What does black stool indicate. How can you tell if green poop is normal. When should you worry about light-colored stool. Why might your stool appear bright red. What causes yellow stool.

The Spectrum of Stool Colors: What They Mean for Your Health

Monitoring the color of your stool is an essential aspect of maintaining overall health. While the typical range of stool colors spans from light to dark brown, variations in color, texture, or consistency can signal changes within your body. These alterations may stem from dietary choices, medications, or potentially more serious underlying conditions.

Understanding the implications of different stool colors can help you identify potential health issues early on. Let’s explore the various hues your stool might take on and what they could indicate about your digestive health.

Black Stool: When Darkness Spells Danger

Black or tarry stool, medically known as melena, is often a cause for concern. This dark coloration can indicate the presence of blood in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. But what exactly causes black stool?

• Upper GI tract bleeding
• Stomach or peptic ulcers
• Severe acid reflux
• Colon cancer
• Swallowed blood from mouth injuries or nosebleeds

It’s important to note that certain foods and medications can also lead to black stool. Consuming large amounts of black licorice, taking iron supplements, or using anti-diarrheal drugs like Pepto-Bismol can darken your stool. However, if you haven’t ingested these substances and your stool remains black for several days, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional.

Is black stool always a sign of internal bleeding?

While black stool often indicates bleeding in the upper GI tract, it’s not always the case. Certain foods and medications can cause temporary darkening of the stool without any underlying health issues. However, if black stool persists or is accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain, fever, or dizziness, it’s essential to seek medical attention promptly.

Green Stool: A Colorful Surprise in Your Toilet Bowl

Encountering green stool can be startling, but it’s often harmless. The green hue typically results from bile, a greenish fluid that aids in fat digestion, passing through the intestines too quickly. This rapid transit prevents the bile from breaking down completely and changing to its usual brown color.

Several factors can contribute to green stool:

1. Diarrhea, causing food to move through the intestines faster than normal
2. Consumption of leafy green vegetables or foods with green food coloring
3. Iron supplements

How long can green stool last?

In most cases, green stool is temporary and resolves on its own within a day or two. If green stool persists for more than a week or is accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain or fever, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare provider to rule out any underlying digestive issues.

Light-Colored Stool: When Pale is Cause for Concern

Pale or clay-colored stool can be a sign of more serious health issues. This light coloration often indicates a lack of bile in the stool, which can result from an obstruction in the bile duct. The main causes of light-colored stool include:

• Gallstones blocking the common bile duct
• Pancreatic cancer
• Liver disease

In some cases, large doses of certain medications can also lead to light-colored stool. However, if pale stool persists for more than a day or two, it’s crucial to seek medical attention to identify and address the underlying cause.

Can dietary changes cause light-colored stool?

While diet can influence stool color, it rarely causes consistently pale or clay-colored stool. Light-colored stool is more often a sign of a problem with bile production or flow. If you notice persistent light-colored stools, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain or jaundice, consult a healthcare professional promptly.

Bright Red Stool: Decoding the Crimson Warning Signs

Bright red stool can be alarming, but it’s not always a sign of a serious condition. The red coloration can result from bleeding in the lower GI tract or from certain foods. Common causes of bright red stool include:

• Hemorrhoids or anal fissures
• Diverticulosis
• Colon or rectal tumors
• Inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
• Consumption of red-colored foods like beets, tomato juice, or cherries

How can you differentiate between food-related red stool and internal bleeding?

If your stool appears red after consuming red-colored foods, it’s likely harmless and should resolve within a day or two. However, if red stool persists, is accompanied by pain, or occurs without consuming red foods, it could indicate internal bleeding. In such cases, seek medical attention promptly for proper evaluation and treatment.

Yellow Stool: When Your Poop Takes on a Sunny Hue

Yellow stool, particularly when accompanied by a greasy texture and foul odor, often indicates the presence of excess fat in the stool. This condition, known as steatorrhea, can be a sign of malabsorption or other digestive issues. Causes of yellow stool may include:

• Celiac disease
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Cystic fibrosis
• Giardiasis (a parasitic infection)

If you notice persistent yellow stools, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain, weight loss, or greasy stools that are difficult to flush, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider for proper evaluation and diagnosis.

Can certain foods cause yellow stool?

While dietary factors can influence stool color, consistently yellow stools are rarely caused by food alone. However, consuming large amounts of carrots, sweet potatoes, or turmeric may temporarily tint your stool yellow. If yellow stools persist or are accompanied by other digestive symptoms, it’s best to seek medical advice to rule out underlying health issues.

