Dog Poo – What can it tell you about your dog?
I know that this is not the nicest of subjects but did you know that, just as it is with ourselves, there are things we can learn about its health, from looking at our dog’s droppings?
By analysing a dog poop sample under a microscope your vet can detect internal parasites, even if they are not producing signs of disease.
But did you know, that as dog owners, keeping a keen eye on things, can enable us to spot early warning signs of health problems? We don’t have to leave it all to the vet.
The colour of your dachshund’s poo can provide some good clues as to the state of your dog’s overall health.
For instance, watery stools may indicate an intestinal problem, while small pellet-like poops can mean your dog is dehydrated.
Ideally, your dachshund’s stools should be a nice “milk chocolate ” colour. Anything other than that, i.e. other colours and shades, may not necessarily be a cause for concern but may need further investigation.
So it’s worth getting into the habit of noticing these things about dog poo when you’re dog is out for its regular ablutions.
If it is very dark or even black in appearance then there is a possibility your dog may be showing signs of having an ulcer or a bleed within the stomach which would be an obvious concern.
Red streaks can be a suggestion of colitis, an anal gland problem or even a rectal injury of some description.
If the dog poo is looking purple or like strawberry jam, it is recommended that you collect a sample and go to your vet for further investigation.
Would you believe that greasy grey poo is also a possibility? Here your dachshund may be struggling to break down fats within its diet. a slimy consistency would support this.
White specks may be a sign that your dachshund has worms!! If the specks are long and skinny and look like “rice” this is probably the case.
Note though that this is only a concern in fresh poo as worms can enter the stool if left for a while on the ground.
A yellow colour could be telling you that your dachshund might be having some issues with food intolerance. Consider whether anything new or different has been added to their feed. You may need to change their diet and see if there is something specific that can be omitted from future meals.
The colour orange may also be sending out a message. In this instance, your dachshund may be processing their food too quickly and there is not enough time for bile to help break the food down to give the poo a more normal-looking appearance.
Green poo could be that too much grass is being eaten. However, it could indicate the presence of parasites or even poisons!! Y
ou will need to keep a close eye on your dachshund if this is the case. Any weight loss or sickness may require treatment.
So, not a particularly nice subject as we said earlier, but keeping an eye on things is a useful habit to get into, and could help you spot something before it becomes serious.
We hope that you find this information useful and that it can help to give you a greater understanding of your dachshunds’ health and diet.
Of course, if you are in any doubt or think that you’ve spotted something unusual, remember to consult your vet at the earliest opportunity.
….. and finally, remember whatever the colour, be a good citizen, and always clear up after your dog!!!!!!
Now go and wash your hands 🙂