What do the different colors of your dog’s stool mean? From normal brown to concerning shades like red, black, or white, this comprehensive guide explains stool color changes and when to take your pup to the vet.

Understanding Your Dog’s Healthy Stool Color

As a pet owner, keeping an eye on your dog’s bowel movements is an important part of monitoring their overall health. The color, consistency, and frequency of your dog’s stool can provide valuable insights into their digestive system and potential underlying health issues. But what exactly constitutes a “normal” stool color, and when should you be concerned about changes?

In general, a healthy dog’s stool should be medium to dark brown in color, with a firm but not hard consistency that allows for easy passage. However, the normal range can vary from dog to dog, depending on factors like breed, diet, and individual differences. The best way to establish your dog’s baseline is to pay attention to their “healthy” bowel movements and note any deviations from that norm.

Decoding Dog Poop Colors: What Each Shade Means

While minor changes in stool color are often related to dietary factors and not cause for alarm, some color variations can signal more serious underlying health problems. Let’s take a closer look at what the different dog poop colors indicate:

Brown (Normal)

As mentioned, medium to dark brown is considered the healthy, normal color for dog poop. This coloration is a result of bile from the liver and bilirubin from the breakdown of red blood cells.

Black or Very Dark

Black or extremely dark-colored stool may indicate the presence of digested blood, often from an upper gastrointestinal tract issue like a stomach ulcer. This can be a sign of serious underlying problems, so it’s important to have your vet investigate the cause.

Bright Red or Streaks of Blood

Bright red or bloody streaks in the stool indicate the presence of fresh, undigested blood, typically from the lower gastrointestinal tract. This could be a sign of conditions like colitis, a rectal injury, or even a tumor, and should be evaluated by your veterinarian.

Pink or Purple

Stool that resembles raspberry jam can be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition called hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), which causes sudden vomiting and diarrhea. Seek immediate veterinary attention if you notice this color change.

Grey or Greasy-Looking

Fatty, greyish, or greasy-looking stools may indicate a problem with your dog’s pancreas, known as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). This condition results in the inability to properly digest fats, and requires prompt veterinary treatment.

Green

Green-colored stool is often the result of your dog eating large amounts of grass, but it can also signal the presence of intestinal parasites or even rat bait poisoning. If the green color persists, it’s best to have your vet investigate the cause.

Orange

Orange stool can be a sign of a liver or biliary issue, or it may simply mean your dog’s food moved through their digestive system too quickly, preventing the normal bile-induced color change. Persistent orange diarrhea warrants a visit to the vet.

Yellow

Yellow or mustard-colored stool is typically indicative of a food intolerance or allergy. Try reviewing your dog’s diet for any recent changes that could be causing an upset stomach and resulting in the yellowish poop.

White Specks

If you notice small, white, rice-like specks in your dog’s stool, it’s likely a sign of tapeworms or other intestinal parasites. This is a common issue that can be easily treated with medication prescribed by your veterinarian.

Maintaining a Healthy Stool Routine

To help prevent problems and ensure your dog’s stool remains consistently healthy, it’s important to pay attention to their diet and environment. Feed a high-quality, consistent dog food, limit human food treats, and prevent access to trash, compost, and potentially toxic plants or chemicals. Additionally, be sure to report any unusual changes in stool color or consistency to your veterinarian right away, as they can be an early indicator of underlying health issues.

When to Seek Veterinary Attention

While minor variations in stool color and consistency are often not cause for panic, there are certain signs that warrant a trip to the vet. These include:

• Persistent diarrhea or constipation
• Bright red or bloody stool
• Black, tarry, or very dark-colored stool
• Stool that resembles raspberry jam
• Greasy, grey, or excessively fatty-looking stool
• The presence of white, rice-like specks (potential parasites)
• Sudden or unexplained changes in stool color or consistency

By staying vigilant and keeping an eye on your dog’s bowel movements, you can quickly identify potential health concerns and get your pup the care they need. Remember, your veterinarian is the best resource for determining the underlying cause of any stool color changes and developing an appropriate treatment plan.

