This post is written by holistic veterinarian Dr. Angie Krause, DVM, CVA, CCRT.

 

Let’s talk poop!

Your dog’s poop can reveal a lot of information about the quality of their diet and the health of their gut. In this article, I will address how often your pup should be pooping and what it should look like. It’s important to understand what is normal and the potential warning signs in your dog’s poop.

Frequency

Dogs should poop 1-2 times daily. Dogs that are raw fed may poop once every other day. If your pup is pooping more than twice a day, it may mean they are eating a high fiber diet or that their diet isn’t very digestible (easily absorbed). Conversely, if your dog is pooping less than every other day, it may be due to a lack of fiber, dehydration or other disease.

Consistency

A normal poop should be a solid log shape that does not leave a print after it’s picked up. Poop that is too loose may indicate an underlying problem such as a food sensitivity, parasite infection, poor quality food, too much fiber, or bowel inflammation. Poop that is dry, hard and formed into little balls implies constipation. This could be caused by dehydration, too little fiber, food sensitivities or gut inflammation.

Color

Normal poop is a dark brown color. However, if you are feeding an amino acid based diet, a rabbit based diet, or a diet high in minerals it may be lighter in color. The most concerning color is black. This color could indicate that your dog is bleeding in their digestive tract and it’s time to see your veterinarian. If your dog has consistently green or orange colored poops, alert your veterinarian.

If your pup’s poop isn’t quite perfect, here are a few tips to try:

  1. Probiotics. Probiotics are good bacteria that promote healthy digestion and better looking poop. You can find probiotics in Naked Essentials Duck & Chicken. You can also add them in a capsule form. Here is my favorite brand. For the trifecta, you can make your own probiotic rich food.
  2. Digestive supplements. I like using licorice, glutamine and chamomile to help soothe and repair intestinal lining. Here is my favorite digestive support supplement.
  3. Change the meat source. Food allergies and sensitivities are very common. Try changing your pup to a different protein source. If you are feeding beef, lamb, chicken or turkey, try a recipe like Nude Super Food Simply Sea.


With love,

Dr. Angie