What does the color of your stool indicate about your overall health. How can different stool colors signal potential digestive issues or underlying conditions. When should you be concerned about abnormal stool colors and consult a doctor.

The Spectrum of Stool Colors: What’s Normal and What’s Not

Stool color can provide valuable insights into your digestive health and overall well-being. While light to dark brown is typically considered normal, variations in color may indicate underlying issues or dietary factors. Understanding these color variations can help you monitor your health more effectively.

What determines the color of your stool?

The color of your stool is primarily influenced by bile, a greenish fluid produced by the liver to aid in fat digestion. As bile travels through the digestive tract, it undergoes chemical changes, resulting in the characteristic brown color of stool. However, various factors can alter this process, leading to different stool colors.

• Diet: Certain foods and supplements can temporarily change stool color
• Medications: Some drugs may affect bile production or stool pigmentation
• Digestive conditions: Issues in the gastrointestinal tract can impact stool color
• Transit time: How quickly food moves through the digestive system affects color

Black Stool: When Darkness Signals Danger

Black or tarry stool, medically known as melena, can be a cause for concern as it often indicates the presence of blood in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This dark coloration occurs when blood is exposed to digestive enzymes, resulting in a distinctive tar-like appearance and odor.

What are the common causes of black stool?

Several factors can contribute to the appearance of black stool:

• Upper GI bleeding: This can result from infections, medications, or trauma
• Peptic ulcers: Bleeding ulcers in the stomach or duodenum
• Esophageal issues: Severe acid reflux or esophageal varices
• Colon cancer: In some cases, tumors in the colon may cause bleeding
• Certain foods and supplements: Black licorice or iron supplements can darken stool
• Medications: Bismuth-containing drugs like Pepto-Bismol

It’s crucial to differentiate between harmless dietary causes and potentially serious medical conditions. If black stool persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, seeking medical attention is advisable.

Green Stool: A Spectrum of Possibilities

Green stool, while often alarming, is usually not a cause for significant concern. In many cases, it’s related to dietary factors or changes in digestive transit time. Understanding the potential causes can help alleviate unnecessary worry.

Why does stool sometimes appear green?

Green stool can result from various factors:

• Rapid intestinal transit: Diarrhea can prevent bile from breaking down completely
• Dietary choices: Consuming large amounts of green leafy vegetables or foods with green dye
• Iron supplements: These can sometimes lead to green discoloration
• Bacterial imbalances: Certain gut infections may alter stool color

In most cases, green stool resolves on its own and doesn’t require medical intervention. However, if it persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s worth discussing with a healthcare provider.

Light-Colored Stool: When Pale Indicates a Problem

Pale or clay-colored stool can be a sign of significant health issues, particularly those affecting the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. This coloration often indicates a lack of bile in the stool, which can result from various underlying conditions.

What causes light-colored stool?

Several factors can contribute to the appearance of pale or white stool:

• Biliary obstruction: Gallstones or tumors blocking the bile ducts
• Liver disease: Conditions affecting bile production or flow
• Pancreatic cancer: Tumors obstructing bile flow
• Certain medications: Large doses of some drugs can lighten stool color

Given the potential seriousness of conditions causing light-colored stool, it’s important to seek medical evaluation if this symptom persists. Early diagnosis and treatment can be crucial in managing underlying health issues effectively.

Bright Red Stool: Identifying Sources of Bleeding

Bright red stool can be alarming, as it often indicates the presence of fresh blood in the lower gastrointestinal tract. While this can sometimes be due to benign causes, it’s important to identify the source of bleeding to rule out more serious conditions.

What are the potential causes of bright red stool?

Several factors can lead to the appearance of bright red blood in stool:

• Hemorrhoids: Swollen blood vessels in the rectum or anus
• Anal fissures: Small tears in the lining of the anus
• Diverticulosis: Small pouches in the colon wall that can bleed
• Inflammatory bowel disease: Conditions like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
• Colorectal cancer: Tumors in the colon or rectum
• Dietary factors: Certain foods like beets or tomatoes can cause red discoloration

It’s crucial to differentiate between dietary causes and actual bleeding. If bright red stool persists or is accompanied by pain, changes in bowel habits, or other symptoms, medical evaluation is necessary to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.

Yellow Stool: Unraveling Digestive Disturbances

Yellow stool, particularly when accompanied by a greasy texture or foul odor, can indicate issues with fat digestion or absorption. This coloration may be a sign of various digestive disorders or pancreatic problems that affect the body’s ability to process fats effectively.