Conclusion

Understanding the different colors and consistencies of your dog’s stool is an important part of maintaining their overall health and well-being. By familiarizing yourself with what’s considered “normal” for your pup and recognizing the signs of potential problems, you can take proactive steps to address any issues and ensure your furry friend stays happy and healthy.

What Does Dog Poop Color Mean?

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As the writers of Canine Journal, we feel it’s our, ahem, duty to keep you in-the-know about what’s coming out of your pup. So, here’s the low-down on dog poop of every color.

Most mild changes in dog stool color are related to dietary changes and aren’t cause for alarm. But poop color and consistency can be an indicator of serious health problems, which is why you need to make your dog’s business your business.

What Does Dog Poop Color Mean?

Does your dog’s poop look funky? Here’s the scoop on doggie-doo of every color and how to tell normal dog poop from problem poop.

• Brown (Normal)
• Black Or Very Dark
• Red Or Streaks Of Blood
• Pink Or Purple
• Grey Or Greasy-Looking
• Green
• Orange
• Yellow
• White Specks

Normal Dog Poop

What “normal” color is varies from dog to dog, breed to breed, and can change depending on the type of dog food they’ve eaten. In general, the color should be medium brown and neither too soft and liquidy (diarrhea) or too hard to pass comfortably (constipation).

Pay attention to your dog’s “healthy” poops (color, consistency, and frequency), so you can recognize when there’s a problem.

Black Dog Poop Or Very Dark Dog Poop

Black stool in dogs may have a “tarry” or “sticky” consistency. The black color comes from partially digested blood. Black stool may be a sign of an ulcer in the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as a stomach ulcer.

Many human medications, especially aspirin, can cause stomach ulcers in dogs. There are also medications specifically for dogs that increase the risk of stomach ulcers if taken for a long time.

Never give human meds to your dog without consulting your vet.

Bright Red Dog Poop Or Streaks Of Blood In Stool

The bright red color comes from undigested blood in the GI tract, specifically the lower GI tract. Streaks of blood in your dog’s poop may be a sign of colitis (inflammation of the colon), a rectal injury, an anal gland infection, or possibly a tumor.

Pink Or Purple Dog Poop

Anything that resembles raspberry jam (sorry to ruin your toast) could indicate hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), a potentially fatal disease that causes a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea. Most dogs with HGE will recover with prompt treatment. Seek emergency medical attention.

Grey Or Greasy-Looking Poop

Doggy-doo that appears fatty, glistens, or comes out in large, soft amounts could indicate Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). Commonly referred to as maldigestion, EPI is a disease in which the pancreas doesn’t produce the necessary enzymes to digest fat. EPI is treatable, so see your vet. A fatty diet may also be the cause of grey, greasy poop in dogs.

Green Dog Poop

Green poop can be common if your dog eats large amounts of grass. However, it can also be a sign of intestinal parasites or rat bait poisoning. If your dog has green poop, see your vet to be safe.

Watch out for these symptoms of poisoning in your dog before it’s too late.

Orange Dog Poop

It could indicate a liver issue or biliary disease, or it could just mean that your dog’s food moved too quickly through the GI tract to pick up the bile. Bile is made in the liver and is what changes poop to the normal brown color we expect. If your dog has orange diarrhea, contact your vet.

Yellow Dog Poop

Yellow mucus usually indicates a food intolerance, especially if you’ve recently changed your dog’s diet.

Take a look at what your pet’s been eating and try to rule out any new ingredients that could be causing an upset stomach and mustard-yellow dog poop. You can also administer an at-home allergy test to determine dietary or environmental allergies.

Even with an at-home allergy test, you’ll want to take your dog to the vet so that you know for sure which ingredient is causing your dog’s tummy problems.

White Specks In Poop

Worms, particularly tapeworms, often look like white grains of rice in your pup’s stool. This is treatable, so see your vet.

Check out our visual guide to dog poop colors.