When to Call the Doctor: Recognizing Red Flags in Your Stool

While occasional changes in stool color are often harmless, certain situations warrant medical attention. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience:

• Black, tarry stools that persist for more than a day
• Bright red blood in your stool
• Persistent light-colored or clay-colored stools
• Yellow, greasy stools accompanied by weight loss or abdominal pain
• Any significant change in stool color that lasts more than a few days

Remember, early detection and treatment of underlying health issues can lead to better outcomes. Don’t hesitate to discuss any concerns about your stool color or consistency with a healthcare professional.

How quickly should you seek medical attention for abnormal stool colors?

The urgency of seeking medical attention depends on the specific color change and accompanying symptoms. For black, tarry stools or bright red blood in the stool, especially if accompanied by dizziness, weakness, or severe abdominal pain, seek immediate medical care. For other color changes, if they persist for more than a few days or are accompanied by other symptoms, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider within a week.

Treating Abnormal Stool Colors: Addressing the Root Cause

The treatment for abnormal stool colors depends on the underlying cause. In many cases, dietary changes or stopping certain medications can resolve the issue. However, for more serious conditions, medical interventions may be necessary. Some potential treatments include:

• Dietary modifications to address nutritional deficiencies or malabsorption
• Medications to treat infections, reduce inflammation, or manage chronic conditions
• Endoscopic procedures to diagnose and treat bleeding in the GI tract
• Surgery for conditions like gallstones or tumors

It’s crucial to work closely with your healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on the specific cause of your abnormal stool color.

Can probiotics help normalize stool color?

While probiotics can support overall digestive health, they typically don’t directly affect stool color. However, by promoting a healthy gut microbiome, probiotics may help resolve underlying digestive issues that could be causing abnormal stool colors. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen, including probiotics.

Understanding the various hues your stool might take on and their potential implications is an important aspect of monitoring your overall health. While occasional changes in stool color are often harmless, persistent alterations or those accompanied by other symptoms warrant medical attention. By staying attuned to these subtle signals from your body, you can take proactive steps to maintain your digestive health and overall well-being.

Stool Colors | What Poop Colors Mean & When to Worry

Read about

If your stool is not normal-colored (light or dark brown), it means you have some gut issue, whether it’s just food that didn’t sit right, food poisoning, or a virus. But sometimes it can be a sign of bleeding (red/black stool), or a liver or gallbladder issue (very pale stool), so don’t ignore a discoloration.

Medically reviewed by

Shria Kumar, MD.

Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Last updated April 14, 2022

Tooltip Icon.Speech Bubble Icon.1

Copied to clipboard

Black stool

Green stool

Light-colored stool

Bright red stool

Yellow stool

When to call the doctor

Should I go to the ER?

Treatment

Table of Contents

Tooltip Icon.Speech Bubble Icon.1

Copied to clipboard

Medically reviewed by

Shria Kumar, MD.

Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Last updated April 14, 2022

Stool quiz

Take a quiz to find out what’s causing your stool.

Buoy Chat Icon.Take symptom quiz

Stool quiz

Take a quiz to find out what’s causing your stool.

Take stool quiz

Checking the color of your stool is a very good way to monitor your overall health. Most of the time, stool will be light to dark brown in color. But stool that’s a different color, texture, or consistency, are all signs there’s something different going on in your body.

In many cases, it could be caused by the food you eat or a medication you’re taking. But if your stool is discolored for a few days, or you have other symptoms, it could be a sign of something more serious.

Black, tarry stool or bright red stool could be a sign of blood in the stool. Pale, clay-colored stool can be a sign of a blockage of your bile duct. Contact your doctor if you are concerned about the color of your stool.

Does stool color matter?

“Our stool is a marker of our gut health, but it is also a reflection of what we ate, how we ate, and what medications we may have taken, among many other things!” —Dr. Shria Kumar

Black stool

Stool that’s darker than your typical brown is quite common. Black stool can be a cause for concern. Black or tarry stool can be a sign of blood in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

The main causes of dark stool are:

• Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, which can be from an infection, medication, trauma (like a car accident), or lesions of the blood vessels
• Stomach/peptic ulcers that cause bleeding in the esophagus
• Acid reflux that causes bleeding and irritation in the esophagus
• Colon cancer
• Swallowing blood from a mouth injury or a nosebleed
• Large amounts of foods like black licorice
• Iron supplements
• Anti-diarrheal drugs like Pepto-Bismol

Green stool

Bile is a greenish fluid that helps your body digest fat. Bile travels through the GI tract and changes to brown when it interacts with certain enzymes. If your stool is green, it usually means that you have changed your diet slightly or your food is traveling through the large intestines faster than normal so it doesn’t have enough time to break down and change color.

