Your Pets Daily - Healthy dog

Vet reveals what your stool poop can tell you about their health

Your Pets Daily Editor — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 07:08:49 +0000

Ruff Guide To Spotting Problems In Your Dog's Poop

Our dog's poop can tell us a lot, including if there's something wrong – we've spoken to head vet Sean McCormack to find out what signs to look out for when you're scooping the poop.

"Poop smells, we know that – but is your dog's poo a little (or a lot) smellier than usual? Stinkier-than-usual poos can indicate your dog's diet isn't working for them. Treats, new dog foods or feeding your dog too many scraps from the dinner table are usual suspects when it comes to smelly poos.

The colour of your dog's poo can also depend solely on your dog's diet – reddish, greenish, or dark brown poop are all normal. If it's looking black – it could be a sign of internal bleeding, whilst pale yellow or grey poo can be a sign of fat digestion issues in the pancreas or problems in the liver.

When it comes down to it, dogs aren't so different from us humans – sometimes an out-of-the-ordinary poo isn't too much to worry about – diarrhoea can be caused by stress, anxiety – or even excitement! Whilst sometimes constipation can be a tell-tale sign your dog needs to get out more or isn't drinking enough water.

You know your dog better than anyone if you feel like there's something wrong – or common problems such as constipation or diarrhoea don't seem to go away after a few days – don't hesitate to take your dog to the vet, and take a stool sample with you."

What causes stinky or runny dog poo?

It's not unusual for dogs to have stinky or runny poos. In fact, dog diarrhoea is one of the most common problems vets see every year. There are many causes for dog or puppy diarrhoea, but here are a few of the most common.

Sudden change in diet – A sudden change in your dog's diet can cause irritation leading to diarrhoea. If you're changing your dog's diet, it's best to do it gradually as explained in our guide to changing dog food.

Dietary indiscretion – If your dog eats something new or inappropriate, this can cause digestive upset. Whether that's a piece of ham, rocks, a plant, or even dog poo!

Stress – Stress, anxiety and excitement can all cause dog diarrhoea, just like in us humans.

Parasites – Intestinal worms can cause irritation to your dog's gastrointestinal tract resulting in stomach upset. However, parasites that cause diarrhoea are more common in younger puppies.

Infections – Viral and bacterial infections can cause dog diarrhoea. This occurs more frequently in younger dogs.

Inflammatory disorders – Conditions like inflammatory bowel disease are common in both dogs and people. Many gastrointestinal disorders can result in diarrhoea.

What makes a good dog poo?

Consistency – the ideal poo is log shaped and firm, but not too solid. If your dog's poo is too hard, this can cause constipation. If your dog is constipated this could be due to a lack of water or fibre in their diet, or a case of worms. More commonly, when diarrhoea or loose, runny poo occurs, this can result from many different causes.

Frequency – most dogs poo around twice a day, but this can depend on their feeding schedule. Puppies tend to poo more frequently because they eat more regularly. If your dog poos more than three times a day, this could signal there's something not right with their diet.

Equally, if your dog has a food intolerance, this can also make them more poo more often. If your dog doesn't poo every day or only once a day, they could be constipated. Always consider what's normal for your dog. If your dog's toilet habits have changed dramatically after switching diet, we can help.

Volume – sudden larger or smaller poos can indicate internal problems. Huge volumes of poo can mean your dog isn't digesting their food properly, or their diet is high in fibre. Low volumes could indicate gastrointestinal problems or even a blockage. If it's out of the ordinary, always get your dog checked over by a vet. If your dog has experienced any changes after switching to tails.com food, get in touch and we'll happily help.

Odour – dog poo should have a mild odour; any dramatic changes can indicate problems. Flatulence or a particularly stinky poo could signal a change in your dog's gut flora, or they're struggling to cope with a new diet or ingredient. Treats and human foods are common culprits! Dog poo is always going to smell, but with a good diet, your dog's poos should be bearable.

Colour – the colour of your dog's poo depends a lot on your dog's diet. Only you know what is normal for your dog. Shades of greenish-brown, red-brown or dark brown are all normal.

