Why is my dog's poop dark, mushy, and mucousy after a diet change?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kai. Mucus covering the stool typically indicates inflammation in the colon. This is not normal. If she is eating, drinking and acting normal, then it is not likely necessary to seek emergency veterinary care. If she starts acting ill or you see obvious blood in her stool, then she should be seen. Otherwise, I would see her veterinarian again or seek a second opinion. It is not normal for her to have ongoing GI issues. There are a variety of fecal and blood tests that can be used to help reach a diagnosis. A diet trial could also be beneficial. I hope this information helps and I am available if you wish to do a consultation.

More than likely it is from the change in food but black, tarry stool can be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. You could take a sample to your vet, when you notice that it is black, and have it tested for blood. That way you will know if it is anything to worry about or just normal color change.

There is always some mucus in stool. It aids in defecation. An increased amount can be due to some inflammation in the intestine. If she had intestinal parasites and was recently treated, this could be the cause. If she is behaving normally, you can monitor her at home. Consider a bland diet in small, frequent amounts until the stool is normal then transition slowly to her regular diet. Symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian include lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite or abdominal pain.

That looks like mucus rather than worms. It is not normal and is caused by irritation in the colon for some reason. I'd recommend feeding each dog a bit of glitter or crayon shards with their normal food (easiest with canned food, or their kibble moistened with water) and note which color you give you which pup, and see who ends up producing the abnormal stool sample, so you can take them to the vet. Hope that helps!

Hi there. Diarrhea can be caused by a multitude of things. Increased mucous makes me suspicious of parasites first. I would recommend taking your pup in to have a fecal. Based on the findings of this, you can choose how best to proceed after this easy step is ruled out. It may also be that Pandora has an upset stomach due to something she's eaten and has thrown her digestive system off. Think about if you have changed her food or given her anything she does not normally get. Hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While this could be parasites, this is likely some degree of colitis. You can add a probiotic to her diet such as Fortiflora. You can use it for 1-2 weeks to see if it makes a difference. If it does not, you can consider switching to a sensitive stomach type diet. If no improvement, have her evaluated by your veterinarian so that the stools can be assessed. If she develops diarrhea at any point before then at that point she should definitely be evaluated by her veterinarian. Good luck!

This can be normal, and it can be common to see a bit of mucous at the end of the poop. I'd only be concerned if there is blood as well in Luna's poop, she's having diarrhea, and/or vomiting. I hope this helps!