Green stool may be caused by:

• Diarrhea, since food is moving through your intestines faster
• Green foods like leafy green vegetables
• Foods that have been dyed with green food coloring
• Iron supplements

Stool quiz

Take a quiz to find out what’s causing your stool.

Take stool quiz

Light-colored stool

If your stool is pale in color or white, it usually means that bile isn’t moving through your GI tract. This would mean that there’s an obstruction of the bile duct that isn’t letting the bile flow into the intestine. Sometimes, the color can be from large doses of medications.

The main causes of light-colored stool include:

• Gallstones, or hardened deposits of bile that form in the gallbladder and block your common bile duct
• Pancreatic cancer
• Liver disease

Bright red stool

There are quite a few reasons why your stool can appear bright red in color. It can be from bleeding in the rectum or large intestines, or simply eating certain foods.

Red stool may be a sign of:

• Hemorrhoids or anal fissures, causing lower intestinal tract bleeding.
• Diverticulosis, small outpouchings of the wall of the large intestine that can bleed.
• Colon or rectal tumors.
• Ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes ulcers and inflammation in the GI tract. It can cause bleeding and loose stools.
• Crohn’s disease, the other type of IBD, causes inflammation that can be anywhere in the GI tract (mouth, small intestine, large intestine, even outside the GI tract). It also can cause bleeding and loose stools.
• Foods like beets, tomato juice, cherries, or cranberries, though this is usually not accompanied by other symptoms.

Yellow stool

If your stool is yellow, or more likely, contains yellow droplets (seen floating on the toilet bowl), it is a sign of fat in the stool. It can also have a bad odor and a greasy texture. You may see noticeable amounts of fat in your stool when it’s not absorbed properly by the body. Yellow stool can be a sign you’re having malabsorption issues—along with other signs like difficulty maintaining or gaining weight.

Yellow stool may be caused by:

• Bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections that may be causing malabsorption. One of the most common is giardiasis (also called giardia infection), caused by a microscopic waterborne parasite.
• Surgery, including removing the gallbladder, bariatric surgery, or for another GI issue (like a structural blockage or tumor) where part of the colon is removed. These can all change fat absorption.
• Stress. The brain can signal distress to the gut, affecting how the gut functions. Stress can cause disruptive changes to how nutrients pass through the digestive system.
• Celiac disease, a gluten intolerance in which eating wheat, barley, or rye damages the small intestines and triggers the production of certain antibodies. These antibodies flatten the small intestines villi—structures crucial to proper nutrient absorption.
• Chronic pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for producing enzymes that help digestion. Chronic pancreatitis inhibits this.
• Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary disease that causes mucus, sweat, and digestive juices to be thick and sticky rather than thin and slippery. They then block ducts, tubes, and passageways in the pancreas, intestines, liver, and gallbladder. It causes poor absorption of fat.

Stool quiz

Take a quiz to find out what’s causing your stool.

Take stool quiz

When to call the doctor

You should call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms that don’t stop.

• Weight loss
• High fever
• Severe pain
• Diarrhea
• Lightheadedness or dizziness

Should I tell my doctor about unhealthy stool?

“Stool is important to look at. Yes, it’s gross! But knowing whether you are having any color or texture changes in your stool is something your doctor will want to know. ” —Dr. Kumar

Should I go to the ER for abnormal stool colors?

You should go to the emergency department if you have any of these signs of a more serious problem:

• Black, tarry stools or blood in stool
• Very pale stool
• Weight loss
• High fever
• Severe pain
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Vomiting

Should I be worried if my stool changes color?

“One-off changes in stool color is not, in and of itself, an issue. It’s when it signifies something more than a dietary change (by being persistent or accompanied by new issues) that it becomes something to investigate.” —Dr. Kumar

Treatments

Abnormal stool color by itself is not a problem. It’s the underlying cause that may need to be treated. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to your stool color, note any other symptoms (diarrhea, fever) or foods you’ve eaten recently, and talk to your doctor.

• If your stool color has changed because of a change in diet and there are no other symptoms, no treatment is needed.
• If you are bleeding, you may need to go to the hospital, have laboratory and imaging tests, and possibly even a procedure, such as an endoscopy or colonoscopy. 
• If you have an infection, you will need laboratory testing and, possibly, medications for the infection.

Ready to treat your stool?

