Scooping the backyard is not anyone's favourite job, but that daily pile is one of the clearest health updates your dog can give you. What goes in comes out, and the colour, shape and contents of your dog's poo quietly track how well their gut is coping. Learn to read it and you will often spot a problem days before your dog seems unwell.
This guide walks through the four things to glance at every time you pick up, what healthy looks like, what the common changes can mean, and the signs that say it is time to ring your vet or clinic.
The quick answer
Healthy dog poo is chocolate brown, firm but not hard, shaped like a log, and easy to pick up in one piece. Watch the four Cs: Colour, Consistency, Content and Coating. The odd off day is usually diet or stress. Changes that last more than 48 hours, or any blood, black tarry stool, worms or a dog that seems unwell, are a reason to call your clinic.
The four Cs to check every time
Colour
Chocolate brown is the goal. Brown comes from bile and a steady diet. Big colour shifts to green, grey, yellow, black or red are worth noting.
Consistency
You want a firm, segmented log that holds its shape. Watery, sloppy, soft-serve or rock-hard pellets all tell you something about the gut or the diet.
Content
Look at what is mixed in. Grass, hair, bits of toy, undigested food or anything that looks like grains of rice or spaghetti (worms) all deserve a closer look.
Coating
A healthy stool has no coating. A slimy, shiny film of mucus, or streaks of fresh blood on the outside, points to an irritated lower bowel.
What the colour can be telling you
Diet drives a lot of this. Foods with colouring, a big serving of pumpkin or beetroot, or a new protein can all shift the shade for a day or two with no drama. Use this as a guide, not a diagnosis.
| Colour | What it can mean |
|---|---|
| Chocolate brown | The healthy normal. Bile and a settled diet are doing their job. |
| Green | Often a lot of grass eating, or food moving through too fast. Occasional is fine; persistent green is worth a mention. |
| Yellow or orange | Can follow a rich meal or a runny tummy. If it sticks around it may point to the liver, gallbladder or pancreas. |
| Grey and greasy | Too much fat is passing through undigested. Worth a clinic chat, especially if it looks oily and smells strong. |
| Black and tarry | Can signal digested blood from higher in the gut. Treat this as a call-your-clinic colour. |
| Red streaks | Fresh blood from the lower bowel. A small streak after a hard stool can be minor, but anything more than a trace needs checking. |
| White flecks or chalky | Chalky white can follow a very bony raw diet. Moving white specks may be worm segments and need worming. |
Reading the consistency
Vets often grade stool on a 1 to 7 scale, from hard pellets through to pure liquid. You do not need the chart to use the idea. Aim for the middle: a firm log that leaves little behind when you pick it up.
Firm and segmented
The ideal. Holds together, easy to collect, no residue. A sign the gut and the diet are agreeing.
Soft or sloppy
Loses its shape and leaves a mark. Common with a sudden food change, a treat raid, or mild stress. Should settle in a day or two.
Watery
True diarrhoea. One-off can be a bug or something they ate. More than two days, or with low energy, needs a clinic call to avoid dehydration.
Hard, dry pellets
Constipation or not enough water and fibre. Look at hydration, fibre and exercise before it becomes a strain.
Supporting a settled gut through diet
Most everyday softness traces back to food: a sudden switch, too many treats, or a diet that just does not suit a sensitive dog. Change foods gradually over seven to ten days, and if your dog is regularly loose or gassy, a sensitive stomach formula is often the simplest fix. Browse the full range on the dog food page, and save on the ones you reorder with Autodeliver.
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin
A gentle, highly digestible everyday diet that many owners reach for when poo quality keeps slipping.
Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Wet Dog Food
A wet option to mix in or feed alongside, handy for fussy or sensitive eaters.
Addiction Grain-Free Wild Kangaroo & Apples
A novel-protein, grain-free choice for dogs that do better away from chicken, beef or grains.
Firming things up: fibre and gut support
When a stool is soft but your dog is otherwise bright and eating well, a little extra fibre and some friendly bacteria often do the trick. Pumpkin and psyllium add bulk, while probiotics help the gut rebalance after an upset, a course of medication, or a stressful few days.
Fourflax Probiotics Dog Supplement Powder
A daily probiotic powder to sprinkle over meals and help keep the gut population on track.
PRO PLAN FortiFlora Dog Probiotic Supplement
A popular single-strain probiotic sachet, often used to settle things after a bout of looseness.
When you spot worms
Little white segments that look like grains of rice, or longer spaghetti-like strands in fresh poo, mean it is time to worm. Most adult dogs need a routine all-wormer every three months, and more often for keen hunters or scavengers. Find the full range on the flea and worm page.
Drontal Tasty Bone Dog Allwormer
A broad-spectrum all-wormer in a bone-shaped chew that most dogs take happily.
Milpro All Wormer Tablets for Dogs
Small tablets covering the common intestinal worms, with sizes for different weights.
Endogard Allwormer Tablets
A reliable everyday all-wormer for routine three-monthly worming.
When to call your vet or clinic
Trust your gut on this one. Book a check if you see:
- Black, tarry stool, or more than a streak of fresh blood
- Diarrhoea lasting more than 48 hours, or any diarrhoea in a puppy or senior
- Vomiting, a painful or bloated belly, or a dog that is flat and off their food
- Straining with little or nothing passing, which can signal constipation or a blockage
- Worms that keep coming back after worming
- Grey, greasy stools that stick around
Frequently asked questions
How often should a healthy dog poo?
Most dogs go once or twice a day, fairly predictably. What matters more than the exact number is that it stays consistent for your dog. A sudden change in how often they go is worth watching.
My dog's poo changed colour for one day. Should I worry?
Usually not. A single off-colour or softer stool after a new treat, a diet change or a stressful day is common. It is repeated or lasting changes, or anything paired with an unwell dog, that need attention.
Can I use pumpkin to firm up my dog's poo?
Yes, a spoon of plain pumpkin or a pumpkin powder adds gentle fibre that can help firm a soft stool or ease a mildly constipated one. If it does not settle within a couple of days, check in with your clinic.
Why does my dog eat grass and then bring up green poo?
Grass is common and usually harmless. Lots of it can tint the poo green or speed things up. If grass eating is frantic or paired with vomiting, mention it at your next clinic visit.
How do I switch foods without upsetting their tummy?
Go slowly. Mix a little of the new food in with the old and shift the ratio over seven to ten days. A sudden swap is one of the most common causes of loose stools.
Keep their gut on track
Find sensitive-stomach food, probiotics, fibre support and all-wormers in one place. Save on the items you reorder with Autodeliver, and enjoy everyday member pricing as part of Pet Perks.
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