You may be surprised to see your dog pass bright green stools. Your dog's poop can sometimes be different colors, and certain colors can give clues about what's going on inside your pup. Green dog poop shouldn't be ignored. While this can be harmless, it can also be a sign of a serious problem with your dog's health.
Why is my dog's poop green? In some cases, there's no need to worry
When it comes to green dog poop, “there are two main things that can happen,” says Tracey Jensen, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, Medical Director, Wellington Veterinary Hospital, Wellington, Colorado. “The first is that green is a pigment that passes through the intestinal tract relatively unchanged. Chlorophyll is one of the pigments that, in sufficient quantities, passes through the feces and gives it the green color. can do.”
Therefore, green pigment in stool is not necessarily a cause for concern. If your dog eats a lot of grass and other plants, his poop can turn green. Dr. Jensen has also heard of cases that occurred after dogs ate large amounts of Greenies treats. I myself witnessed my dog poop in rainbow colors after stealing and eating his son's crayons. (Crayons are like dog crack to him, so it's a good thing they're non-toxic!).
However, in some cases, green dog poop can be a sign of something more serious.
An even scarier situation is when the green pigment is present because the dog has ingested certain toxins. “A very dangerous dye that can get through is the dye used in rodenticides,” explains Dr. Jensen. Rodenticides (rat poisons) may contain not only green but also blue pigments.
If your dog hasn't ingested the dye that dyes his poop green, his poop may be indicative of a health problem. “The second reason your stool turns green is due to changes in absorption in your intestinal tract,” explains Dr. Jensen. “There is a very important digestive fluid called bile that contains pigments. That pigment is normally absorbed primarily in the colon and recycled and reused. In some cases, in the case of colitis (inflammation of the intestinal tract), The dye may not be absorbed and may be excreted in the stool.
How can you tell the difference between two types of green dog poop?
How can you tell if green dog poop is because your pup just ate grass or is actually sick? “The reason it looks green is because the bile pigments aren't being absorbed,” Dr. Jensen says. “If the stool is in normal shape, [show] If it matches the green color, it is most likely passing through the intestinal tract and not due to intestinal disease. ”
In any case, if you notice green dog poop, contact your veterinarian. It's difficult to know whether your dog turned green because he ate too much grass or because he ingested rat poison. Bring a fresh sample so your veterinarian can test your green dog poop and possibly test it. When it comes to poison, time is of the essence. The sooner your dog is seen by a veterinarian, the better your dog's chance of recovery. Also, other complications can occur even if your dog has just eaten grass.
“A dog eating large amounts of grass may actually be a symptom of a gastrointestinal upset,” advises Dr. Jensen. “I had one [dog] Some dogs develop disabilities after eating a lot of grass, and some do it simply because they like grass. Therefore, we recommend that you consult us at any time. ”
Read more about dog poop at Dogster.com.
Featured image credit: Paul S. Wolf / Shutterstock.
