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Dog & Cat Poo
Health Checker

Yes, you're about to read a whole page about poo. No, it's not weird - what comes out of your pet is one of the clearest early signals of what's going on inside them. Colour, consistency and contents change before a lot of other symptoms show up. So before you Google a wall of conflicting advice: tell us what you're looking at, and we'll tell you what it usually means.

1

What colour is it?

2

How firm is it?

1 = hard pellets · 3–4 = ideal · 7 = liquid
3

Anything else?

Select all that apply

Tell me what you're looking at

Pick a colour to get a plain-English read on whether it's normal - and what to do if it isn't.

Everything below also exists as plain text - because Google can't read the widget, and neither can you at 3am with one eye open.

The baseline

What does healthy dog and cat poo look like?

Healthy poo is boring poo, and that's exactly what you want. The textbook version: chocolate brown, firm but not hard (the famous 3–4 on the scale), holds its shape, gives slightly when picked up, and doesn't leave much behind.

Dogs typically go once or twice a day, cats usually once. A healthy cat stool is normally a little firmer and darker than a dog's. A bit of day-to-day variation is fine - it's a pattern of change that matters, not a single odd one.

Reference

Poo colour chart - what each colour means

Brown
Normal and healthy Fine
Green
Ate grass, fast transit, sometimes a gallbladder issue Watch
Yellow / orange
Food change, or a liver / biliary issue Watch
Black / tarry
Possible digested blood from higher in the gut Vet now
Red streaks
Fresh blood from lower down - get it checked if it repeats Vet soon
White / grey / greasy
Trouble digesting fat, or visible worms Vet soon
Colour by colour

The colours owners ask about most

Two common causes. A chalky, white, crumbly stool can come from a very high-bone or high-calcium diet (typical on some raw diets). Small white specks or short, rice-like grains usually mean worms. Persistent white or very pale, greasy stool can point to difficulty digesting fat - worth a vet check. A one-off in an otherwise bright dog: watch it. If it persists, book in.
Black, tarry, sticky stool ("melaena") can mean blood that's been digested from higher up the gut - don't wait this one out, call your vet. The honest exception: some foods, iron supplements and bismuth medicines darken stool harmlessly. If your dog is genuinely bright, eating, and you've changed nothing, mention it; if there's any tarriness, lethargy or it's recurring, treat it as urgent.
Often a food issue - a sudden diet change, too much fat, or the classic "yellow poop after chicken and rice" when the gut's been on a bland diet. It can also reflect fast transit or a liver/biliary issue. One yellow poo with a happy dog: watch and let the diet settle. Yellow diarrhoea, or yellow that persists or comes with other symptoms: vet.
Usually grass-eating or fast gut transit, and usually nothing. Occasionally it's a gallbladder or transit issue. Watch it; if it persists or comes with diarrhoea, get it checked.
The scary one

Blood in dog or cat poo

The one that scares people most, so let's be clear. Bright red, fresh blood usually comes from the lower gut - often a one-off from minor irritation or straining. Small amount, otherwise bright and eating: watch it. A lot, or recurring, or with diarrhoea: vet.

Black, tarry stool can be digested blood from higher up - don't wait, call your vet. "Dog poop like jelly with blood" is a common sight and usually points to colon inflammation (colitis) - often manageable, but worth a vet conversation, especially if it lasts beyond a day. The same applies to cats: blood in cat poo, fresh or dark, warrants a check.

Deeper guide: blood & mucus in dog poo
Jelly coating

Mucus or jelly in the poo

A little clear or whitish mucus is the gut lubricating itself and is usually nothing. A lot of jelly-like coating, repeatedly - especially with blood or loose stool - points to an irritated colon. One episode: watch. A pattern, or any blood: vet.

Identification

Worms in poo - what they look like

Tapeworm

Small, flat, rice-like grains around the bottom, in the poo, or in bedding. May move when fresh.

Roundworm

Longer, thin, spaghetti-like strands - sometimes in vomit too.

Giardia

A parasite you can't see. Causes soft, greasy, foul stool - needs a vet test to confirm.

Spotting any of these means a worming conversation with your vet (and a nudge to check your treatment reminders are set). Don't guess the product - worm type and your pet's weight determine the right treatment, which is a vet call.

Straining

Constipation - straining and no poo

If your dog is straining and producing little or nothing, the safe first steps are making sure they're well hydrated, gentle exercise, and not forcing anything. Persistent constipation, obvious discomfort, or straining for more than a day needs a vet - and don't reach for human laxatives, which can be dangerous.

Important for cats

A cat repeatedly straining in the tray with nothing coming out may not be constipated at all - it can be a urinary blockage, a life-threatening emergency, especially in male cats. If in doubt, treat a straining cat as urgent.
When to help vs worry: constipated dog
Also asked

A few more honest answers

Why does my dog eat poop?

Common, usually behavioural or dietary rather than dangerous - including the charming sub-genre of dogs eating cat poop. It can occasionally signal a nutrient issue, so mention persistent cases to your vet.

Full guide: why dogs eat poop

A note on smell

Poo isn't meant to be pleasant, but a dramatic, sudden change in smell - especially with a change in colour or consistency - is worth noting, as it can accompany a digestive upset or parasite. Persistent foul-smelling, greasy stool is a vet conversation.

Cat poo - what's different

Most of the above applies to cats, with a few notes: a healthy cat stool is usually firmer and darker; cats are prone to constipation and to the urinary-straining emergency above; and "what does healthy cat poop look like" has the same answer - deep brown, firm, formed, once a day. Blood, persistent diarrhoea, pale or very hard stool, or any straining all warrant a check.

No chart needed

When to ring the vet - skip straight to the phone if you see:

Black, tarry stool
A large amount of fresh blood
Persistent white, grey or pale stool
Liquid diarrhoea plus lethargy or vomiting
A cat (or dog) straining with nothing passing
Your gut telling you something's wrong
FAQ

Quick answers

Chocolate brown. Green, yellow, black, white or bloody stool all warrant a closer look - see the chart above.
A persistent odd colour, very hard or very runny, or containing blood, mucus or worms. One odd poo isn't a crisis; a pattern is the signal.
Often a high-bone/calcium diet or visible worms; persistent pale, greasy stool can mean trouble digesting fat - check with your vet.
Black, tarry stool can mean digested blood - treat it as a same-day vet call. Some foods and supplements darken stool harmlessly, but don't assume.
Tapeworm looks like rice grains; roundworm like thin spaghetti. Giardia isn't visible and needs a vet test.
Ensure hydration and gentle exercise, and avoid human laxatives. Straining for over a day, or any straining cat, needs a vet.
Deep brown, firm, formed, usually once a day.
Reviewed by Dr. Priya Anand, MRCVS. This checker helps you understand what you're seeing and decide when to act. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace veterinary care.

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