Last Updated: 07/05/2025
Your dog's poop can tell you a lot about their current digestion and overall health. Check out our Vet-guide for the important things to look out for.
Author: Dr Belinda Stancombe BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 6 minutes - short read
Cleaning up after your dog may not be one of the most glamorous parts of pet ownership. In fact, at times, it can be smelly and gross!!
Despite this, your dog's poop can tell you a lot about their current digestion and overall health, so it is important to know what to look out for.
Check out the poo chart below, see how your dog scores and discover what your dog's poo is telling you!
If your dog is producing hard, pellet-like poos then they are likely suffering from constipation. Constipation is the infrequent or difficult passage of faeces. It is common for dogs suffering from constipation to strain and pass small hard and dry pellet-like faeces, which can be painful. As the colon's main function is to absorb water from the digestive tract, faeces that is retained for an extended period of time, becomes hard and dry, making it more difficult to pass.
Pets with severe constipation may becomes obstipated, which is where they are unable to pass faeces or gas. This can be very painful and requires immediate veterinary treatment to remove the backed up faeces.
Common Causes of Constipation:
Looking for more information on the dangers of feeding bones to dogs? Read our veterinary written article Are Raw Bones Safe For Dogs?
If your dog is producing sausage shaped poos which are a little lumpy, then they may be experiencing some mild constipation. These dogs often do not suffer pain when passing faeces but could benefit from supplementation to increase moisture and make toileting a little easier.
As well as feeding a premium diet, these dogs may benefit from the addition of a fibre supplement such as psylium husk or Field Day: Digestion and Gut Support. Fibre in the diet attracts water into the colon and helps to soften faeces for easier passing.
Congratulations!! Your dog is passing the perfect poo!! Healthy dogs produce formed faeces which is easy to pass and can be picked up, without leaving residue or falling apart. Some dogs may pass a softer formed poo temporarily after consuming a different treat or food. This is due to a mild change in digestion and will often return to normal within a few days.
Most dogs will suffer from diarrhoea or loose stool at some point in their life. Diarrhoea is the passing of soft or watery faeces, with increased frequency and water content.
For dogs that are suffering from a small bout of diarrhoea but are otherwise well, a diet of boiled chicken and rice, or a gastrointestinal diet recommended by your veterinarian, can help settle things down. Dogs will often respond well to probiotic supplements, which help to re-establish the good gut bacteria and aid in digestion.
For dogs suffering from diarrhoea showing any of the below signs, they should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian may need to run further tests to get to the bottom of the cause of their diarrhoea.
When Your Dog Should See The Vet:
A sudden change in diet, whether this be a change in their meal or a favourite treat, can cause an upset tummy resulting in diarrhoea or vomiting. This is especially common for puppies due to their sensitive digestion and tiny tummies! Avoid changing your dog's diet suddenly and if starting on a new food, it is best to transition your dog slowly over a 7 day period.
Looking for more information on how to transition your dog's diet? Read our veterinary written article How To Introduce A New Food To Your Pet.
Dogs love to eat things that they shouldn't. In some cases this can result in an upset tummy and diarrhoea.
It is best to avoid giving your dog access to fatty food, whether this is something they are retrieving from the bin, fatty offcuts or something from a family BBQ. Some dogs can be sensitive to fatty meats such as sausages or offcuts, causing them to develop pancreatitis which can be a serious illness requiring veterinary treatment and lifelong management.
Dogs that suffer from on and off bouts of diarrhoea or vomiting may be suffering from a dietary or food intolerance. Intolerances in dogs can develop over time, even in pets that have been fed the same diet their whole lives.
These dogs may benefit from a hypoallergenic, novel protein or sensitive stomach diet.
For more information on Food Intolerances read our veterinary written article Hypoallergenic Dog Food.
Intestinal parasites such as hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, coccidia and giardia, can be a common cause of diarrhoea in dogs. Dogs may contract worms by encountering other infected animals, drinking contaminated water or eating food that contains a worm parasite. It is recommended to worm adult dogs every 3 months, while puppies who are particularly susceptible to intestinal worms, are recommended to be wormed more regularly.
For more information on preventing intestinal parasites in your dog read our veterinary written article Flea, Tick and Worming Guide For Dogs.
Bacterial or viral infections are a common cause of diarrhoea. Parvovirus is a viral infection that can be life-threatening especially in puppies. Puppies and dogs can be protected against parvovirus by ensuring they are up to date with vaccinations. Unvaccinated animals do not need to interact with other animals to be a risk, and can be infected by coming into contact with contaminated soil at the park or on a walk.
Dogs that consume raw meat have been shown to be at more risk of being exposed to bacteria which can cause diarrhoea. All raw meat can harbour harmful pathogens, regardless of whether it is sold for humans or for pets. Even when the best hygiene practices are followed, contamination can occur at any point in the meat-production process or storage of the product. Studies have shown that dogs that are fed a raw diet are at risk of picking up Salmonella, which they can shed in their faeces, also putting owners at risk of exposure.
For more information on the Pros and Cons of Feeding Your Pet a Raw Diet read our veterinary written article Should You Feed Your Pet a Raw Meat Diet?
Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips on keeping your pets happy and healthy.
