Healthy dog poop is chocolate brown, firm, log-shaped and easy to pick up. Changes in color, consistency or contents can be the first sign of a problem. Use the chart to see what your dog's poop means and how urgent it is.
| What you see | What it may mean | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate brown, firm | Healthy | Normal |
| Worms | Seeing worms in your dog's poop means an intestinal parasite infection | Call your vet |
| Mucus | A small amount of mucus can be normal; it lubricates the colon | Usually mild |
| Blood | Bright red blood (hematochezia) usually comes from the lower gut, such as colitis or straining | Call your vet |
| Black | Black, tarry, sticky stool (melena) usually means bleeding in the stomach or small intestine | See a vet now |
| White | Chalky white or very pale stool often comes from a diet high in calcium, such as raw diets with lots of bone | Usually mild |
| Yellow | Yellow or orange stool often means food moved through the gut quickly | Usually mild |
| Green | Green poop usually means your dog ate a lot of grass | Depends on signs |
| Gray, greasy, bulky | Poor fat digestion (for example exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) | Call your vet |
| Consistency | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hard, dry pellets | Constipation or dehydration |
| Firm, segmented log | Ideal |
| Soft, holds shape | Usually fine; can follow treats or a diet change |
| Soft piles, no shape | Mild diarrhea |
| Watery | Diarrhea: watch hydration, call your vet if it lasts more than 24 hours or your dog seems unwell |
Tick everything that applies. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Also see: what can I give my dog for diarrhea? · for constipation · dog vomit color guide