How To Tell A Possible Health Issue In Your Dog By His Poop
It sounds disgusting, but your dog's poop can tell you quite a bit. The color, consistency, content and coating of his poop can give you a lot of information about the health of your dog. Next time you're out picking up the poo in the yard, take a look at what your dog has left for you to give you an idea of what may be going on with your dog. Read on for tips on how to spot a potential health issue with your dog by his poop.
How Often Is Your Dog Going?
If you're outside with your dog, watch how many times he goes to the bathroom while he's out there. If he squats a few different times to get his poop out, it could be something as simple as something as maybe he ate something he shouldn't have, or it could be worse such as an infected anal gland.
Keep an eye on your dog's bowel movements and how many times he's attempting to go, as well as the consistency of his poop. If he is trying to go constantly and his poop is not solid, get your dog to the veterinarian to have a checkup. If it's an infected anal gland, he may need to have it cleaned out and could also need antibiotics to clear up the infection.
What Color Is His Poop?
The color of your dog's poop can tell you quite a bit. If it's brown, that means your dog's poop is healthy. If you see some white spots or something moving in the poop it could be worms. In this case, your dog will need to be treated with medication to get rid of the worms. Take your dog to the veterinarian along with a stool sample to be analyzed.
If your dog's poop has red in it, this could indicate bleeding somewhere in the GI tract. If you see red that isn't fabric or from something else he could have eaten that he shouldn't have, take a stool sample and your dog to the veterinarian for a checkup.
Black poop could indicate blood as well, although the darker color could mean bleeding in the stomach or the small intestines.
Yellow poop could mean an issue with the liver or pancreas, and green poop could be from eating too much grass, which dogs sometimes do when they have an upset stomach. If you continue to see yellow or green poop, get your dog to the veterinarian.
Your dog's poop can tell you a lot. Pay attention to your dog's potty schedule and watch him when he goes. Inspect his poop often and get your dog to the veterinarian if you spot an issue.