Black, tarry poop, or black liquid poop, can mean bleeding in the stomach or small intestine. Call your veterinarian today, even if your dog seems fine. Call right now if your dog is also weak, has pale gums, is vomiting or collapses.
Most other colors are less urgent, and some are just food or grass. The chart below shows what each color can mean and how fast to call, then what consistency, mucus and worms add to the picture.
Black or Black Liquid Dog Poop: What It Means
Black, tarry poop has a name: melena. It is dark because it contains blood that was partly digested on its way through the gut, which means the bleeding most likely started high up, in the stomach or small intestine (Merck Veterinary Manual; Cornell University). It can come out formed and sticky, or loose and runny. Either way, the color is the warning.
Common causes your vet will look for include:
- Stomach or intestinal ulcers. Anti-inflammatory pain medicines (NSAIDs), tumors of the stomach or intestines and liver disease are the most commonly reported causes of ulcers in dogs and cats (Merck).
- Hookworms, especially in puppies. Severe infections cause diarrhea with dark, tarry feces, and the blood loss can be fatal in young puppies (Merck).
Treat it as an emergency if the black poop comes with pale gums, weakness, vomiting or collapse. Dark, bloody stools with pale gums can point to anemia from blood loss (Merck).
Dark poop that isn't blood
Some things turn poop dark without any bleeding. Bismuth subsalicylate, the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol, turns feces black, and that color change can hide real bleeding from your vet (Merck; VCA). That is one reason not to give your dog human stomach medicines unless your vet tells you to (Cornell).
If your dog has had any medicine or supplement recently, tell your vet when you call. Don't assume the color is harmless: let the vet decide.
Dog Poop Color Chart
Healthy dog poop is chocolate brown. The exact shade can shift with food, and added colors in some foods can show up in the poop (Purina). What matters most is a change from your dog's normal.
Color | What it can mean | How fast to call |
|---|---|---|
Brown | Normal | Nothing to do |
Black, tarry or black liquid | Digested blood from the stomach or small intestine (melena) | Call today; call now if your dog is weak, has pale gums or is vomiting |
Red streaks on formed poop | Fresh blood, usually from lower in the gut | Call today |
Bloody diarrhea, or a lot of blood | Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), parvovirus and other serious causes | Call now |
Green | Eating a lot of grass, or a gallbladder problem | Mention at your next visit; see your vet soon if it continues or your dog seems unwell |
Orange or yellow | A liver or bile duct problem, or sometimes food ingredients | See your vet soon |
Gray and greasy | A pancreas or bile problem, such as EPI | See your vet soon |
White specks or rice-like bits | Tapeworm segments or other worms | See your vet soon |
Chalky white | Often too much bone or calcium in the diet | Mention at your next visit; sooner if your dog strains or seems unwell |
Pale, clay-colored | Bile may not be reaching the gut (liver or bile duct problem) | See your vet soon |
Sources for the chart: Merck Veterinary Manual, Cornell, VCA, Purina, AKC, Vet Help Direct (full list at the end).
What Each Color Can Mean
Red streaks or bloody diarrhea
Red blood hasn't been digested yet, so it usually comes from lower in the gut. A streak on an otherwise normal poop can come from an inflamed colon (colitis), where dogs often strain and pass mucus with some blood (Merck). Whipworms can also cause fresh blood in feces (Merck). Any blood is worth a call to your vet (Purina).
Bloody diarrhea is a different level. Sudden vomiting and bloody diarrhea in a previously healthy dog is the picture of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), which can lead to shock from dehydration, and parvovirus causes vomiting and bloody diarrhea in susceptible dogs (Merck). A puppy with blood in its stool needs a call to the vet (Purina).
Green
A dog that has been grazing on the lawn can pass green poop. It can also point to a gallbladder problem, so if it keeps happening, book a vet visit (AKC; Purina).
Orange or yellow
Orange or yellow poop can point to a biliary (bile) or liver problem. Yellow, loose poop can also follow certain food ingredients, so tell your vet about any recent diet change (Purina; AKC).
Gray and greasy
Greasy, gray poop can mean the pancreas or the bile system isn't doing its job (AKC). One example is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), where the pancreas doesn't make enough digestive enzymes. Dogs with EPI often pass large amounts of pale, fatty poop and lose weight even though they are hungry all the time. German shepherds are among the breeds seen most often. A blood test confirms it (VCA).
White specks
Small white bits that look like grains of rice or cucumber seeds, sometimes moving, are usually tapeworm segments. You may see them on fresh poop or stuck to the fur around your dog's bottom. Dogs get the common tapeworm by swallowing fleas, so flea control is part of the fix (VCA).
Chalky white or pale
Chalky, white poop is most often seen in dogs eating a raw diet or a lot of bone, because of the calcium. Bones can also block the gut, so ask your vet about the diet. An old poop left in the sun also bleaches white, which is no concern (Vet Help Direct).
Fresh poop that is pale or clay-colored is different. Bile gives poop its brown color, and a liver problem or a blocked bile duct can stop bile reaching the gut. These dogs usually have other signs, such as vomiting or belly pain (Vet Help Direct; Merck).