What Your Dog Eats Matters

As veterinarian Dr. Carrie Jelovich reminds us, “What goes in, must come out.” The best way to prevent problems is to know exactly what your dog is eating. Here’s how:

1. Feed a consistent diet of the highest quality dog food you can.
2. Limit human food. Even pet-safe people food can cause problems in dogs with allergies, sensitive tummies, or if they simply have too much of a yummy treat. Make sure kids and other family members know what not to feed your dog.
3. Prevent your pup from rummaging in trash and compost piles.
4. Know what’s growing in your yard; mushrooms and many types of plants (including berries) can make your dog super sick.
5. Keep medicines, household trash, cleaning products, lawn and garden, car-care, and pest-control chemicals out of reach because they all pose serious threats to your dog’s health if ingested. The bottom line: if you wouldn’t want a child to eat it, you don’t want your dog to eat it.

As always, err on the side of caution and contact your vet. Don’t give your dog human medicines – even over-the-counter formulas – without instructions from your vet.

Be ready to supply a stool sample and let them know if you observe any other symptoms such as changes in urgency, frequency, or vomiting, lethargy, difficulty breathing, or behavioral changes. Your vet can do the necessary testing to properly diagnose and treat your dog.

How To Save Money At The Vet

Unexpected vet bills can be a crappy situation. Fortunately, there’s a way for you to save money on those unplanned bills.

Pet Insurance Can Help

Should your pup become sick or injured, pet insurance can help cover the cost of eligible conditions. If you’re thinking about buying pet insurance, you can read up on the companies we rank in our pet insurance reviews. We share our top recommendations for the best pet insurance companies and go over their key features, including plan and cost options, coverage, and exclusions.

And if this is an entirely new topic for you, it’s a great idea to learn all about how pet insurance works. The video below helps explain how dog insurance works and how it can save you money.

Other Poop Problems?

Have a hard time cleaning up after your pup? Check out these pooper scoopers, which help get the job done without hunching over. And if your dog eats poop, don’t worry we’ve got you covered too (not literally). Find out why dogs eat poop and how to get them to stop.

Tagged With: Digestion, Gastrointestinal, Poop, Reviewed By Dr. Pendergrass, DVM

Cary Gastroenterology Associates | The Bristol Stool Chart: What Type…

If you’ve ever looked down into the toilet after pooping to examine what came out, you’re not alone. Pooping is a natural bodily function, and it’s equally natural to want to evaluate what you see. While it can be a weird or taboo topic, the appearance of feces can tell us important information about our digestive health. But it can also be difficult to interpret what we see without some kind of guide. Fortunately, the Bristol Stool Chart was developed to be just such a guide.

What is the Bristol Stool Chart?

The Bristol Stool Chart (also known as the Bristol Stool Scale) was developed by British doctors Ken Heaton and Stephen Lewis in 1997 to serve as a clinical assessment tool for patients with gastrointestinal conditions. The chart was originally published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology and was based on a 1992 study that showed a strong correlation between defecation disorders and the shape and type of stool. In the years since then, the chart has been validated numerous times by other researchers in other countries around the world.

In essence, the Bristol Stool Chart is a classification system for human feces that can be used in both clinical and experimental fields. The seven categories on the chart are arranged in a continuum from hard and dry to liquid with the points along this continuum corresponding to how much time the stool spends in the colon. The chart is helpful in determining whether a person’s stool is normal or not, and it can provide clues to the underlying cause of any digestive issues. The seven categories are:

• Type 1: Separate hard lumps, like nuts (hard to pass)
• Type 2: Sausage-shaped, but lumpy
• Type 3: Like a sausage but with cracks on its surface
• Type 4: Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft
• Type 5: Soft blobs with clear-cut edges (passed easily)
• Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool
• Type 7: Watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid

Rather than a set of hardline rules, the Bristol Stool Chart is a series of guidelines that can help in the diagnosis of a condition. It also provides a way for patients to communicate with their doctor about their experience. Instead of awkwardly trying to characterize the consistency of their poop, patients can use the chart to explain what they’ve observed.

What Counts as “Normal” Poop?

