Do you give out an involuntary groan when getting out of a chair? Do you remember Tamagotchis, the Berlin Wall coming down and having all your friends landline phone numbers memorised?
If so, you, like me, are probably old enough to also remember seeing white dog poo regularly, says veterinary surgeon Graham Lewis.
Like landlines and Tamagotchis white dog poo is more rare these days, although I believe Tamagotchis are making a comeback but hopefully white dog poo won’t!
What causes white dog poo?
White dog poo can be a sign of a calcium rich diet, commonly from eating bones or bone rich chews, if your dog is producing white faeces regularly it might be worth considering a change of diet to ensure the nutritional balance is correct.
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Paler faeces can also be caused by problems with the pancreas and if this is the case these stools will often be greasy as well. A single paler stool or one with some grease is not uncommon and can be linked to diet, but if this is a common occurrence or there are other symptoms causing concern I would always recommend a vet check.
So why did was white dog poo more common?
Historically bone meal used to be used a lot in dog foods as a filler and this would get passed through the digestive system without being broken down. Dog faeces left for a day or so would lose the softer contents and all that would be left would be the whiter material from the bone meal.
I would also suggest that cleanliness in public parks and picking up dog faeces is probably a bit better than it used to be so hopefully we don’t see as much dog faeces in general, but there is always room for improvement - be a responsible pet owner and bag it and bin it.
So what is the right diet for my dog?
The pet food industry is a huge multi-million pound industry these days and the nutritional value of most dog foods is now significantly higher than it used to be. The options in the last few years have ballooned and every week I hear from clients about a new brand I’ve never heard of before. I’m not going to recommend any particular brand, however ensure you are picking a complete diet suitable for the type of dog you have and the lifestyle they live. Your local Vet will be happy to provide some guidance if you wish.
There has been a trend towards raw meat based diets in recent times as well, the choice of what to feed your pet is yours to make, but please read the WSAVA global nutrition committee statement to be aware of the risks
With the increase in nutritional value of dog foods and changes to how we treat our canine friends, unfortunately one of the side effects of these changes is a rise in canine obesity. The PDSA survey in 2023 suggested vets think 46% of the dogs they see are overweight.
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I suspect this estimate is a little high, but it is still a large percentage of the dog population and a huge problem for canine health. Most veterinary practices have weight management programs that can help and speaking to your local practice if you are concerned will often start a journey to a happier healthier pooch.
