One of the easiest ways for us to monitor our dog’s health is by keeping an eye on what goes in and what comes out. Are they eating and drinking normally? What about peeing and pooping? Paying attention to these every day habits can help us know when our dog isn’t feeling well.
Monitoring your dog’s poop can be very helpful, but only if you know what you’re looking for. You might see watery diarrhea, mucous in their poop, or even color changes. When your dog’s poop is a different color than usual, you need to figure out why.
One of the more unusual color changes is white dog poop. Read on to discover what it could mean and what can be done about it!
What Does White Dog Poop Look Like?
White dog poop might not be quite what you’re picturing in your mind. While the poop itself might be white, this is a pretty rare problem. Poop that appears gray might also be called white dog poop. We can also see white mucous that makes poop appear white, or white specks mixed in with your dog’s poop.
Common Causes of White Dog Poop
While white dog poop is uncommon in general, there are still some common causes when it is seen. These include diet, health issues, and contamination from the environment.
Dietary Factors
Feeding things that are high in calcium can lead to poop that appears white or white-specked. Calcium supplements sometimes don’t digest well, especially if they are not necessary. When your dog’s body doesn’t absorb the calcium, it shows up in the poop as white bits.
The same is true of bones or high-calcium food. Especially for dogs eating bones and raw food (BARF) diet or getting bones as chew toys, these bone chips will show up in the poop. Too many, and the poop itself can appear white.
Another common cause of white specks in dog poop is undercooked rice. If your dog is eating rice that is not cooked thoroughly, the hard center cannot be digested and will be pooped out. This often also causes mild diarrhea.
Health Issues
There are a variety of health issues that can cause white dog poop. Some are minor, like intestinal parasites, but others can be more severe or even life-threatening.
Digestion or Malabsorption Issues
If your pup can’t digest their food properly, sometimes it ends up changing the color of their poop. Digestion issues can come from a lack of certain enzymes or a bacterial imbalance in the stomach or intestines. Enzymes usually help break down larger food particles into pieces the bacteria can then process, so a problem with either of these things can lead to white poop.
Sometimes, even if your pup is digesting their food correctly, they can’t absorb the nutrients they need. This is usually due to a problem with the lining of the intestines and can result in color changes to their poop.
Parasites
Many intestinal parasites can show up in dog poop as white specks or pieces. Sometimes, they are moving, which makes them easier to spot, but not always. Roundworms and tapeworms are the most common types of worms that can cause white spots in dog poop, but whipworms can cause this as well. Other parasites, like hookworms, coccidia, or Giardia, are not readily visible and require a fecal check to diagnose.
Fungal Infections
While rare in dogs, fungal infections inside the intestines can cause white specks in dog poop. Dogs more commonly have fungal infections in the walls of the intestine, which can cause malabsorption issues rather than white specks.
External Contamination
Contamination from the environment is the most common, and least dangerous, cause of white dog poop. Dog poop that is left out for too long will often turn white, either from mold growing on it or simply from how it dries in the sun. It is also possible to find maggots on old dog poop, making it appear white or seem to contain parasites that weren’t there when the poop was fresh.
Is White Dog Poop Dangerous?
Whether or not white dog poop is dangerous depends on why the poop is white. If you are finding old poop that has turned white, it is almost certainly not a problem. A diet change might be all that is needed to solve the problem if you’re finding calcium bits after your dog chews on a bone.
But if your dog has poop that is truly white or contains white specks, you should investigate further. Some causes, like parasites, are easy to fix but can be dangerous if left alone for too long. Other problems, like an inability to absorb nutrients properly, can be life-threatening if they are not addressed.
When To Worry About White Dog Poop
- White Mucous In Dog Poop: This is often a sign of irritation of the intestines. Your pup might need veterinary care if it lasts longer than a day or two.
- White Or Chalky Poop: If your dog’s poop is both white and chalky or dry, this is a strong indication that there is a digestion problem, and you should seek veterinary care right away.
- Blood In White Poop: If your dog’s white poop comes along with blood, you should get them seen by a veterinarian right away. This may indicate parasites or other serious disease.
- Foul Smelling White Dog Poop: If a particularly foul odor accompanies the white poop, your dog may have developed an infection or digestion issue that needs veterinary attention.
- White Poop Along With Behavior Changes: If you notice your dog not feeling well along with having white poop, have them examined by your veterinarian right away. Dogs show they aren’t feeling well by being lazier than usual, not responding to play invitations enthusiastically, eating less than usual, or even drinking more than normal.
What To Do If Your Dog’s Poop Is White
- Check Their Diet
One of the most common causes of white dog poop is too much calcium. If you are giving a calcium supplement, check with your veterinarian to determine if it is really necessary. If you are feeding a BARF diet, cut back on the number of bones in your recipe. And if you are offering bones as chew toys, consider switching to nylon or rubber options.
Always make dietary changes slowly to avoid causing stomach upset.
- Monitor The Change
A single episode of white poop or white specks in dog poop is usually nothing to worry about. Chances are that your pup got ahold of something they shouldn’t have, and things will clear up in a day or two. The exception to this rule is with intestinal parasites, which may only show up occasionally if your pup doesn’t have a large number of worms. Squishing the poop to see if the specks move is an easy way to check for worms.
Watch for additional symptoms like a decreased appetite, increased thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, or not feeling well. If any of these go along with your dog’s white poop, get them an appointment with your veterinarian right away.
- Consult A Veterinarian
If your dog’s white poop has been going on for more than a couple days, they are not feeling well, or there are other signs of illness, it’s a good idea to have them seen by a veterinarian. Your vet will do a physical examination and likely recommend some testing. These tests may include:
- Fecal Check: This will check for intestinal parasites, including microscopic ones that you may not have seen in your dog’s poop.
- Blood Tests: Certain types of liver, pancreatic, and intestinal diseases that can cause white dog poop are diagnosed using bloodwork.
- Radiographs or X-Rays: Even if your veterinarian thinks that your dog’s white poop is due to calcium or bones in the intestines, these can cause life-threatening blockages in the intestines. X-rays are used to check for these blockages.
Three Prevention Tips for Healthy Dog Poop
1. Feed An Appropriate Diet
Commercial dog food is formulated to provide all the nutrients your pup needs. There is no need for vitamins or mineral supplements unless your veterinarian has recommended one specifically for your dog. Avoiding calcium supplements is also extremely important in young, large-breed dogs, as it can cause abnormal bone growth.
If you want to cook for your pup so they can have fresh food, check with your veterinarian for resources on how to do this appropriately. It is very easy to make dangerously imbalanced meals for our pups. It is also dangerous to feed them raw food, as this increases the risk of foodborne illness, such as Salmonella and E. coli, for the whole family.
2. Regular Vet Checkups
Getting your pup regular checkups and keeping them on parasite prevention can go a long way toward keeping them as healthy as possible. Well, checkups also allow you to ask questions about diet, supplements, treats, and chew toys so you know what you can safely give your dog before problems arise.
3. Pick Up Poop
In addition to avoiding the health scares that finding old poop can cause, picking up your pup’s poop helps protect your family’s health. Some types of intestinal parasites can be passed to humans, but they require a certain amount of time outside the body before they can infect people. So picking up your dog’s poop right away protects both your human family and other pets.
Final Thoughts
White dog poop is uncommon, and usually due to minor concerns like diet changes, but it can be scary. Things like intestinal parasites need to be addressed, and sometimes further testing is required to figure out what’s going on. Knowing what is normal for your pup, when to worry, and how to handle it if you do see white dog poop is key. Your veterinarian will help keep you and your dog happy and healthy together.
