What do you need to know about Dog Poop?

Sure, this article is about your dog's poop. It has been proven that dogs fed a raw diet produce less poops, which decompose faster and are less odorous. The quality and quantity of poop are essential indicators of your dog's health.

What is Considered Normal Poop

Normal dog feces should be of moderate firmness and well-formed. The color of the feces is determined by your dog's diet, typically ranging from medium brown to nearly black. The more meat in the diet, the softer and darker the poop. If you want to firm up your dog's poop, you can add bones to their diet.

Occasionally, you may notice a mucous membrane around the feces, which is normal. This is the old mucous lining that the intestines shed every few months. It's also expected to see remnants of vegetables in the poop. This is plant material that your dog didn't digest and can help stimulate the mechanical function of the intestines.


When Poop Can Be Too Hard

Your dog needs to have relatively firm poop regularly. This is because dogs have two anal glands in the area under their tail. These glands produce a unique scent when dogs empty their bowels, allowing them to mark territory and identify other dogs.

Usually, firm feces, during elimination, put pressure on the anal glands, which then release their secretions, lubricating the anal opening. When a dog has soft poop, they may not apply enough pressure to the glands. Over time, this can lead to discomfort as the anal gland itself presses on the rear passage.

It's been suggested that scooting or dragging the rear end on the floor may be a sign of worms. In practice, this can often be related to issues with the anal glands. Therefore, we recommend not excluding bone content from your pet's diet. You can give your dog a bone to chew on twice or thrice weekly.

There's a lot written about the positive impact of the bone-chewing process on pets, including the development of jaw muscles and the prevention of dental calculus. But not everyone knows about the effect of bones on a dog's poop.

Very dark or black poop - This can result from a high percentage of meat in the diet, especially liver and other organ meats.

Gray poop - Typically the result of grain consumption and processed food.

Light poop - Especially if it's pale, it may be caused by a liver or pancreatic issue, so consulting with a veterinarian is advisable.

Greasy poop - When dogs have issues with their pancreas, they may not effectively digest fat. Greasy poop with a sour odor can be a sign of an underlying pancreatic condition. Discuss this with your veterinarian.

Foamy poop - This may indicate an infection of the intestines or colon due to undigested fat. Again, you should likely consult your veterinarian.

Very hard poop - If your dog is eating dry kibble or processed foods, the cause is likely one of the ingredients used to firm up the poop. Often, pet food companies use fiber for this purpose. If your dog is on a raw diet, firm poop is usually the result of a healthy bone content.

Blood in the poop - This can be caused by anything from a parasite (such as worms) to very hard poop. You should keep a sample and show it to a veterinarian. Remember that blood should not be bright red (unless it's fresh) but should be nearly black.


Soft, Watery Poop

Soft, loose, or watery poop are not a cause for concern if they don't persist for several days or aren't accompanied by other symptoms like blood or vomiting.

Soft, loose, or watery poop is expected when a dog changes its diet or eats something that doesn't agree with it.


Less Waste From A Raw Diet

Expert opinion on raw feeding:

What should the volume of waste be compared to the amount of food consumed?

• Meat, organ meats, and animal fat are almost entirely absorbed. The waste produced ranges from 2 to 7% of the food consumed.
• Fruits and vegetables produce 30 to 60% waste.
• Grains produce 40 to 70% waste.
• Dry kibble produces 60 to 80% waste.

This suggests that dogs can get and absorb many beneficial substances from meat, organs, and animal fat but not from processed foods.

When To Be Concerned About Diarrhea

Suppose your dog has diarrhea for more than three days. If the diarrhea alternates so that one day there is diarrhea, then normal poop for several days, and then diarrhea again. Typically, in such cases, the problem may be due to worms, so it's best to consult a veterinarian.

If your dog has diarrhea along with other symptoms, such as blood in the poop, vomiting, fever, or changes in behavior, you should seek immediate veterinary advice.