According to the Bristol Stool Scale, types 3 and 4 are considered a “normal” or healthy consistency for poop. It would ideally be sausage-shaped with a smooth surface and relatively easy to pass. Though the chart doesn’t take frequency into account, this consistency also tends to match up with the principles in gastroenterology of a healthy pattern of bowel movements. This can be different for different people, but the range can be anything from three times a day to three times a week.

At the other ends of the spectrum are less ideal consistencies that suggest the possibility of a disease, disorder, or unbalanced diet. Types 1 and 2 on the scale are drier and harder to pass, and they may indicate a problem with constipation. This means that the stool has been in the colon too long and therefore too much water has been absorbed. Types 5, 6, and 7 are looser or more liquid and are associated with diarrhea. Looser stools mean that the stool has spent too little time in the colon and too little water has been absorbed.

What Does Poop Color Indicate?

One aspect of poop that the Bristol Stool Chart doesn’t fully explore is the color. The color may not even be related to consistency or bowel motility at all, but it can still tell us something about our digestive health and whether or not there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Below are different stool colors that can be encountered and what they may indicate:

• Brown: As with types 3 and 4 above, brown is generally considered a normal and healthy color for poop. The brown color comes from a combination of the pigments in bile and bilirubin, a compound that breaks down dead red blood cells.
• Black: Black poop can be a sign of too much or iron or bismuth in the body as well as bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Black stool may also be a result of eating certain foods like black licorice.
• Green: Because bile has a yellow-green color, some greenish tint may be normal from time to time. Green poop can also be a sign of infection or large amounts of unprocessed bile. Poop can also be very green after eating a lot of green food like kale or spinach.
• White: White or very pale poop usually means an insufficient amount of bile in the digestive tract; one of the most common reasons for this is the duct from the gallbladder being blocked by a gallstone.
• Yellow: There are numerous reasons poop can be yellow, but it is usually also greasy and foul-smelling. This typically means there is a high amount of fat or gluten in the stool, either from dietary sources or because of a condition like celiac disease. It may also mean that food has passed through the digestive tract too quickly.
• Red: For most people, red poop is probably related to a food that was consumed that has a red color like tomato juice or beets. However, red poop can also indicate bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract, and there can be many different causes for this.

Striving for Healthy Poop

The consistency and color of your poop can provide useful information about the state of your digestive health. And although the Bristol Stool Chart is a good tool for anyone to look at, it’s best to interpret what you see with your doctor’s help. In general, one or two instances of abnormal poop shouldn’t be a concern, but if you are experiencing a pattern that lasts for weeks, it may be time to consult a gastroenterologist. In the meantime, here are some tips for how to improve your digestive system and the consistency of your poop:

• Fiber: Many people simply don’t get enough dietary fiber each day. Men should be aiming for around 38g per day and women should aim for 25g a day.
• Water: Sufficient hydration is one of the most important things you can do to help with bowel regularity. It helps the contents move smoothly through the intestines and makes constipation less likely.
• Exercise: Exercise is beneficial for bowel motility in addition to being good for your overall health. The CDC recommends everyone get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.

Contact Cary Gastro

Poo might be a little awkward to talk about, but it represents a key aspect of our health and wellbeing: digestive health. At Cary Gastro, we know how important good digestive health is for everyday quality of life. If you have been experiencing a pattern of abnormal poop—or if your bowel habits have changed significantly recently—please contact us to request an appointment. Our compassionate and understanding staff is eager to talk with you and help you get healthy as soon as possible.

Author

Mane Ideas

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?
   • Normal puppy 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 stool
   • 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 some 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

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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 resembling 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, odor, 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

With a natural diet, feces will be less than in 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 blood 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

Stools usually lose their color if bilirubin does not enter it. The cause of this condition is blockage of the bile ducts by stones, helminths, and an inflammatory process.

Mucus in the stool

A small amount of mucus may be normal as it is found in the large intestine and helps to move the 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 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 feces in a dog, then first of all determine what exactly 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, paraffin 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 after each bowel movement 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. Cats and dogs, 2000.

This article is the first step to solving the problem!

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Why stool turns yellow

October 12, 2022

12. 10

6 minutes

6 minutes.