What causes yellow stool?

Several factors can contribute to the appearance of yellow stool:

• Malabsorption disorders: Conditions like celiac disease or cystic fibrosis
• Pancreatic insufficiency: Reduced production of digestive enzymes
• Gallbladder issues: Problems with bile production or release
• Giardiasis: Infection with the parasite Giardia lamblia
• Dietary factors: Consuming large amounts of certain fats or oils

Yellow stool that persists or is accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain, weight loss, or fatigue should be evaluated by a healthcare professional to identify and address any underlying digestive issues.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Abnormal Stool Colors

While occasional changes in stool color are often harmless, certain situations warrant prompt medical attention. Recognizing these warning signs can help ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of potential health issues.

Which stool color changes require immediate medical evaluation?

Consult a healthcare provider if you experience:

• Black, tarry stools not explained by diet or medications
• Bright red blood in the stool or on toilet paper
• Persistent pale or clay-colored stools
• Yellow, greasy stools accompanied by weight loss or abdominal pain
• Any unusual stool color that persists for more than a few days

Additionally, seek immediate medical care if abnormal stool colors are accompanied by severe abdominal pain, fever, or signs of dehydration. These symptoms may indicate a more serious underlying condition requiring urgent attention.

Diagnostic Approaches for Abnormal Stool Colors

When faced with persistent or concerning changes in stool color, healthcare providers may employ various diagnostic tools to identify the underlying cause. Understanding these approaches can help patients prepare for potential evaluations and tests.

How do doctors diagnose the cause of abnormal stool colors?

Diagnostic methods may include:

1. Medical history review: Discussing recent diet, medications, and symptoms
2. Physical examination: Checking for signs of underlying conditions
3. Stool tests: Analyzing samples for blood, parasites, or other abnormalities
4. Blood tests: Assessing liver function, inflammation markers, or nutritional status
5. Imaging studies: Using techniques like CT scans or ultrasounds to visualize internal organs
6. Endoscopy: Examining the digestive tract with a camera-equipped tube

The specific diagnostic approach will depend on the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and suspected underlying conditions. Open communication with healthcare providers is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.

Lifestyle and Dietary Considerations for Maintaining Healthy Stool

While some factors affecting stool color are beyond our control, adopting certain lifestyle and dietary habits can promote overall digestive health and help maintain normal stool characteristics.

How can you promote healthy stool through lifestyle and diet?

Consider implementing the following strategies:

• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to support proper digestion
• Eat a balanced diet: Include fiber-rich foods, fruits, and vegetables
• Limit processed foods: Reduce intake of artificial colors and preservatives
• Exercise regularly: Physical activity promotes healthy bowel function
• Manage stress: High stress levels can impact digestive health
• Be mindful of medications: Discuss potential side effects with your healthcare provider

By incorporating these habits into your daily routine, you can support optimal digestive function and potentially reduce the occurrence of abnormal stool colors. However, it’s important to remember that any persistent changes should be evaluated by a healthcare professional to rule out underlying health concerns.

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

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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

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Medically reviewed by

Shria Kumar, MD.

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

Last updated April 14, 2022

Stool quiz

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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.

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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

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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…

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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What Do Different Poop Colors Mean?

Written by Hope Cristol

• What Do Different Stool Colors Mean?
• Normal Poop Color
• Green Poop
• Yellow Poop
• White, Pale, or Clay-Colored Poop
• Black Poop
• Red or Reddish Poop
• Orange Poop
• When to Get Help for Poop Color Changes
• More

Different stool colors can mean different things, mostly depending on what you’ve eaten.

You’d probably notice if your poop is a different hue than normal. But what does it mean if it’s green? What about red, yellow, white, or black? Or orange?

Most of the time, minor changes in the color of your waste are due to diet. After all, we don’t eat the same thing at every meal, every day. But sometimes a color change can signal a minor health issue. In rare cases, it means something serious is wrong in your digestive system.

If the color you see before you flush worries you, call your doctor.

Poop is normally brown. The color is the result of what you eat and how much bile is in your stool.

Bile is a fluid your liver makes to digest fats. It starts out as a yellowish green color. But as the pigments that give bile its color travel through your digestive system, they go through chemical changes and turn brown.

Your poop can sometimes have a slightly greenish hue, or even be a more vivid green. Most of the time, green or greenish poop is normal.

Is your diet causing green poop?