We show you only the best treatments for your condition and symptoms—all vetted by our medical team. And when you’re not sure what’s wrong, Buoy can guide you in the right direction.See all treatment options

Illustration of two people discussing treatment.

Shria Kumar, MD.

Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dr. Kumar is a gastroenterologist, who completed her fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She received her undergraduate degrees in Religious Studies and Chemistry from New York University (2010) and graduated from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2014), where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She is completing her t…

Read full bio

Was this article helpful?

80 people found this helpful

Tooltip Icon.

Copied to clipboard

Read this next

Slide 1 of 6

5 Causes of Black Stool

Blackish or reddish stool may be from too much iron in your diet, or from certain foods. Black stool may also be caused by constipation, which can make stool harder and drier than normal. But sometimes, it’s a sign of internal bleeding and needs immediate attention.

Read more

Top 4 Causes of Dark Brown Stool

Dark brown stool can be normal. But it may mean you’re dehydrated or constipated. If it continues, it could be a sign of a larger issue that needs to be checked with your doctor.

Read more

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, chronic disorder of the gut (primarily the intestines) that causes abdominal pain and constipation, diarrhea, or both. There is no cure for IBS, but there are many treatments to reduce symptoms.

Read more

What Causes Green Poop?

Green poop can be commonly caused by eating certain green foods, an infection that causes diarrhea, bile, or a side effect of medication. In addition, irritable bowel syndrome can cause green poop and stomach pain.

Read more

5 Causes of Red Stool

While red stool may be caused by ingesting certain foods or medications, red stool can indicate an internal problem. Paying attention to other symptoms such as abdominal pain or discomfort and discussing your concerns with a doctor in a timely manner is important.

Read more

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, long-term inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, involving ulcers and sores of the large intestine and rectum.

Read more

5 Causes of Black Stool

Blackish or reddish stool may be from too much iron in your diet, or from certain foods. Black stool may also be caused by constipation, which can make stool harder and drier than normal. But sometimes, it’s a sign of internal bleeding and needs immediate attention.

Read more

Top 4 Causes of Dark Brown Stool

Dark brown stool can be normal. But it may mean you’re dehydrated or constipated. If it continues, it could be a sign of a larger issue that needs to be checked with your doctor.

Read more

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, chronic disorder of the gut (primarily the intestines) that causes abdominal pain and constipation, diarrhea, or both. There is no cure for IBS, but there are many treatments to reduce symptoms.

Read more

What Causes Green Poop?

Green poop can be commonly caused by eating certain green foods, an infection that causes diarrhea, bile, or a side effect of medication. In addition, irritable bowel syndrome can cause green poop and stomach pain.

Read more

5 Causes of Red Stool

While red stool may be caused by ingesting certain foods or medications, red stool can indicate an internal problem. Paying attention to other symptoms such as abdominal pain or discomfort and discussing your concerns with a doctor in a timely manner is important.

Read more

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, long-term inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, involving ulcers and sores of the large intestine and rectum.

Read more

5 Causes of Black Stool

Blackish or reddish stool may be from too much iron in your diet, or from certain foods. Black stool may also be caused by constipation, which can make stool harder and drier than normal. But sometimes, it’s a sign of internal bleeding and needs immediate attention.

Read more

Top 4 Causes of Dark Brown Stool

Dark brown stool can be normal. But it may mean you’re dehydrated or constipated. If it continues, it could be a sign of a larger issue that needs to be checked with your doctor.

Read more

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, chronic disorder of the gut (primarily the intestines) that causes abdominal pain and constipation, diarrhea, or both. There is no cure for IBS, but there are many treatments to reduce symptoms.

Read more

What Causes Green Poop?

Green poop can be commonly caused by eating certain green foods, an infection that causes diarrhea, bile, or a side effect of medication. In addition, irritable bowel syndrome can cause green poop and stomach pain.

Read more

5 Causes of Red Stool

While red stool may be caused by ingesting certain foods or medications, red stool can indicate an internal problem. Paying attention to other symptoms such as abdominal pain or discomfort and discussing your concerns with a doctor in a timely manner is important.

Read more

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, long-term inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, involving ulcers and sores of the large intestine and rectum.

Read more

Appearance, color, and what is normal

Poop, stool, or feces contains waste products, such as undigested food particles, bacteria, and salts. A bowel movement that is hard, runny, or has an unusual color may indicate a health problem that needs attention.

Sometimes, poop can vary in color, texture, amount, and odor. These differences can be concerning, but usually, these changes are not significant and will resolve in a day or two. Other times, however, changes in poop indicate a more serious condition.

