Yellow Dog Poop & Diarrhea: 5 Key Causes

Key takeaway: Yellow dog poop could be an indication that there’s something wrong with your dog’s liver, pancreas, or gallbladder. It’s often associated with a fast gut transit time, known as ‘intestinal hypermotility’, which prevents bile from fully breaking down and results in yellow dog poop or yellow diarrhea in dogs and puppies. Yellow dog diarrhea and yellow dog poop can also be caused by a chicken-and-rice diet, due to the change in diet. If your dog is having loose yellow stools, contact your veterinarian for support.

Yellow Diarrhea in Dogs and Yellow Dog Stool: 5 Possible Causes

Important note: If your dog or puppy has been experiencing yellow diarrhea or is pooping yellow stools, contact your vet for support and to discuss possible treatments.

1. Yellow Dog Diarrhea Can Be Caused By Intestinal Hypermotility: When food moves too quickly through your dog’s intestines, this can cause yellow diarrhea or yellow stools. Often a fast gut transit time can prevent bile from fully breaking down and affect the color of your dog’s stool.
2. Chicken and Rice Diets Can Lead To Yellow Dog Poop: Vets often advise feeding a dog chicken and rice to settle their stomach if they are experiencing digestive discomfort or loose stools. While this bland diet is beneficial for dogs in certain circumstances, chicken and rice is commonly linked to yellow dog poop, due to the sudden change in diet and the way your dog’s system reacts to the food.
3. Pancreatitis Can Cause Yellow Diarrhea in Dogs: Pancreatitis is a condition of the pancreas, which lives in your dog’s abdomen, near the stomach and liver. It secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine. When your dog’s pancreas is inflamed, this can affect bile production and digestion, which can in turn cause your dog to experience yellow poop or even orange poop. If your dog has a decreased appetite, and seems uncomfortable, pancreatitis could be the reason they are experiencing yellow poop – this is a serious condition and it is important to contact your vet right away if you suspect pancreatitis is the cause.
4. Liver Or Gallbladder Issues Can Lead to Yellow Dog Poop: Both the liver and gallbladder are closely connected to bile production, and if a change in these organs is disrupting bile flow, for instance a liver condition or gallbladder issue, then your dog’s poop may appear yellow.
5. Sudden Changes To Your Dog’s Diet: Some dogs are sensitive to sudden dietary change, and switching their food too quickly can lead to digestive upset, including in changes to their stool consistency, color and frequency.

Yellow Dog Diarrhea And Poop: What To Do

If you notice your dog experiencing yellow diarrhea or stools, it is important to try and identify the cause of the change to their bowel movements, and to seek support from your vet as soon as possible. While some causes of yellow dog poop are less serious, others – like Pancreatitis, require speedy treatment to ensure a positive outcome and the sooner you seek advice, the quicker your dog will be back to their usual happy, playful self.

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