However, abnormal colours like dark black tarry substances could indicate internal bleeding and digested blood in the stool. Pale, yellowy or greasy poo can indicate fat digestion issues with the pancreas, or malabsorption where your dog can't absorb fat. Any dramatic changes in colour, from very pale, bright orange or visible blood is a cause for concern. In this case, always see your vet and take a stool sample with you.

What to do about your dog's irregular poos?

So if your furry friend's poo seems out of the ordinary, always get them checked out by a vet.

How to Help Your Dog Maintain a Healthy Weight

Your Pets Daily Editor — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:09:39 +0000

Overfeeding your dog and allowing them to become obese is definitely not a good idea. Granted, it’s seldom done intentionally and is more a matter of not knowing how to prevent it from happening. But let’s start with understanding why it’s so important to help your dog maintain a healthy weight in the first place.

Research has proven that slender dogs find it easier to get around and enjoy an overall higher quality of life. In one study spanning over a decade, dogs who were fed the correct amount of food showed fewer signs of ageing and developed canine arthritis three years later than their overfed littermates, whose lives were nearly two years shorter.

Overweight dogs are also more vulnerable to a range of health problems. This includes diabetes, heart disease, hip dysplasia, and pancreatitis among other issues. So, what can you do to help your pooch stay in shape?

Evaluate the Situation

There are three steps to determining whether your dog is at a healthy weight:

Feel their ribs and shoulder blades - there should only be a slim layer of fat over the bone.
Check their waist - it should be discernible.
The abdominal tuck - observing from a side view, the abdomen should rise at an angle instead of being flat.

It’s also worth analysing how frequently your pup takes a bathroom break. If they’re doing it more than twice daily, chances are that something is amiss. Remember, waste is exactly that - waste. It’s only when you’re eating more than the amount your body requires to function that you’ll be getting rid of the excess three or more times per day.

Understand the Paradox

No owner can be blamed for succumbing to their dog’s attempts to secure another serving of food. Now that they no longer need to head out into the forest and hunt, our domesticated wolves have evolved to become expert beggars instead. But in order to help them avoid the troubles of obesity, it’s important to understand how they think.

Most dogs love food. They live for it and are constantly dreaming about it. Others have more of a take it or leave it relationship, but the former is more common. If your dog is one of them, it needs to be understood that they are impossible to satisfy. Whether they’re in perfect shape or morbidly obese, they’re always hungry.

So, you need to focus on feeding them as much as their bodies need and nothing more because no matter how much more you give them, it will never be enough.

Put Quality Over Quantity

A potential antidote to the above problem is to feed your dog the right food, which is important for a myriad of other reasons as well. The commercial dog food industry will have you believe that their mass-produced kibbles provide all the nutrients your pooch needs. While that might be true, it doesn’t change the fact that said food is also loaded with junk.

Even among top-end brands, processed dog food - which no dog was designed to eat - contains high amounts of carbohydrates and unhealthy fats, not to mention the prevalence of preservatives and other artificial ingredients. You only need to look at our own modern diets and what they’re doing to our health to understand why that’s bad.

An increasingly popular alternative comes in the form of raw dog food, which is essentially a natural alternative to the commercial stuff. But what is raw dog food and what are the benefits? You can start by reading this guide on Bella and Duke’s blog, which is a company that specialises in this type of food.

How they work is that you provide some details about your dog, they create an appropriate diet using real, natural ingredients and send it to your door at no delivery cost. There is a range of health benefits associated with this kind of food, including weight regulation, so it’s worth checking out.

Work it Out

Regular physical activity is a non-negotiable aspect of every dog’s life for numerous reasons. Aside from weight regulation, exercise helps your dog release the immense amount of energy that otherwise builds up in their bodies and inevitably finds its way into the nearest piece of furniture.

That somewhat highlights another important part of exercise, which is its role in helping your dog maintain their mental health. Depending on the breed, they’ll usually require between 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day, be it a brisk walk around the neighbourhood or a game of frisbee at the beach.

As a bonus tip, you needn’t give up treats, as they’re often a vital component of your relationship with your dog. But be sure to use them sparingly, such as by breaking them into pieces and if they’re big enough, reducing meal sizes accordingly. These steps together will help you help your dog stay happy and healthy for years to come.