Keep reading to discover more about the different types of poop, including what is and is not typical.

Fast facts on types of poop:

• Poop can come in different shapes, colors, and smells.
• A person should pass a normal, healthy poop easily and with minimal strain.
• Anyone who has blood in their stool should seek urgent medical attention.

Was this helpful?

Devised by doctors in the Bristol Royal Infirmary, England, and based on the bowel movements of nearly 2,000 people, the Bristol stool chart characterizes the different types of poop as shown above.

Types 1 and 2 indicate constipation, types 3 and 4 are healthy stool, while types 5–7 suggest diarrhea and urgency.

Poop is generally:

• Medium to dark brown: It contains a pigment called bilirubin, which forms when red blood cells break down.
• Strong-smelling: Bacteria in excrement emit gases that contain the unpleasant odor associated with poop.
• Pain-free to pass: A healthy bowel movement should be painless and require minimal strain.
• Soft to firm in texture: Doctors consider poop passed in one single piece or a few smaller pieces to signify a healthy bowel. The long, sausage-like shape of poop is due to the shape of the intestines.
• Passed once or twice daily: Most people pass stool once a day, although others may poop every other day or up to three times daily. At a minimum, a person should pass stool three times per week.
• Consistent in its characteristics: A healthy poop varies from person to person. However, people should monitor any changes in the smell, firmness, frequency, or color of poop as it can indicate an issue.

How long should a poop take?

It should take 10–15 minutes to pass the stool.

People that take longer than this may have constipation, hemorrhoids, or another condition.

While brown poop is considered the “usual” color of poop, some greenish-brown hues may also be acceptable.

Poop can be other colors too, such as:

Black

Black stools, especially if they have the appearance of tar, suggest gastrointestinal bleeding. Other substances may also cause black poop, such as:

• iron supplements
• black licorice
• black stout
• bismuth medications

White

If stools are white, gray, or pale, a person may have an issue with the liver or gallbladder, as pale stools suggest a lack of bile. Some antidiarrhea medications cause white stools.

Green

Spinach, kale, or other green foods can cause green poop. However, a green-colored stool may signify too much bile and not enough bilirubin in the poop.

Red

Poop that is red-colored may be the result of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Small amounts of blood in the stool can indicate hemorrhoids.

Eating beets or red berries or drinking beet or tomato juice also turns poop red. Once these foods have passed through the digestive tract, poop should become brown again.

Orange

Consuming many orange-colored foods, which are rich in a pigment called beta-carotene, causes orange stool.

Carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squash are among the many foods that contain this pigment.

However, blocked bile ducts or certain medications, including some antacids and the antibiotic rifampin, can cause orange poop.

Yellow

If stool appears yellow or greasy-looking, the poop contains too much fat. This may result from absorption issues or difficulty producing enzymes or bile.

Most people will experience variations in stool color at some stage. Usually, this is down to diet or some other minor cause.

However, anyone who experiences changes in poop color that last 2 or more weeks or has red or black stool should consult a doctor.

If parents or caregivers notice any changes in their baby’s poop, it is usually not a cause for concern, but they can consult a pediatrician for further advice.

Read on about the baby’s poop color.

The following situations may suggest a digestive issue:

• pooping too often — more than three times daily
• not pooping often enough — less than three times a week
• excessive straining when pooping
• poop that is red, black, green, yellow, or white
• greasy, fatty stools
• pain when pooping
• blood in the stool
• bleeding while passing stool
• watery poop — diarrhea
• very hard, dry poop that is difficult to pass
• floating poop

People experiencing any of these types of poop should consult a doctor.

There is a range of reasons why a person may experience poop that is different from usual, including:

Stress

Stress can trigger and exacerbate digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It can affect how quickly food moves through the body, which can cause either diarrhea or constipation for some people.

Find out what remedies can alleviate stress.

Dehydration

Not drinking enough water and other fluids can lead to constipation, as stool requires moisture to move more easily through the digestive tract. Too much caffeine and alcohol can contribute to dehydration.

Read on how much water a person should drink.

Lack of dietary fiber

Fiber acts as a binding substance to give stool its form. It also helps poop to move smoothly through the digestive tract. A diet low in fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and pulses, can lead to bowel problems.

Learn what fiber-rich roods are.

Food intolerances and allergies

People with an intolerance or allergy to certain foods can often experience diarrhea, constipation, or other traits of abnormal poop when they consume problematic food.

For example, people with lactose intolerance often experience diarrhea if they have dairy, while those with celiac disease will have an adverse reaction to gluten.

Find out more about common food allergies.

