This week we are diving into the chemistry behind your dogs’ poo! Now, you may be snickering
a little, but this is a very serious topic. Fido’s poop tells us if he is getting enough water, nutrients, and overall healthy. A veterinarian should examine your pups’ stool on an annual basis. They have the expertise and technology to discover parasites and other ailments before the naked eye can.

Now that you understand the importance of monitoring their poo, let’s look into what we should be on the lookout for.

Hazardous Colors:

Dark Green: Most likely you pup has been eating of a lot grass, be on the lookout for any
parasites.

Black: Indicated there is some form of bleeding. The stool turns black when the red blood is
digested.

Red Stools: Indicates there is fresh blood which can result from intense straining while passing. If this is paired with vomiting and a distinctive odor, it could be a parvo virus.

Green/Yellow: This gives warning signs that something is wrong with their liver. Please consult a vet right away.

Polka Dot: If you see white polka dot looking patterns, this is a sign of worms. There are
several treatments available.

Frequency

As owners, we should be looking at their stools to ensure we know what is “should” look like. This is important as it gives you a baseline to compare to. If you pup has one stool that is off, take note, but do not rush them to the vet. Instead, keep monitoring for consistency among the stools and if they show flags of distress, seek medical attention. Also, most dogs should pass stool 1-2 times a day and sometimes up to 4. Be on the lookout if there is a sudden decrease or they stop completely.

Food

If you are feeding your dog commercial dog food, you may notice their stools are large in size. This is due to the manufactures using “fillers” in their food. Just like us, this fills their stomachs up based on volume, not nutrients. Feeding your dog commercial dog food could be equivalent to feeding yourself daily McDonalds! When you start feeding your Fido a healthy diet, his stool size will lessen as he is absorbing more nutrients. You can compare your dog food with this handy dog food comparison chart on http://www.lifesabundance.com. I am not a sales rep for this company but I have noticed a big difference in the amount of stool my dog produces (very little) and how awesome my dog’s coat looks with this food. Although Poo Doo Leash can’t control how much your dog poo’s, we have a couple of products that will help you take care of number 2! Check out this overview of one of our great leashes; stop carrying number 2!