What does a dog drool say about a dog's health?

It may not be the most appetizing topic, but did you know that you can tell from your dog's stool whether the animal is in good shape or not? In fact, the smell, texture, frequency and color of your dog's stool can tell you a lot about the health of your four-legged friend. It is therefore important to keep a close eye on your dog's stool and know how to assess it. In this blog, we will tell you more about the different types of dog feces, what these types of dog drools mean and what you can recognize a good dog drools by.

What does a normal dog turd look like?

It is difficult to paint a picture of an ideal dog turd. This is because it depends on a dog's diet and, in addition, each turd also varies from one dog to another. Using the following factors, we will give you a guideline of what to look for when assessing a dog's feces:

Odor. Poop is and always will be poop; it will never smell good. But if the stool has a really pungent smell, chances are that something is not being properly digested in the dog's body.

Consistency. Obviously, thin stool is not the idea, but a turd that is too hard is also not pleasant for the dog. The structure of a good dog turd is exactly in between: a firm turd that can break into pieces, but does not fall apart completely when hitting the ground.

Quantity. The size of the turd obviously has to do with the size of the dog. Indeed, a small dog has a smaller turd than a dog of a larger dog breed has. In addition, nutrition has a major influence on the quantity of feces. Dogs that get good quality food that includes a lot of meat generally have less feces than dogs that get food that includes a lot of carbohydrates such as grains. This has to do with digestibility. Does your dog poop often in a day? Then chances are that the animal is not digesting the food properly or that it is ingesting too much food.

Frequency. How often a dog poops in a day is different for each dog. It is therefore more important to see if there is regularity in the number of times a dog poops in a day. Does the dog poop several times the one day and not at all the next day? Then something is not right.

Mucus. A normal dog turd contains no mucus layer. If there is a mucus layer around your dog's stool, it may indicate giardia or an inflammation in the colon. A normal dog turd should be easy to pick up and should leave no trace on the surface.

Color. A normal dog turd is chocolate brown in color. However, there can certainly be a difference in this that need not always be an immediate cause for concern. This is because the food your dog is fed has a lot of influence on the color of the stool. For example, certain types of animal in the diet can cause the dog's turd to look darker or lighter. Below, we look at this in a little more detail.

Different colors of feces

Brown stool
Yes, good news! A brown dog turd is normal and healthy. The hue may vary slightly from dark to light, as this depends on the ingredients in the food.

White stool
A white, chalky dog turd may mean that your dog's food contains too much calcium. Calcium is found in raw meat bones, certain types of vegetables and grains, among others. Too much calcium also often results in excessively hard stools. If your dog's stool is white in color, reduce the amount of bones in your dog's raw meat diet or look for a dog food that contains a lower amount of calcium.

Yellow stool
A dog that has stool that is yellow in color may be fed a food that is too rich in grains. Yellow stool may also indicate a food intolerance or problems with the gallbladder, pancreas or liver. Always consult a veterinarian with these suspicions.

Green feces
A green dog turd usually occurs because the dog has eaten too much grass or other green products. Why dogs eat grass read here.

Red stool
A red-colored stool can indicate bleeding in the last part of the digestive system. The causes for this can be very different, for example due to an infection, parasites or a foreign object stuck in the intestine. Always contact your veterinarian in this case as well.

Black stools
Black stool usually indicates bleeding higher up in a dog's gastrointestinal tract. Again, call the veterinarian when you discover that your dog's stool is black in color.

Feces with white spots
Brown poop with white spots (or longer white strands) may indicate that a dog has worms. Worms are relatively easy to remedy in most cases with a worm cure, which are available from your veterinarian or a pet store.

The influence of dog food on a dog's feces

Nutrition plays an incredibly important role in a dog's digestion and thus in its stool. Different types of food (raw meat, kibble or wet food) create different types of dog turds, but the quality of the food also has a lot of influence on a dog's feces. We touched on it above, but a good quality food makes for better digestibility and therefore in a better stool. Dogs that are fed food of inferior quality that, for example, contains a lot of carbohydrates such as grains, will have more frequent stools. These droppings will also stink more. This is because the dog's body is unable to digest the large amounts of grains found in these foods. So it is important to feed your dog good dog food. This is not only better for a good stool of the dog, but also for the overall health of the animal. You can read about what good dog food should meet in this blog.

Why choose Riverwood dog food?

Riverwood dog foods contain around 50 to 55% meat (it varies by variety) that comes from three unique sources of protein. Meat is therefore the first ingredient in the composition which, in part due to the high meat content, makes the dog foods highly digestible. In addition, Riverwood dog foods contain no grains or potatoes as a carbohydrate source. Instead, yellow peas have been chosen, which have a low glycemic index. These carbohydrates are broken down slowly by the dog's body, which is better for healthy and stable blood sugar levels. Finally, Riverwood dog foods are made complete with a selection of fresh fruits, vegetables and a rich blend of powerful herbs. View the full range of Riverwood dog foods here.

Because Riverwood dog foods are highly digestible, dogs will also generally have fewer stools. Are you considering switching to Riverwood? If so, make sure you switch properly from the old food to Riverwood dog food and keep in mind that the dog's body needs about 6 to 8 weeks to get used to the new food. Switching to other food may actually cause a temporary change in a dog's stools, but once the dog is fully accustomed to the new food, the stools will also be solid in structure again. Learn more about switching to other dog food in this blog.

Check the dog turd

We know; picking up and studying your dog's stool is probably not your favorite thing to do. Yet this is very important! Cleaning up your dog's poop is not only important for keeping the environment clean, but it also allows you to get to know your dog's normal feces which allows you to spot abnormalities quickly. Once you are familiar with your dog's normal stool, a quick inspection is all it takes: pick it up, check it and throw it away soon! 😉 A dog turd that does not quite fit the "ideal" description is not always an immediate cause for concern, but the better you understand what is normal and what is not, the better you will be able to intervene to help your four-legged friend should the need arise.

Lots of dogs are already enjoying Riverwood every day. Would you also like your dog to feast on our delicious foods and are you curious which variety would suit your dog best? Then answer a few questions here and order an inexpensive sample pack right away.