Medical conditions

Certain conditions can cause constipation, diarrhea, or other poop abnormalities. Examples of such conditions include:

• depression
• cancer
• an overactive or underactive thyroid
• inflammatory bowel disease
• IBS
• Parkinson’s disease

Constipation

A person may have constipation if they:

• have difficulty emptying the large bowel
• are straining when pooping
• are passing less stool than usual
• the stool is lumpy, dry, or hard

Alongside the above causes of constipation, it may also result from lifestyle or routine changes such as physical inactivity or the overuse of laxatives.

Learn more about the remedies for constipation.

A person should contact a doctor if changes to poop persist for 2 weeks or more.

People should seek immediate medical treatment if the stool is bright red, black, or a tarry substance. These symptoms suggest blood loss, which could become a medical emergency if left untreated.

How to ensure healthy bowels

To help ensure healthy bowel function and healthy poops, people can follow the tips below:

• Eat enough fiber: Aim to get the recommended minimum daily amount of fiber, which is 25 grams (g) for women and 38 g for men under 50 years old. Women over 50 should aim for 21 g while men over 50 should consume 30 g daily.
• Drink plenty of water: A reasonable amount is about 8 glasses (64 ounces) per day. It is especially important to stay hydrated when consuming more fiber.
• Take probiotics: Probiotics may help restore the natural balance of bacteria in the gut. Although some yogurts and drinks can also provide probiotics, these beneficial bacteria are in capsule form.
• Try magnesium: Magnesium hydroxide often treats constipation. It is safe for most people, although doctors do not recommend it for people with renal insufficiency.
• Lifestyle changes: This may include stopping smoking, type, and level of exercise, and anxiety management to help control a person’s bowel movements.

A well-functioning digestive system is essential for health and well-being. It also suggests that a person is eating a balanced diet.

Poop abnormalities that persist can lead to complications. For example, ongoing diarrhea can result in nutritional deficiencies or, in severe cases, malnutrition, while constipation can cause bowel obstructions.

A person’s poop tends to be brown, soft to firm in texture, and easy to pass. If someone experiences changes in poop, they should monitor the changes and consult a doctor if the issue does not resolve within 2 weeks.

To encourage bowel function, a person should eat a fiber-rich diet, exercise regularly, reduce stress, and drink lots of water to stay hydrated.

Read this article in Spanish.

Chair in babies: norm and deviations

Infant chair norms

What should be the child’s chair? This is one of the most common questions parents ask. Babies of different ages and on different feedings have peculiarities in the frequency and consistency of the stool. Let’s look at this issue in more detail.

In children from birth to 4 months, stool frequency is considered normal if there are from 1 to 7 acts of defecation per day, from 4 months to 2 years – from 1 to 3. On breastfeeding, the frequency of bowel movements is from 2 to 6-7 times, on artificial feeding – from 1 to 4 times a day.

For breast-fed babies, the stool is normally light yellow, homogeneous, mushy with a sour smell, while in children on artificial feeding, the stool is darker and denser. A small amount of indigestible lumps of food is acceptable. The green color of the stool is a variant of the norm if it does not contain pathological impurities in the form of mucus and blood.

Stool options in the presence of various diseases in a child

Consider stool options that can be a manifestation of various diseases in a baby. In the presence of such changes, you should contact a specialist to clarify the nature of the violations and select appropriate methods of therapy.

In view of the immaturity of enzyme systems, most newborns often have transient (temporary) lactase deficiency. Stool in this condition is quickened up to 8-10 times a day, it is liquid, frothy with a large water spot and sour smell. In this case, the baby can throw the breast or nipple in the presence of appetite, be restless during feeding. This condition is being corrected by a pediatrician.

The presence in the stool of a copious amount of mucus, a streak of blood, rapid or, on the contrary, rare emptying when a rash appears on the skin of a baby, may be symptoms of a food allergy to cow’s milk protein. This is mainly observed in children of the first year of life and also is corrected by the pediatrician.

Absence of stool in the first 48 hours after birth and then profuse, greasy (poorly washed off from the potty), shiny, fetid stool in the absence of weight gain – is also a reason to consult a specialist in order to exclude a genetic disease – cystic fibrosis.

In the presence of liquefied, frequent and abundant stools (polyfecal matter) and an increase in the volume of the abdomen with a decrease in body weight or no weight gain, observed 4-8 weeks after the introduction of gluten-containing foods (semolina, oatmeal, wheat porridge, crackers, drying, cookies , vermicelli) it is necessary to exclude celiac disease in the baby by contacting a pediatrician or a gastroenterologist.

