.”

“I recommend an ELISA or PCR test for giardia for any pet with a history of GI issues. A fecal ELISA or PCR test is preferable to a fecal flotation test because it checks for the presence of giardia antigens. A fecal float only detects giardia cysts, which may or may not be in the particular stool sample being tested.”

https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/01/14/giardia-in-pets.aspx

For more information on helping you dog with giardia tap or click here.

Diarrhea help

What to Do When Your Dog Gets Diarrhea by Dr. Karen Becker

Treating a Pet With Diarrhea at Home

“If your dog is otherwise healthy and his behavior is normal, my recommendation is to withhold food — not water, just food — for 12 hours. A short-term fast gives the GI tract a chance to rest, repair and restore itself.”

“Follow the 12-hour food fast with a bland diet. I recommend cooked, fat-free, ground turkey and 100% canned pumpkin. If canned pumpkin isn't available, you can use fresh, steamed pumpkin. If you can't use either one of those, you can use cooked sweet potato or even cooked white potato.

“Many veterinarians still recommend a bland diet of ground beef and rice. I don't agree. Even the leanest ground beef is high in fat, which can worsen GI upset, and boiling it doesn't substantially decrease the fat content. That's why I recommend fat-free meat for bland diets.”

Why Pumpkin Is Better Than Rice in Your Pet's Bland Diet

Canned pumpkin (100 percent pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling) provides about 80 calories and 7 grams of soluble fiber per cup, compared to 1.2 grams of fiber in a cup of cooked white rice. Pumpkin is very rich in soluble fiber (the type that dissolves in water to form a viscous gel) that coats and soothes irritated bowels. Soluble fiber also delays gastric emptying, slowing down GI transit times, and therefore the number of episodes of diarrhea.

Why Ground Turkey Is Better Than Other Protein Sources

My reason for recommending turkey is simple — it's lower in fat than hamburger and chicken (and bison meat). Fat can worsen GI upset and exacerbate pancreatitis. Rinsing boiled or baked meat removes surface fat, but it can't remove the fat that remains in the flesh.

For this reason, I recommend fat-free meat for bland diets. You can easily find fat-free ground turkey or turkey breast in most grocery stores, along with 100 percent solid packed pumpkin in the baking aisle (make sure it's not pumpkin pie filling). If you prefer organic and non-GMO foods, look for fresh organic pumpkin and turkey meat.

Additional Treatment Suggestions

“I also recommend keeping some slippery elm on hand. Slippery elm is a neutral fiber source that works really well to ease episodes of diarrhea. I call it "nature's Pepto-Bismol" because it reduces GI inflammation and acts as a non-irritating source of fiber to bulk up the stool and slow down GI transit time.”

“Give your dog about a half a teaspoon or a capsule for each 10 pounds of body weight with every bland meal. I also recommend adding in a good-quality probiotic once the stool starts to firm up.”

For the complete article: https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2019/05/22/acute-diarrhea-in-dogs.aspx

Probiotics

Enterococcus faecium SF68 - For Cats & Dogs

Enterococcus faecium SF68 - For Cats & Dogs

Bifidobacterium longum BL999 has been reported to help with behavior and mood. Its easy to find Bifidobacterium longum, but to date I’ve only found the BL999 strain in the “Calming Care” product made by Purina. You may need to inquire of the manufacturer of any product you consider to determine strain.

Genus - Bifidobacterium

Species - longum

Strain - BL999

ADSORBS TOXINS, VIRUSES, BACTERIA

ADSORBS TOXINS, VIRUSES, BACTERIA

Bio-Sponge® is an intestinal protectant designed to help support healthy intestinal function. This formula has substantial capacity to adsorb toxins, viruses, bacteria and free radicals. A university study showed that Bio-Sponge adsorbed 99% of clostridium difficile and clostridium perfringens toxins in vitro.

DiaGel® is a unique, all-natural, oral formula that only requires 1 dose and gets rid of most diarrhea cases in a day. DiaGel's unique formula eliminates bacteria and flushes toxins in the GI tract, stopping diarrhea. Common times to use DiaGel® include garbage gut, changes in diet and/or water, and stress and environment changes, like boarding, breeding, traveling and showing. DiaGel tastes great, can be used with antibiotics, has no known side effects, is easy to give, and is approved by the NASC (National Animal Supplement Council).

Easy - No Stink poop Clean Up & disposal

No smell, no mess! Doggie Dooley is the original in-ground pet waste disposal system. It works like a miniature septic system, composting dog waste into a ground-absorbed liquid utilizing ordinary water and natural acting bacteria and enzymes. Dig a hole in your yard, install in the ground, then drop in dog waste, Waste Terminator digester and water for continuous breakdown of dog waste.   The environmentally friendly Doggie Dooley is harmless to pets, lawns, trees and shrubs.  It's ideal for most soil conditions except heavy clay.  

Removing Odors

How to Properly Clean Up without a Trace

If your dog does eliminate in the house you must permanently remove all odors from this area with cleaning products that completely eliminates all odors and not just covers them up with another scent.  Do not use a cleaning product that is ammonia based or any product that leaves a scent otherwise the dog will be attracted back to this spot. Clean the area with an enzymatic cleaner or one designed to neutralized odor molecules in urine to remove all traces of the smell inside the house.  It may require more than one application. You can also use the laundry detergent that you use to wash your clothes to remove any odors provided it won’t discolor the surface. Using a solution of your laundry detergent won’t introduce a foreign scent to the area that will attract your dog again.   To complete the cleanup I highly recommend after thoroughly cleaning the area that you spray Zero Odor Pet Odor Eliminator to eliminate odors on a molecular level.