We cannot emphasize this enough – humans and dogs are alike in more ways than we can hope to recognize. In the long list of how humans and dogs are alike, poop and digestive trouble makes it to the top.
It is a universal fact that we all have digestions and digestive troubles and poop is an excellent indicator of digestive health in humans and animals alike.
Let’s take a look at all the fun stuff, from seeing your dog poop, checking the consistency, and walking a lot more, or…more worryingly, a lot less than ideal… you will see what I mean as you keep reading.
How Often Does A Dog Need To Poo?
As in human beings, bowel movements in dogs, are exactly unique to each individual. And, just like us, there are signs to look out for, which will indefinitely indicate good, or bad digestive health. This is crucial because poop helps to identify the cause of a lot of behavioural changes, as well as many other illnesses.
On average, your dog should be taking a poo a couple of times each day, it’s not an exact science though – you’ll have days with more and days with less.
This is totally normal. Adult dogs tend to have a fixed routine. Puppies and younger dogs can usually be expected to go about their business at least 5 times a day. So, there is allegedly a direct relationship between frequency of poop vs. age of dog.
The frequency can vary now and again, that is nothing to get worked up about. The key is the consistency of the poo. As long as it stays solid, or as solid as is normal for your dog, you should be fine. However, if you notice runnier stools, probably with streaks of black or red, is a sign something might be amiss.
Younger pups tend to poop far more often than adult dogs due to their incredibly fast metabolism, which subsequently leads to higher food intake. See where I’m going with this? Sound familiar? Yes. It is actually eerily similar to babies and young toddlers. And mind you, we take a long time to grow out of it. Dogs only take at most 1-3 years (if you have a huge dog breed, that too).
The major sign of a problem is when their poop is unformed, runny, bloody, basically anything out of the ordinary for your pup. Even smell matters. Of course, no shit smells good, but, if something is especially wrong, it will smell even worse….
What Do I Do When My Dog’s Poo Is Unusual?
Excellent question.
Diarrhoea can lead to dehydration and hurt their general well-being. Switch up their regular diet with something much more bland for about 2 – 3 days and see if that helps. Good options are chicken, rice, cottage cheese with rice, or any combination of these. If this doesn’t seem to solve the runny poop problem, run to the vet.
Exercising is great all around. It helps to regulate poop by making the food move faster through the system. You might also be ambitious and try training your dog to poop on cue. The world is your oyster, and some dogs are definitely smart enough to accomplish the challenge, only if you are, as well.
What Time Should My Dog Poo?
Any experienced dog parent can tell you that they are able to predict the bowel movement of their pup (or pups), down to the exact minute of the hour in the day. THAT, is how precise your dog’s shitting schedule is supposed to be (if all is well, that is).
As per routine, your dog probably needs to head out after 8ish to 12ish hours after digesting their last meal. You can almost always expect your dog to poop before bed, and first thing in the morning. Be mindful of that and work your own routine around this time, too.
The truth of the matter is, all of us poo at different times, there is really no law or set time for a bowel movement for everyone on the planet. The same applies to our furry canines, they have their individual time of the day to poop, that is THEIR specific time. That is their personal unique routine.
That is not to say they absolutely will never poop unexpectedly or randomly, hey, it happens to us, too. Could be due to an extra serving for being an exceptionally good boy at training that day, just be prepared to walk them.
Hot To Check Dog Poo
Glad you are not grossed out by the prospect of examining your dog’s poop. There isn’t much to worry about, though, if you head to the vet, they will do the job for you. But, just in case, here is what to be on the lookout for:
Colour. Brown or brown mixed with green are some excellent stool samples. The brown comes from the bile in the digestive system, the greens might be diet related, particularly if they have indulged in some grass eating that day. Black or red streaks can imply bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Whereas greyish or yellowish stool can tell you there might be something concerning the pancreas or gallbladder.
Consistency is key. There is actually a scale that determines the consistency of poo, 1 being poop like goats – tiny, hard pellets and 7 being watery unformed mess. The number 2 is set to be the perfect consistency for your dog’s poo.
Content matters. Some fur, random objects (tiny ones), parasites are commonly found in dog poop. It would be time to keep a close eye on their diet and the stuff they get into their mouth.
What Does My Dog’s Poo Colour Mean?
Well, it could be a number of reasons.
The diet being primary culprit for difference in poop consistency or colour. Higher fat content diet, albeit for a few days, could have a less-than-desirable effect on the poop. It is advisable to introduce new food and diet changes gradually.
Stress causes all kinds of malfunctions. Poop frequency, colour, consistency, can all easily be manipulated by stress – in both humans and animals. If you have brought a new friend to your home, furry or otherwise, if you have been traveling unusually lately, a change in your schedule of spending time with them, so many factors can easily trigger stress and its related symptoms. Try to manage their stress when you notice some behavioural changes as well as poop changes.
Food poisoning (of sorts). Domesticated dogs have developed delicate systems that cannot compete with their wilder counterparts. If your pet dog has managed to eat something dubious in the park, or on the street, it is likely they can fall sick and result in off standard poops for a couple of days. Feed them blander food and if they don’t show signs of positive change, head to the vet asap.
Constipation. Yep. A feeling we all know too well. If you observe your dog trying to poop but not being able to. Do not dilly dally, get them examined by a vet to determine whether or not they have any blockage causing the constipation. Blockage can result thanks to eating or swallowing unusual items like barks, stones, toys, you name it. Diet might have caused constipation, but getting an expert opinion could save your dog from a world of pain.
Summary
Much like you or me there are days with a few poos and maybe days with just one. Dogs are all unique and there’s a vast range of factors influencing the frequency of your dog’s bowel movements!