Diarrhea, discoloration (dark green, black, etc.), the appearance of pathological impurities in the stool in the form of mucus, blood, pus – the most common manifestation of intestinal infection. All this may be accompanied by fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, while the baby becomes lethargic and restless. Intestinal infections are dangerous with serious complications, therefore, with such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

If the child shows anxiety, cries, and blood is visible in the stool in the form of “raspberry jelly” – this is a reason for an emergency visit to the surgeon, in order to exclude an emergency pathology.

A decrease in the frequency of stool, a change in its character (dense consistency, an increase in volume, or like a “sheep”, possibly with streaks of blood), as well as the absence of self-emptying for more than 3 days, speaks of constipation , which are organic and functional . The causes of constipation can be different, in this regard, you should not self-medicate them.

Remember, changes in the nature and frequency of stools require medical advice. It is he who will prescribe the necessary examination, if necessary, hospitalization may be required for an in-depth examination in order to correct the condition in a timely manner.

What should be the feces of a dog – what does the color of the stool indicate?

Article reviewed by the chief veterinarian
Konchevoi Elizaveta Sergeevna

Contents

1. What determines the color of a dog’s feces?
2. What should be the normal stool for a dog?
   • Puppy normal stool
3. Abnormal stool in dogs
   • Bad smell
   • Size
   • Loose stool
   • Hard and dry stool
   • Black chair
   • Yellow and orange chair
   • White chair
   • Red chair
   • Green chair
   • Light chair, gray and white
   • Mucus in stool
   • Fat chair
   • Inclusions in the chair
4. What to do if the dog’s stool is not normal?
   • Stool collection for analysis
5. Main
6. Answers to frequently asked questions

No time to read?

Enter email

I am over 18 years old, I have read the Privacy Statement, User Agreement

I agree to receive advertising mailings (including in the form of SMS, emails and/or messengers)

You subscribed to the article!

Search articles by email

What determines the color of a dog’s feces?

Stool color should be medium to dark brown. A dog’s stool color should be fairly consistent from day to day, provided he eats a regular diet. The brown color of the stool comes from the bile component bilirubin, which changes from green to brown during digestion.

Poop of other colors is not always a cause for concern, especially if it reflects what your dog may have eaten.

If your dog snatched a few carrots from your plate, don’t worry about orange stool the next day.

But notice the unusual colors that you can’t explain by eating certain foods. Especially if it lasts more than one day. Also, the color of feces can be changed due to medications and diseases of the digestive tract.

How normal should a dog’s stool be?

Dog stool should generally be the same shade each time, always the same size and texture. Abnormalities in the color and consistency of feces may indicate a health problem.

Healthy dog ​​feces are generally easy to identify. The feces are segmented, slightly moist, chocolate brown, hard, with a slight odor.

This photo contains material that people may find unpleasant

See photo

Normal puppy stools

Young dogs are prone to many health problems. And the appearance of the feces will change as they develop and the diet changes: the transition from milk to soft food to standard food will be reflected in the stool.

It is important for a dog owner to know what normal and healthy feces look like.

Healthy puppy stools should range from medium to chocolate brown, more specifically milk chocolate. Any color other than brown should be alarming.

The ideal puppy stool is a hard and segmented piece that resembles a caterpillar.

As a rule, dogs defecate once or twice a day. Some pets can even up to four times a day. However, stability is key. If your dog goes from pooping twice a day to four or five, he may be in trouble.

Abnormal stools in dogs

Pet owners should be on the lookout for anything that might be considered unusual in dog stools, as it is often other symptoms that accompany stools that can signal problems – colors, consistency, smell, inclusions, and even volume .

Offensive odor

The stronger odor is due to the fact that the dog’s body is not designed to absorb certain nutrients found in diets. It can poorly digest grains and starch. Therefore, if the animal eats a special food, the smell of the stool changes. Another reason for the sharp fetid odor may lie in the development of putrefactive microflora in the intestines.

Size

A natural diet will produce less stool than prepared foods. If only the volume of the stool has changed, but the smell is the same, most likely this indicates overeating or a large amount of fiber in the food.

Loose stools

Soft stools without blood or mucus may simply be a sign of a change in diet or a disordered diet. In such cases, it does not take long as the dog adjusts to the new diet or returns to its normal diet. It could also mean that there is an intestinal parasite, such as giardia, or a severe food intolerance.

Watery stools may indicate stress or be a warning sign of a viral (parvovirus) or parasitic infection.

Soft stools with mucus are another indicator of parasites or parvovirus.

