When your dog's poop looks like this, visit your vet...
 

I thought this was a great article on, well, DOG POOP. We get questions here quite a bit on poo issues, and this may help answer some questions. The article contains pictures that are, albeit a tad gross, helpful.

Usually I paste the whole article into the thread but since this is a picture-dependent article, it is probably best read on the original site itself.

It is here: Assessing Your Dog's Poop for Signs of Health Problem

Thanks for posting this Ann. It is very informative. I have seen just about every one of those at some time. I tried to copy and paste this for myself but the pictures didn't copy, only the text.

:D Thank you, Ann - a very interesting article (even if I was just about to serve up dinner....:p) Loved the one of the boots...:D

The article to me kind of pushes raw diets. Though I believe there to be many healthy kibbles out there. Wouldn't they all be considered "processed"? I checked our kibble and it does included dry beet pulp and rice, but not rice hulls. Uni and Toto's poop looks like the first pics. Small and compact, and does indeed dry out within a few minutes and if stepped on after dried turns to dust.

I remember seeing fake dog poop (rubber) at magic shops and gag stores and the shape of the poop was just like the kibble fed poop. Like chocolate soft serve. (National ice cream day is this Sunday.) I guess that was the norm of dog poop in the 80s?

Daisy's is like the second one, large and sometimes pretty stinky. She is on Hills d/d salmon prescription diet. She eats the kibble too. I would like to think it isn't full of a bunch of fillers, especially for the cost--it is $3.29 a can at Petsmart, but when on a prescription diet I guess you get what you get.

Thank you for posting this. It is very helpful having a reminder and knowing what to look for.

Ann, could you make this a sticky? (Are poop stickies allowed? :eek: :D). I for one am a big poop watcher and I'm always trying to figure out what is happening with the poop situation. This would be great to refer to when I need it. Thanks.

Great article. Thanks!

I disagree on the appearance of the poop of kibble-fed dogs, but the article does have great pictures to help diagnose specific health issues (although I won't be able to bring myself to look at the photos again unless and until Bella has an issue ;)). I added a couple of tags--please feel free to add more.

That's a great article. :)
I've just had Jenna to the vet this week for a bout of colitis. She's on 7 days of amoxi drops because she can't tolerate metronidazole. She had the small bowel type stool with blood. It was terrifying. :(
This really helps me to have a better idea of what's up with both dogs' leavings in the future, thanks. :)

Oh I never imagined how important Tink's poop would be... I'm sure my neighbors question my sanity, as I "inspect" her poop every time, lol.

Lol...a POOP STICKIE -- that sounds downright dangerous :D!

I did put it in the Health Library, so it'll always be right here: Diet, Nutrition, and Health Library - YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community

I do think the author def supports raw diets above others, so I'm not surprised you may see a bit of bias there. I too believe there are many healthy kibbles out there! And yup, most everything out there is "processed" somehow.

I'm sure all dogs are so individual w/ their poo consistency, so you're probably not the only one who disagrees on this. I will say for us...back when I fed kibble to Wylie...his poos were very smelly and voluminuous and kinda mushy/wet; but now that mine eat mostly raw, their poos are small, firm, much drier and compact. But who knows? Maybe she's just trying to capture what she *mostly* sees...but there are probably outliers...?

I have to admit, I totally judge people by the look of their dog's poo when out on walks/at the park. LOL

Also a LOT of lazy people don't pick up after their dogs so I see a lot of poop. Some really gross soft ones. Just bc we have an HOA here they think they can leave the poop out and the landscapers will pick it up. They are just making their own neighborhood gross and dirty. Idiots.

Dog food
 

What brand of dry dog food would you feed your yorkie
I have my two on Hills science diet little bites but I'm always wondering is there something better

If it works for your dog then I wouldn't change. Everyone has their own opinions on what is good and what is bad in dog food.

For example, a lot of people trust the Dog Food Advisor, and I have to admit I did in the beginning too. Then I found out he is a dentist for humans and tries to sell stuff to you. Although not everything he says is false. What I did learn from him is to look at dog food advertisements with a critical eye, and take advice with a grain of salt. Why does dog food need to have artificial colors when dog's are supposedly color blind? What is the difference between "meat by products" and "beef by products"? etc, etc.

In the end, I feel if your dog is having normal small, relatively non smelly poops and eats and plays fine, the food you are giving them is probably ok. Sure you can spend more money on the most expensive food but will it make a difference in your dog? I fed Royal Canin before. $20+ a bag. It didn't help Uni's coat at all bc her genetics are just she has a poor coat. Just like me, no matter what brand of shampoo I use, it's not going to give me hair like Gisele Bunchen.

Personally we feed Holistic Select here. It's about $13/bag, I like the ingredients, and Uni and Toto actually like eating it. I haven't had to change brands since I started feeding it. Uni used to change her mind and turn her nose up at food every few bags on one brand. I've tried them all it seems! We've been on HS for 4+ years now.

Ann thanks for posting

Thank you for this. As a new dog owner I always look at her poop and google to make sure she is ok. This is a great article to keep!!! I've seen a few of those already!!

:) people should pick up after their pets!!

:thumbup: Thanks Ann.