46346

37

4

Updated: October 12, 2022

Updated 12.10

A change in the color of the stool is one of the symptoms by which diseases of the liver and other organs of the digestive system can be suspected. The most common complaint is yellow stools. We find out in which situations yellowish feces is considered a variant of the norm, and in which it requires a mandatory visit to a doctor and mandatory treatment.

Article content

1. What affects the color of feces
2. Reasons why feces change color
3. What are the accompanying symptoms with yellow feces to pay attention to
4. When is diagnosis needed if the feces turn yellow
5. What treatment is needed when the stool is yellow
6. FAQ
7. Expert opinion

What affects the color of feces

Feces or feces are undigested remnants of food consumed by a person, which are formed during digestion. In addition to undigested food, they contain water and bacteria that inhabit the small and large intestines. Several factors influence the color and smell of feces:

1. Age. The stool of a newborn differs in color, consistency, and smell from the stool of an adult.
2. Nutrition. The color of the stool largely depends on what the person is. Everyone is well aware that eating beets changes the color of feces to red.
3. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The color of feces is largely determined by the work of the digestive system, and failures in its work lead to a change in the color of feces.

Thus, the color of the stool is affected by age, dietary characteristics and the state of human health. Normal adult stools are pasty and brown in color.

Causes of discoloration of feces

Yellow stools are the most common complaint to see a doctor. Most often this is due to the following reasons:

Cause	Description
Features of the diet	Yellow stools may be the result of eating foods with a lot of yellow pigments. These include sweet potatoes, carrots, spices with turmeric. Also, feces can change color if fermented milk products predominate in the diet.
Some pathologies	Most often, a change in the color of the stool is caused by various liver diseases (cholecystitis, hepatitis, bile outflow disorders, inflammation of the gallbladder, gallstone disease), enzymatic insufficiency against the background of pancreatic diseases (pancreatitis, lack of production of digestive enzymes), intestinal and parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal tract.
Side effects of certain drugs	It can change color to yellow feces when taking anticancer and anti-tuberculosis drugs, some NSAIDs and hormonal pills based on estrogen or its derivatives.

A mushy, golden-colored stool is considered a variant of the norm in children of the first year of life. Such a chair is associated with the peculiarities of nutrition and the work of the gastrointestinal tract of infants, is not a pathology and does not require treatment.

Book an online consultation if you experience a change in stool color. Our doctors will help you determine the cause of such a change by phone or video chat, tell you when to see a doctor and what tests you need to pass before that.

What are the accompanying symptoms of yellow feces to pay attention to

Yellow feces caused by natural causes do not lead to additional changes in the stool itself and the development of unpleasant symptoms. However, a change in feces to yellow in an adult is caused by pathologies; other health problems may also be recorded in him. What do you need to pay attention to?

1. Change in consistency. With many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, there is a violation of the stool, so you need to pay attention to how the stool became (liquid or solid) after a color change.
2. Number of bowel movements. Normally, their number varies from 3 per day to 3 times per week. If their number decreases or increases, this may indicate a particular disease.
3. Color. The shade can also indicate the disease. For example, light yellow stools are associated with intestinal infections, white or pale yellow stools indicate problems with the pancreas, dark yellow stools indicate liver disease or a violation of the outflow of bile.
4. Pain. The nature and localization of pain is also one of the diagnostic criteria. For example, pain in the left hypochondrium indicates problems with the pancreas, in the right hypochondrium – with the liver, throughout the abdomen – with the intestines.
5. Nausea and vomiting. These symptoms accompany many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. They can be differentiated by the frequency, volume and circumstances under which nausea and vomiting occur.
6. Smell. It indicates failures in the normal processes of digestion. So yellow fetid stools are often observed in congestive processes and intestinal infections.
7. Other symptoms. It is also important to pay attention to the presence or absence of shortness of breath, fever, heartburn, flatulence, general weakness, feeling of heaviness in the abdomen after eating, changes in appetite and eating habits.

By itself, a change in the color of the stool does not mean that a person has developed some kind of pathology or disease, so it is extremely important to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms and consult a doctor in time.