Another example of abnormal stools is feces that are first partly hard and then partly soft. This is a case of small bowel diarrhea that points to a variety of causes: an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, food intolerances, parasites, stomach problems, or other serious problems.

Hard and dry stools

Indicates insufficient water intake or pathology in the large intestine, since it is there that water is absorbed from the food bolus.

Black stools

Black stools, sometimes described as tarry, indicate the presence of digested blood in the digestive system. The darker the color of the dog’s stool, the more serious the problem. This may be due to an injury caused by disordered eating, or it may be a warning of a serious danger, such as cancer.

Yellow and orange stools

Orange or yellow colors are associated with problems with bile, so they can signal problems with the liver, pancreas or gallbladder.

White stools

White, chalky textured stools in a dog on a natural diet indicates too much calcium or bone in the dog’s diet. A small change in diet usually returns the stool to normal. Or it could be a symptom of the development of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Red stools

Red stool means that there is fresh blood or clots in the stool. The brighter the shade, the lower in the digestive tract bleeding will be found. This sign warns of a serious health problem, an acute inflammatory process that requires urgent veterinary care.

Green stools

May occur in a dog due to the development of putrefactive bacteria in the small intestine. As a result, bilirubin, which normally colors feces brown, is oxidized and gives a green color.

Light gray and white stools

The stool usually loses its color if no bilirubin enters it. The cause of this condition is blockage of the bile ducts by stones, helminths, and an inflammatory process.

Mucus in stool

A small amount of mucus may be normal as it is found in the large intestine and helps move stool to the exit. However, a large amount of mucus or in combination with other changes indicate the development of a pathological process in the large intestine, which can be caused by helminths, infections, and dietary errors.

Fatty stools

Fatty looking stools may indicate excess fat in the diet, which can cause painful inflammation of the pancreas or be a sign of an enzyme deficiency.

Stool lumps

White spots in soft, watery or normal looking stools are actually worms or helminth eggs. Worm segments, adult worms or eggs indicate the presence of parasites.

What should I do if my dog’s stool is abnormal?

If you notice abnormal stools in your dog, first determine what is wrong. It can be: color, portion, smell or consistency.

If only the color has changed, just see if it repeats. With a single color change, there is rarely cause for concern. If this is repeated regularly, consult a doctor, you need to examine the digestive tract: perform an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and take blood tests.

When changing the portion size, first of all analyze what and how much the dog eats. Is there an excess of fiber in the diet, is the daily allowance of feed appropriate for the weight of the animal. With prolonged symptoms and weight loss in the dog, it is necessary to conduct an examination.

If the stool is liquid, mucus, semi-formed or watery, then these are signs of inflammation of the small or large intestine. First of all, you need to try to fix the chair – give sorbents, antispasmodics and give the dog a lot to drink. With natural feeding, add rice and rice water with lean poultry meat to the diet.

In any case, it is best to consult a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. Usually, to find out the cause of stool changes, it is recommended – ultrasound, blood tests, helminth treatments and feces for research.

Collection of stool for analysis

To collect dog stool for analysis, purchase a sterile jar with a spatula from the pharmacy. On a morning walk, put a shovel of feces without earth, snow, leaves in a jar, close it and deliver it to the laboratory no later than 12 hours after collection.

Before taking feces for examination, the animal should not be given laxatives, activated charcoal, vaseline oil, barium, enemas.

For protozoan stool testing, it is best to bring your pet to the clinic to have a doctor take a swab right there, as these parasites only live for 30 minutes in the sample, and it will be difficult to deliver feces from the moment of collection to the laboratory in less time.

To test feces for helminths, it is necessary to pour a preservative (Turdiev’s solution) into the same jar with a spatula in a veterinary clinic and collect a small portion of feces into it after each defecation for 5-7 days. It is stored in the refrigerator. After that, you need to deliver the resulting mixture to the laboratory.

Main

• A dog’s normal stool should be moderately firm, brown in color, with a moderate odor, come out in a single “sausage” and not have foreign inclusions.

• The color of feces in a dog can indicate diseases of the digestive tract: intestines, liver or pancreas, as well as the presence of coloring components in the diet.

• The main criterion for a normal stool is stability. It should be the same every day. The exception is if the dog eats everything, but then that’s the problem. After all, such a diet cannot be called correct.

• Any change in the feces is a reason to see a doctor and conduct an examination.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Sources:

1. Chronic Diarrhea in Dogs — Retrospective Study in 136 Cases M. Volkmann, J.M. Steiner et al Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2017.

2. Wingfield Vane. Secrets of emergency veterinary care.