What Can We Tell from Poo?

One of the most praised benefits of switching your dog from a diet of processed kibble or canned food to a truly raw diet is without a doubt the smaller, drier, odorless and less frequent stools that are quick and easy to clean up. Sounds great, right? Have you ever wondered why raw-fed poop is so different from kibble-fed poop? Just like with humans, your pet’s stools are a great indicator of their health …read on to learn how.

The color, size, and consistency of our pets’ stools all tell a story about their health. Whether you are feeding a raw diet or a kibble diet, it is important to check your pet’s poop regularly so that you can have a clearer picture of how well—or not—their bodies are functioning. Fresh food diets are very different from processed kibble or canned food diets and produce different poop as a result. These are some differences you may notice in raw and kibble stools, and what they can tell you about your dog’s health:

What to Look for in Dog Poo

Color

Raw fed: Depending on the protein you are feeding with a truly raw diet, the color of stools will naturally change. For example, poultry produces lighter-colored stools, while red meats produce darker-colored stools. 

  • Yellow-light brown- White meats such as chicken or turkey can cause yellow-light brown stool due to lower amounts of myoglobin in the meat.  
  • Dark brown- A diet high in red meat can cause very dark brown stools due to the higher myoglobin content.  
  • Black- Black solid stool can result from a high amount of blood and myoglobin in the meal. This often comes from organs like spleen and red meat.  
  • Black tar stool- Feeding too much organ meat can result in loose stools that are often black and tar-like. However, be sure to rule out non-dietary medical causes with a veterinarian. 
  • White- Too much bone/calcium can result in stools that are excessively hard, chalky, dry, or crumbly upon elimination. However, if they look this way after sitting outside for a few days, then that is normal.  

 

Kibble fed: Kibble fed poo tends to be a consistent brown due to the lower amount of meat protein and higher amount of carbs and plant protein, and the similarity of ingredient makeup across the board. 

 

Size

Raw fed: In this case, less is more! Smaller stools mean more food has been properly digested and more nutrients have been absorbed by your dog. Small, firm log-shaped stool is what you want to see. But it’s important to note that pellet-like stools that resembles deer droppings may indicate constipation.

 

Kibble fed: Large, prevalent stools are the norm with a kibble fed diet. Kibble can include many processed ingredients that are not digestible for pets and offer very little nutritional value, leaving you with more to clean up. 

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