When you're walking your dog, it’s tempting to just hold your nose and shovel your dog’s poop into a bag, but experts suggest taking a slightly closer look to make sure there are no changes or abnormalities.
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If there are, it might be worth changing their food – because it may be that their current diet is not agreeing with them. Here’s what you should look for in your dog’s poo.
What to check in your dog’s poo
Shape and consistency
A healthy stool should be firm, sausage-shaped and easy to pick up in one piece. Inconsistency in texture might be triggered by a diet of rich, fatty or overly processed dog food.
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Colour
A dog’s poo should be a dark shade of brown. Pale stools might indicate issues with fat digestion, while black stools may point to internal bleeding, and yellow stools might mean your dog’s stomach isn’t absorbing nutrients properly. If you spot any of these changes, consider reviewing your dog’s diet and consulting a vet.
Strong smells
Unfortunately for you, dog poo pretty much always smells – but a dramatic change in odour can mean something in their diet isn’t agreeing with them. Strong smells might be caused by poor-quality ingredients or excess fat content in their meals.
Slime or mucus
If you spot mucus or a shiny coating on your dog’s stool, it might be a sign of digestive tract inflammation. This is often caused by food intolerances or infections. It’s not an immediate, serious concern, but repeated occurrences should be noted.
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