Consistency: The 1 to 7 Fecal Score Vets Use
Color is half the story. Vets also score consistency, and Purina's fecal scoring chart is a common clinic tool. It runs from 1 to 7, and consistency mostly reflects how much water is in the poop (Purina fecal scoring chart):
Score | What it looks like |
|---|---|
1 | Hard, dry pellets: hard work to pass |
2 (ideal) | Firm and segmented: not hard, picks up cleanly |
3 | Log with a moist surface: leaves a little residue but holds its shape |
4 | Soggy log: still log-shaped, loses its shape when picked up |
5 | Moist piles rather than logs |
6 | Shapeless piles or spots, with some texture |
7 | Watery puddles |
Small, round, dry pellets can mean your dog is dehydrated or constipated (Purina; AKC). Scores of 5 and up describe loose stool.
For loose poop, call your vet if it lasts more than two days (VCA). Don't wait that long if it is black or tarry, contains fresh blood, or comes with vomiting, lethargy or a dog who won't eat (Cornell). For puppies, call sooner: parvovirus and hookworms hit young dogs hardest (Merck).
Other Things Worth a Look
- Mucus. A slimy coating can mean an inflamed colon, often with straining and small, frequent poops (Merck; AKC).
- Whole worms. Roundworms are often passed in the feces and may also be vomited (Merck). Bag a sample for your vet, who will pick the right dewormer.
- Straining. Pushing hard to pass poop usually points to inflammation of the rectum and anus (Merck).
- A change in routine. Every dog has its own normal for how often and how much it poops. Know yours, so you can tell your vet what changed. If your dog hasn't pooped at all, see how long a dog can go without pooping.
When to Call the Vet
Call now:
- Black or bloody poop in a dog who is weak, has pale gums, is vomiting or collapses
- Bloody diarrhea, or a lot of blood
- Any blood in a puppy's poop
Call today:
- Black, tarry or black liquid poop, even if your dog seems fine
- Red streaks on otherwise normal poop
See your vet soon:
- Diarrhea lasting more than two days, or a dog who stops eating
- Orange, yellow, gray, greasy or pale poop
- White specks, rice-like bits or worms
- Mucus, straining, or weight loss
Mention at your next visit:
- Occasional green poop after grass eating, or chalky poop on a bone-heavy diet, in a dog who is otherwise bright and eating
What the vet will do
Expect a physical exam and questions about diet, medicines and how long the change has been going on. Your vet will often ask for a fresh poop sample to check for parasites, and may run bloodwork, more stool tests or X-rays to look for a blockage (VCA; Cornell).
Bring a fresh sample in a sealed bag if you can, and a photo of the worrying poop. When you book, ask whether they want the sample (Merck).
Picking Up and Disposing of Dog Poop
Nobody enjoys this part, but it matters for people too. Dog poop can carry germs that make people sick, including roundworm, hookworm, Campylobacter and Salmonella, so pick it up every time, even in your own yard and especially where children play (CDC).
- Bag it and bin it. Use the bag like a glove, turn it inside out around the poop, seal it and put it in the trash (EPA).
- Never put it down a storm drain. Storm drains carry it straight to local water.
- Don't compost it. Parasites, bacteria and viruses in meat eaters' waste survive normal composting (EPA).
- Wash your hands with soap and running water afterward, even if you used a bag (CDC).
One gram of pet waste carries an average of 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, according to a water-quality fact sheet hosted by the EPA. Left on the ground, that can wash into local streams and lakes.
FAQ
My dog has black liquid poop but is acting normal. Can I wait?
No. Call your vet today, and call right away if your dog turns weak, pale or starts vomiting. Black, tarry poop can mean bleeding whatever your dog's mood, and only an exam and tests can tell bleeding from a harmless cause such as a stomach medicine containing bismuth.
I saw one small streak of red blood. Is that an emergency?
One streak on a normal poop in a bright, eating dog is usually not an emergency, but call your vet today to talk it through. Call now if the bleeding is heavy, it turns into bloody diarrhea, or your dog is a puppy.
Why is my dog's poop green?
Usually grass. If your dog hasn't been grazing, or it keeps happening, mention it to your vet, because a gallbladder problem can also cause it.
Can I give my dog something for the diarrhea?
Not without asking your vet. Human medicines can be harmful to some dogs, and bismuth turns poop black, which can hide bleeding (Cornell).
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Introduction to Digestive Disorders of Dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders of the Stomach and Intestines in Dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Gastrointestinal Ulcers in Small Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Gastrointestinal Parasites of Dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Drugs Used to Treat Diarrhea in Monogastric Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Extrahepatic Bile Duct Obstruction in Small Animals
- Cornell University Riney Canine Health Center: Diarrhea
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Diarrhea in Dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Tapeworm Infection in Dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Bismuth Compounds
- Purina: Fecal Scoring Chart (Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center copy)
- Purina PRO PLAN: All About Dog Poop
- American Kennel Club: How to Tell If Your Dog's Poop Is Healthy
- Vet Help Direct: Why Is My Dog's Poo White?
- CDC: Healthy Pets, Healthy People: Dogs
- EPA: Do You Scoop the Poop? (pet waste fact sheet)
- EPA: Clean Water Campaign pet waste fact sheet
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
