When it comes to dogs’ bathroom habits, you might not pay much attention to the waste they’re leaving behind. After all, cleaning up after them tends to be a pretty mindless task. Every once in a while, though, your dog’s poop may look different enough from the norm to catch your attention. Like, if it’s green, for example.
Green poop definitely isn’t what our dogs should be pooping out, but occasionally it happens. The question then is, why is your dog’s poop green? There are a handful of reasons for this to occur, and, unfortunately, the majority will require a vet visit.
The 4 Reasons Your Dog’s Poop Is Green
Here are four possible reasons your dog’s poop is green and what you should do if you suspect one of them is causing your pet’s green poop.
1. He Ate Too Much of Something Green
The most common reason a dog’s poop is green—and typically one that isn’t a concern—is because your pup ate too much of something green. Usually, this will mean they’ve been eating a ton of grass or plant material, as chlorophyll, in large enough amounts, can give poop a green color. Though eating grass isn’t harmful to your dog, it could be a sign that they are missing something nutritionally from their diets. If you think their diet is lacking, you can add more fiber to get their poop back to normal.
This could also be the result of overeating other things that are green such as Crayolas (don’t worry, Crayolas are non-toxic to dogs, though they could cause stomach upset in large quantities!) or even Greenies treats. Figure out what your pet is eating that’s green, so you can cut it out or reduce it.
Image Credit: thanakarn Singto, Shutterstock
2. He Has Ingested a Toxin Such as a Rodenticide!
Another far scarier reason your dog’s poop could be green is that they’ve ingested a toxin—in particular, rodenticide. Rodenticide contains a green-tinted (and sometimes blue-tinted) pigment that is very dangerous for dogs to consume. While your dog may seem okay first, this is an emergency, the toxin will affect your dog’s health, causing their blood to lose the ability to clot. Once that happens, the smallest of cuts or bruises could lead to death. If you fear your pet might’ve gotten into rodenticide, it’s vital to immediately get them to a vet.
3. He Has a Parasitic Infestation
Your dog’s poop could also be green because of a parasitic infestation. One type of parasite known to cause green poop is giardia. This parasite damages the intestinal wall by attaching itself to it, leading to chronic diarrhea, green poop, and weight loss. While not typically life-threatening, if you have a puppy or a dog with an immunocompromised system, they could have a rougher go of it. Giardia infections come about from a dog eating or drinking something that is contaminated with giardia cysts—such as grass or puddle water—and can be passed from dog to dog. Giardia can also be transmitted to humans. If you suspect a parasitic infection such as this, take your dog to the vet as soon as possible to get treatment.
Image Credit: Irini Adler, Pixabay
4. He Is Suffering From an Intestinal Tract Medical Issue
Your dog might have green poop because it is suffering from intestinal tract issues such as gallbladder disease or colitis. Bile is a juice in the digestive tract that has a green tint, and when not reabsorbed as it should be, it can be passed along with poop. Other signs your dog’s poop may be because of gastrointestinal problems? It will not be the typical shape of their poop (instead, it will likely be runnier) and will often contain mucous. Again, this is a scenario where a vet should be contacted.
Conclusion
If your dog’s poop is green, whether you should be concerned or not could go either way. Chances are good that your dog simply ate too much grass or too many Greenie treats. Still, there’s also the possibility they could’ve ingested a toxin that needs immediate treatment or even have an infection or illness. Looking at the consistency and shape of your dog’s poop, along with the color, should help you determine the situation with which you’re dealing. If you’re unsure, though, your best bet is to consult your vet for guidance.
It may not be the most glamorous part of owning a pet. But keeping an eye on what comes out, in other words their urine and faeces, is an important part of monitoring your dog’s health. Changes can sometimes give an early indication that something may be amiss. A common concern for pet owners is an alteration in the colour of their pet’s stools. Normal dog poo should be a medium dark to pale brown colour. Various changes in colour might be noticed if there is a problem including very pale stools, dark red or even black stools, and not unusually a green discolouration.
Table of contents
- If your pet’s poo turns green it can be useful to check whether there are any other signs of potential problems
- There are lots of reasons why faeces may take on a verdant hue
- A very common source of green discolouration in stools is material containing blue or green pigment
- The importance of transit time
- Could it be due to an infection?
- Or another intestinal disturbance?
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If your pet’s poo turns green it can be useful to check whether there are any other signs of potential problems
Questions it may help to ask yourself include:
- Is the poo a normal consistency – harder or softer than usual?
- Has your pet eaten anything out of the ordinary?
- Does your pet seem unwell in themselves?
- Are they showing any other signs of illness?
If your pet seems unwell then it is important to consult with your vet at the earliest opportunity.
There are lots of reasons why faeces may take on a verdant hue
During the normal process of digestion, bile pigments are produced by the liver and get mixed with the contents of the intestine. Bile starts green in colour, but is broken down by intestinal bacteria and turns brown. In combination with the digested gut contents this produces the normal colour of faeces.
A very common source of green discolouration in stools is material containing blue or green pigment
When it is eaten, it then passes through the intestinal tract unchanged. Common culprits include grass or plant material, certain supplements and food colourings. Most of these are harmless. However there are some common poisons that can cause a blue or green discolouration of the faeces. These include slug pellets, and rodenticides or rat poison. In most cases there will be other, more obvious signs that your pet had ingested a toxin before a change in stool colour becomes evident.
Rat poison works in two possible ways. Some types affect the blood and prevent it from clotting. This causes signs such as unusual bleeding and bruising. Other types work by causing calcium levels in the blood to rise to toxic levels. This causes excessive thirst, lethargy and weakness, progressing to kidney failure. It is vital to be vigilant about what your pet ingests, as often by the time they are showing signs of illness, it can be very hard to successfully treat the poisoning.
Slug pellets also contain a blue or green pigment that may be noted in the stools. Ingestion of this toxin can cause neurological signs such as tremors, seizures and a rapid increase in body temperature. Again rapid treatment is essential as a relatively small amount can be deadly. Pet friendly slug treatments are available and these should be used whenever possible.
The importance of transit time
If the intestinal contents move through the intestines more quickly than normal, the green bile pigments from the liver may not undergo the normal breakdown by the gut bacteria, and therefore may not change from green to brown. Green discolouration is therefore very common in combination with loose poo or diarrhoea; where intestinal contents move very quickly through the gut.
Could it be due to an infection?
This is one reason that green stools can often be seen in pets that are suffering from infections of the gastrointestinal tract. One of the most common bugs to cause these changes is a parasite called Giardia. Giardia is a very hardy microorganism that can be found in the environment, where it can survive for many months before infecting an animal. Giardia infections are usually diagnosed on a faecal sample. If it is found your vet will prescribe a short course of medication to clear the infection. It is also really important to clean the environment. You may need to treat other dogs in the household to prevent reinfection.
Or another intestinal disturbance?
Other diseases of the intestines can also cause green poo, often accompanied by diarrhoea, mucous and sometimes even blood in the stools. Common problems include food allergies, inflammatory bowel syndrome, and even sometimes a change in diet, especially if the new food has been introduced too quickly. In addition medications can affect the colour of a dog’s stool. For example a course of antibiotics which alters the normal bacteria in the gut or a course of laxatives that speed up the movement of food through the intestines.
So if you notice a green hue affecting your pets poop firstly look to see if there is anything in their diet that might be causing the discolouration. If there is no obvious cause for it and especially if your pet is showing signs of being unwell, or if you suspect they may have had access to toxins, it is essential to consult with your vet at the earliest opportunity to rule out serious problems and get any treatment that your pet needs.