Poo chart
The dog poo chart: what your dog's stool is telling you
You pick it up twice a day. It is the most regular health check your dog gets, if you know what to look for. Here is the seven-point scale vets use, and what colour, coating and frequency mean.
The seven-point scale
Judge by two things: whether the pile holds its shape, and how cleanly it lifts off the ground.
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1Hard, dry, crumbly. Difficult to pass.Too firm. Check water intake and fibre.
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2Firm but not hard, may be segmented. Picks up cleanly, leaves nothing behind.Optimal.
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3Log-shaped, few segments, moist surface. Picks up easily, leaves a slight mark.Normal.
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4Just still log-shaped, very soft and moist. Just about picks up, leaves a clear mark.Mild diarrhoea. If this is the everyday picture, digestion is not working as well as it should.
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5Very moist pile that just holds a shape. Hard to lift off the ground.Diarrhoea.
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6Mushy, like a cowpat.Diarrhoea.
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7Watery, puddle-like.Diarrhoea. Fluid loss adds up fast, especially in puppies and older dogs.
What is normal
Most dogs go two to three times a day. Firm, formed, medium to dark brown, picks up cleanly. Small day-to-day changes are normal: a chew, a training session with extra treats or a long walk all show up in the bowl the next day. A single soft stool is not a cause for concern. A pattern is.
Frequency depends on the food and on exercise. A highly digestible food produces less stool, because more of it is absorbed. More walks produce more stools, because movement moves the bowel. Neither is a problem.
Why does my dog produce so little (or so much)? Wet food is up to 80% water, so a dog on wet food drinks less and produces a small stool relative to the amount fed. Dry food is about 10% moisture, so the dog drinks more from the bowl and the stool looks bigger. Switching between the two changes the size of the pile, not the health of the dog.
Colour and coating
| What you see | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Medium to dark brown | Normal. Shade varies with the food. | Nothing. |
| Yellow, pale or clay-coloured, or greasy, and it keeps happening | Can point to a digestive or organ problem. | Vet, with a photo. |
| Black or tarry | Digested blood from higher up the gut. | Vet, always, whatever the consistency. |
| Bright red streaks on the surface | Irritation at the very end of the bowel. Looks alarming, usually not serious. | Vet if it repeats or comes with other signs. |
| Slimy or jelly-like coating (mucus) | Irritation of the large bowel. | Vet if it persists beyond a day or two. |
| Undigested food, strong smell, larger volume | Small-bowel pattern, often with rumbling and sometimes vomiting. | Vet if it persists; weight loss follows quickly. |
| Small amounts, very often (more than five times a day), with mucus | Large-bowel pattern. | Vet to find the cause; it rarely fixes itself. |
Two things people miss
The two small glands either side of the anus empty when a firm stool passes. Weeks of soft stool leave them full and uncomfortable, which is where scooting often comes from. The same thing happens at the other extreme: a very small, very firm stool on a heavily reduced ration can also fail to empty them.
Consistency matters, but the dog's general condition matters more. An arched back, a bloated or gurgling belly, restlessness, panting, groaning, refusing food or trying to vomit are serious signs. Subtler ones count too: quieter than usual, sleeping more, keeping to themselves. Any of these with a change in the bowl is a vet visit.
- the stool is black or tarry
- there is a lot of blood, or blood with vomiting
- your dog is a puppy or a senior with diarrhoea
- your dog is bloated, in pain, or not themselves
- diarrhoea has lasted more than 48 hours, or keeps returning over two weeks
If your dog's stool is a regular 4 and you are not sure why, send us the name of the food and treats they are on, and how they are fed, and we will look at whether the diet is part of it.
Scale and guidance based on "On the trail of the runs" by Cornelia Günther, veterinarian, Happy Dog veterinary team, and "Gastrointestinal disease in the dog: feeding tips" by Pascale Huber, veterinarian. Reviewed for Happy Dog UK, September 2026.
