What Causes White Dog Poop?

Your dog's poop can tell you a lot about his or her health.  That's why there are 5 qualities of dog poop that we regularly check when we are poop scooping in our clients' yards.  Color is one of them and white dog poop is something we come across with relative frequency these days.  We're moving along, picking up brown dog poop as usual ... when suddenly: a white, chalky deposit!  Where has it come from?  And what does it mean??

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No, it isn't an old poop.  No, it hasn't simply dried up or been bleached by the sun.  So what is the deal here?

The good news is that white dog poop may be a natural and healthy poop.  If you are feeding your dog a high mineral raw food diet then he or she may very likely be producing these chalky, white deposits.  This is because the raw dog food diet contains a greater amount of calcium, meat and bones.  You will still want to keep an eye out, though, as "too much calcium in the diet can also lead to chronic constipation" (LoveToKnow.com.)  

If you suspect that obstipation (serious and obstinate constipation) is becoming the issue then you should talk to your vet.  For daily preventative measures to insure against constipation we suggest taking a look at this article from Healthy Pets.  Exercise, plenty of water, species-appropriate dietary fiber, probiotics and more will help your dog have regular and healthy poops.

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(Licking white dog poop, as Will Farrell is seen about to do here in the movie Step Brothers, will solve absolutely nothing.  We do not recommend it.)

There is a chance that your dog is pooping white because of something unusual that he or she is eating.  If your dog likes to pick in the garbage or get into paper products like paper towels, toilet paper and tissues then this might be the reason for the color change.  Try limiting your dog's access to such items and see if the problem persists.

White specks in your dog's poop are another story entirely.  If you are seeing what looks like white polka dots or rice grains in your dog's poop then those are worms!  These are easily treatable so it's just time to call your vet.

We will cover other colors of dog poop (green, gray, black, etc.) in future blog posts so be sure to stay tuned.

A Parasite Called Giardia and Your Dog's Poop

Giardia are protozoa that prey on the small intestines of animals including young puppies and older dogs.  They are transmitted when your dog comes into contact (direct or indirect) with infected feces.  This most often happens by drinking compromised water but can also happen by grooming after contact with feces that contain Giardia cysts.  The best ways you can protect your dog from this parasite are to provide him with safe drinking water and to keep him away from the feces of unknown dogs in dog parks and other public places.  

This is an image of a parasite called Giardia that prey on dogs' intestines.  Symptoms of infection can be found in dog poop and spotted by a dog waste removal company like Big Business Scoopers.  We will bag a fecal sample for dog owners …

The resulting infection of contact with Giardia is called giardiasis and is often asymptomatic.  But when it does show, it can cause diarrhea and sometimes weight loss.  An infected dog's feces may be lighter in color, have an abnormally funky odor and look somewhat greasy.  We'll watch out for that for you and alert you as soon as we discover any warning signs.  And we will also be happy to bag a fecal sample for you to take to your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment options.

For more information on Giardia we suggest visiting Pet Education's thorough article on the subject.  And as we learn more we'll be sure to continue sharing!

5 Qualities of Dog Poop that We Regularly Check

So you've hired Big Business Scoopers to clean your yard of all your dog's poop.  What a relief!  Now you never have to look at or smell that stuff again!!  (Well, that is except for those rare occasions when bad Fido decides your living room rug looks like a great toilet.)  But did you know that we do more than just clean the poop?  We check it for signs of poor health as well.

If he or she hasn't already, your veterinarian may ask questions about the quality of your dog's waste.  Professional pet health providers look for five main qualities in your dog's stool: Color, Shape, Consistency, Size, and Content.  Because your dog's poop can speak volumes about your dog's health you want it to be the BEST POOP EVER.

This is a dog poop cartoon saying, "I wouldn't be here without my friends, family, and whatever that dog ate."  It is smiling next to a golden trophy that reads, "Best Poop Ever."  Courtesy of barkpost.com

We at Big Business Scoopers care very much about your dog and your dog's health.  We keep these five poop health qualities in mind as we clean your yard.  After all, we're often the only ones who see your dog's poop on a regular basis!  If we notice anything out of the ordinary we make sure to notify you immediately so that you can look out for other indications of a health problem and know when to notify your vet.  

No, we won't call you every time we see a slightly soft deposit.  (Everyone has a bad day once in a while!)  But if we do notice a pattern or something particularly worrisome then we won't hesitate to let you know.  And if you ever need a stool sample to bring to the pet clinic, just let us know.  We'll be happy to bag a sample for you.  

Here's to healthy dogs and healthy dog poop!