Think back on what you’ve been eating. These foods and supplements can cause your poop to be green:

• Green veggies, like spinach or kale
• Green food coloring, such as in drink mixes or ice pops
• Iron supplements

Other causes of green poop

If you have green diarrhea, the color of your food may not be to blame. It’s likely that your meal moved through your gut too quickly, so the fat-digesting bile didn’t have time to turn brown.

There may be times when your poop looks more yellow than brown.

This shade is also normal for many people. It’s common for babies, especially those who breastfeed. But if you have yellow poop that looks greasy and smells very bad, it may have too much fat. That could be a sign your body isn’t digesting food properly.

Is your diet causing yellow poop?

Indirectly, your diet could cause yellow poop. If you have celiac disease, your body can’t handle a protein called gluten, which is in wheat, barley, and rye. If you have the condition and eat foods that have gluten, like many breads, pastas, and cookies, your intestines won’t work as they should. So, if you’re eating those foods, and your poop is yellow, it may be time to see a doctor.

Other causes of yellow poop

There may be other causes of yellow poop that’s greasy and smelly. If it happens to you often, tell your doctor.

Sometimes, poop may not have much color at all.

Is your diet causing pale poop?

If your poop is pale, it’s not likely directly due to a food. But medicines for diarrhea like bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can sometimes cause pale or clay-colored poop. So can barium, a chalky liquid you drink before you get X-rays of the upper part of your digestive tract.

Other causes of pale poop

A more serious cause is a lack of bile in your stool. (Remember, bile gives poop its brown color.) Your body makes bile in the liver, stores it in the gallbladder, and releases it into your small intestine to help digest your food. If there’s not enough of it to give your poop its typical brown color, it could be a sign of a problem along the way.

Liver disease, such as hepatitis, can keep bile from getting into your body waste. So can a blockage in the tubes (called ducts) that carry bile. This can happen because of:

• Gallstones
• A tumor
• A condition you’re born with called biliary atresia

 

Babies’ poop is black for the first few days after they’re born. Otherwise, it may be because you ate something very dark-colored or took a medicine or supplement that causes black poop. But this color can be a sign of a more serious problem: bleeding in the upper part of your digestive tract.

Is your diet causing black poop?

Foods and supplements that turn poop black include:

• Black licorice
• Blueberries
• Iron supplements

Medicines that have bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can also cause very dark stools.

Other causes of black poop

Poop that looks like tar is often a sign of bleeding in the digestive tract. Some causes include:

• Bleeding from stomach ulcers
• Bleeding sores in your esophagus from acid reflux
• Bleeding from noncancerous tumors in the upper GI tract
• Cancer

If you don’t think black poop came from what you ate, you need to talk to your doctor.

If you see red or reddish poop in the toilet, don’t be alarmed right away. First ask yourself if you’ve had red foods lately.

Is your diet causing red or reddish poop?

Several foods can change the color of your stool to a pink or reddish color:

• Beets
• Tomato soup
• Gelatin dessert
• Red drinks

Other causes of red or reddish poop

If you don’t think your diet is the cause, the red you see may be blood. And if it’s bright red, the blood likely comes from the lower part of your digestive tract. Common causes include:

• Noncancerous tumors
• Cancer
• Inflammation in the colon, called colitis
• Growths called polyps in your colon
• Conditions caused by small sacs in the wall of the colon, called diverticular disease
• Hemorrhoids

Call your doctor if you see red that’s probably not from food you ate.

Poop can often come out the color of the food that went in, especially if you have diarrhea. If your poop has an orange hue, it’s most likely due to some orange foods.

Is your diet causing orange poop?

Foods that have beta-carotene can turn your poop orange, such as:

• Carrots
• Winter squash
• Pumpkin
• Sweet potatoes

Foods with orange coloring, such as sodas, candy, or gelatin dessert, can also give your poop an orange color.

Also, antibiotics and antacids that have aluminum hydroxide in them can make your stool orange.

Other causes of orange poop

Rarely, poop can be orange if you have a problem with your liver that causes it to make less bile than normal, or a blockage that keeps bile from leaving the liver and entering your system. But usually, if this is the case, your poop will be pale or clay-colored.

Most of the time, poop that’s a different color from what you’re used to isn’t something to worry about. It’s rare for it to be a sign of a serious condition in your digestive system. But if it’s white, bright red, or black, and you don’t think it’s from something you ate, call your doctor.

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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

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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.

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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.