My dog's poop looks different. Is it serious? What should I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not necessarily uncommon and sometimes we see this being transient. In this case, it will get better on its own. If it does not get better and becomes diarrhea entirely, then things like colitis for example would have to be considered. For this reason, I recommend that you monitor him for now. If no improvement is seen or it becomes diarrhea, I recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

I can see that some of this stool looks a little yellow and that there might be some foreign material, but otherwise it looks formed and I don't see anything concerning like blood or mucous. As long as Bo isn't straining to defecate, vomiting or not eating as well I wouldn't be concerned about his stool. The makeup probably isn't to blame since I would expect you to see changes a day or two after it was ingested, not a week later.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Dalia's activity and appetite are normal, that is very reassuring. Have you started a new food or treat by chance? Sometimes a change in diet will cause the stool to change color. Sometimes a mild viral infection can also cause this but again, I would not worry unless she loses her appetite or becomes lethargic. Best of luck to you and Dalia!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I don't think I would be extremely concerned about one drop of blood that has happened once. As long as she is otherwise acting normally I would just monitor her for now. If the problem persists or she starts to act ill then she will need to see a vet. In the meantime I suggest you start her on a probiotic. It won't hurt anything and may help. Any probiotic made for dogs is fine. I would use it for a minimum of two weeks. This will regulate the normal bacteria in her GI tract. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Phoebe. I do understand being concerned about her. This can be a sign that the food she has eaten is moving too quickly through the GI tract to pick up bile. It can also be a sign of a liver or biliary issue. Given that she is ok otherwise, I'd keep an eye on her for now. If she develops other signs such as vomiting, lethargy, or loss of appetite, then I would be very concerned and have her seen by an ER vet right away. Otherwise, it's fine to wait until Monday to have her seen. This weekend, feed her a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice. I hope this helps.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Feces should be a dark brown color, this is completely normal. It should be firm but not too dry. I would continue to monitor Luna's stools for any changes. If you see a pattern that is abnormal (red blood, dark black stool can be a sign of bleeding high in the intestinal tract, gelatinous stools mean the colon may be inflammed or whipworms are present, very light color stools, very loose stools, very dry stools) then you should contact your veterinarian and discuss what is going on. Good luck with Luna.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes, it looks like Snowy is having some diarrhea. Diarrhea can be caused by a number of things, ranging from dietary indiscretion (he ate something he shouldn't have), diet change, gastrointestinal parasites (worms), or other organ system diseases like liver disease, kidney disease, pancreatitis, etc. I recommend feeding Snowy a bland diet such as boiled (unseasoned) chicken or hamburger and rice, in a ratio of 2 parts rice to 1 part meat, for the next 3-4 days, to help firm up his stools. You can also try adding in a small amount of Metamucil (original, unflavored) powder to this food. Metamucil is an over-the-counter fiber supplement for people that we often use to help dogs with diarrhea. He would likely benefit from about 1/4 teaspoon of Metamucil in his food twice a day. If you are not noticing an improvement in his diarrhea after 2-3 days, I recommend bringing him (and a sample of his stool) to your veterinarian. At that time, a fecal analysis can be performed, and any other diagnostics as needed. I hope this is helpful! Best of luck with Snowy!