What does a dog stool tell you? - everything about the animal’s health

The ideal stool – healthy digestion and appropriate nutrition

A healthy stool tells you the digestive system is working well and the diet is adjusted optimally. Healthy dog faeces is dark brown in colour and solid in shape (easy to pick up), not too hard but not too soft, and without mucus or blood. If the food you are giving your dog does not suit the animal, the stool will often be softer (thinner) and lighter in colour. Some dogs with sensitive digestion often suffer from this. In that case, try the easily-digestible HobbyFirst Canex Fish & Rice, available in junior, adult and senior, and even in the Maxi version.

My dog has diarrhoea

Large amounts of (watery)-loose stools indicate small intestinal diarrhoea. Small intestinal diarrhoea can have many causes, such as parasites, viruses or bacteria. Other symptoms include poor appetite, vomiting and stomach pain. Your dog may also have diarrhoea after eating something that is unsuitable, or after a sudden change of food. Too much food or snacks, stress, excess cold water on hot days, etc. can also lead to diarrhoea. An easily-digestible diet, such as HobbyFirst Canex Fish & Rice, is often enough to remedy the problem. If the diarrhoea persists for a long time, the dog may lose weight due to insufficient nutrient intake. This so-called chronic diarrhoea can be caused by parasites, food allergies or a disrupted immune system. Go to your vet to find out what the cause is.

The dog’s stool is slurry with mucus or blood

If the dog has colon diarrhoea, the stool will be mushy and poorly formed. Sometimes mucus or blood can also be seen on the stool. The dog may often suffer from an increased urge to press. Sometimes your dog may squeeze without anything coming out. For colon diarrhoea, food that is rich in fibre is recommended.

The big stool – too much waste or disrupted digestion

When a dog produces a large amount of faeces, it could mean the animal is either getting too much food or that the food is low in caloric value and contains indigestible material. Our HobbyFirst Canex range contains only natural ingredients, without artificial colours, fragrances and flavours. A large amount of stool can also be the result of overeating. However, if the dog is always hungry, but is still losing weight, this may be due to problems associated with the pancreas. The faeces may often be badly digested, and you can sometimes even recognise the food the dog has eaten.

My dog’s stool is a funny colour

A somewhat yellowish stool can mean the dog is getting (excess) milk products. In that case, you can switch to the premium variants of the HobbyFirst Canex range, which are highly digestible. Rice can produce a light-coloured stool, but this will have no further impact on your dog’s health and well-being. Is the dog’s stool green? Then your dog has probably been eating grass. White, dry stools are often a sign that your dog has eaten a lot of bones. This is not a good idea as it can cause a blockage in the dog’s digestion system. Are there white dots or strings in your dog’s stool? These may be worms. Get advice from your vet about the right worm remedy. Red or black stools can be a sign of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, and this can have many causes. Ask your vet for advice. Grey, clay, or putty-like stools can be a sign of problems associated with the liver, gall-bladder, or pancreas.

My dog has greasy stools

If the food contains the wrong types of fats, the dog may get a grey, clay-like stool. Good food brands use high-quality fats. In the HobbyFirst Canex range, krill oil is used. This is purer than salmon oil, giving better results.

My dog is constipated, the stool is in the form of droppings

If the food you give to your dog does not contain sufficient fibre, the stool can become excessively hard, which results in hard droppings and an unhealthy stool. This can also happen if your dog is fed too many bones or a fresh meat diet. If your dog is suffering from constipation, a high-fibre diet is recommended. Flaxseed oil or fish oil can help ease bowel movements as well.

There is blood in my dog’s stool

There are many causes for there being blood in the stool, from a sharp object in the digestive system, worms and parasites, inflammation of the colon, or even cancer. If there is blood in the stool, it is advisable to have the stool examined by the vet.

Our HobbyFirst Canex range has a wide range of dog food. If you have any questions, you can always contact one of our employees.