Read also
What are intestinal infections and why do they occur

When to diagnose if the faeces turn yellow

A change in the color of the stool does not always require a diagnosis. If a person feels well, nothing bothers him, the frequency and consistency of the stool does not change, then it is not necessary to consult a doctor. It is worth waiting and observing the state of health of a person and the color of his stool.

However, if any accompanying symptoms appear, it is imperative to consult a doctor in order to undergo a full diagnosis and establish the cause of the discoloration of the feces. To do this, carry out:

• taking a complete medical history, including a physical examination;
• tests – general analysis of urine and blood, analysis of feces for various indicators, tests to assess the functioning of the liver, intestines and pancreas;
• examinations – ultrasound of the abdominal organs, endoscopic examinations, x-rays with and without contrast, MRI and CT if necessary.

Based on the data obtained, a diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is prescribed. In some cases, hospitalization may be required.

Important! Intestinal infections, in which the color of the stool changes to yellow, are especially dangerous in childhood and old age, so if an elderly person or child develops severe vomiting and diarrhea against the background of a change in stool, you need to take him to the hospital as soon as possible.

What treatment is needed when the stool is yellow

By itself, yellow stool does not require treatment. You need to treat the cause that led to yellowing of the feces. Depending on the pathology, it may be prescribed:

1. Diet correction. All products with yellow pigment, dairy and fatty products are excluded.
2. Sorbents and rehydration agents. They are prescribed for intestinal infections to cleanse the intestines of bacterial toxins and prevent dehydration.
3. Enzymes. They are used for severe enzymatic deficiency.
4. Hepatoprotectors and choleretic agents. Help improve liver flow and support the liver.
5. Antibiotics and other antibacterial agents. They are prescribed for suspected bacterial infection.
6. Antispasmodics, analgesics, antiemetics and antidiarrheals as symptomatic therapy.

After the main treatment, medications may be prescribed to restore the functioning of the intestines and other digestive organs. For this, diet therapy, the selection of pro- and probiotic agents can be used.

FAQ

What does yellow stool mean?

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A change in the color of feces may be the result of normal processes, for example, the use of foods with a large amount of yellow pigments, such as carrots or turmeric, or develop as a result of pathology of the organs and glands of the gastrointestinal tract.

Can an adult have bright yellow stools from food?

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Yes, the color of the stool directly depends on what a person eats, so eating foods with a high content of dyes leads to a change in the color of feces. For example, beets turn stool red, while carrots and turmeric turn yellow.

Why does my baby have yellow mushy stools?

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For babies of the first year of life, this stool color is a variant of the norm. This is due to the nutrition of predominantly breast milk and the peculiarities of the digestion of infants.

Why does the color of feces change in a woman?

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In women, a change in the color of the stool may be associated with the intake of estrogens or their derivatives. If there are no other symptoms or changes, there is nothing to worry about. In itself, a change in the color of feces is not a pathology.

When should yellow stool be treated?

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Treatment is necessary in cases where other symptoms appear against the background of a change in the color of the stool. The main ones are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, changes in the frequency of bowel movements and the consistency of the stool itself.

Expert opinion

The yellow color of feces in adults is one of the symptoms that may indicate diseases of the intestines, liver and pancreas. Such diseases are also indicated by other signs – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and so on. In addition, yellow stools can be a consequence of dietary habits, side effects of medications, and an age-related feature.

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Article author

Esakova Ekaterina Yurievna

general practitioner • gastroenterologist

Experience 4 years

Consultations 3228

Articles 168

Years of experience in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Recommendations, clarification of symptoms, recommendations for laboratory diagnostics, interpretation of tests and ultrasound results.

Sources

1. …
   Tarasova L.V., Trukhan D.I. Diseases of the intestines. Clinic, diagnosis and treatment – 2013
2. …
   Anokhina G. A. Diseases of the esophagus, stomach and intestines; Quorum – M., 2011.
3. …
   Gastroenterology and hepatology. Clinical reference book; Practical medicine – M., 2012

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