Here’s What Your Dog’s Poop Is Telling You

The honest, no-filter guide to reading your dog’s stool…and what it reveals about their diet

Nobody loves talking about it. But if you have a dog, you’re paying attention whether you want to or not. Your dog’s stool is one of the clearest windows into their digestive health. Color, consistency, frequency, and volume all tell a story, and once you know what to look for, it’s hard to miss.

At Dr. Tim’s Pet Food, we believe great nutrition should show up everywhere, including the part you pick up on walks. Here’s how to interpret exactly what you’re seeing on the other end.

What Does Ideal Dog Poop Actually Look Like?

Veterinarians often use a 1 to 7 fecal scoring system. The goal is right in the middle: firm, formed, and easy to pick up.

Score 1: Too Hard

Dry, crumbly, or pellet-like. Often linked to dehydration or too much fiber without enough water.

Score 2 – 3: The Ideal

Log-shaped, chocolate-brown, and holds its form when picked up. Moist but not slimy. Leaves little to no residue. This is what you want to see.

Score 4 – 5: Soft or Mushy

Loses shape and is harder to pick up cleanly. Common during diet changes or with higher fat or lower-quality ingredients.

Score 6 – 7: Watery

Diarrhea. If it lasts more than 24 to 48 hours, or includes blood, contact your veterinarian.

Color Matters, Too

Healthy stool should be consistently chocolate-brown. Other colors could mean other things:

• Pale or yellow: Possible fat malabsorption (meaning the body is not properly breaking down or absorbing dietary fats)

• Green: Often comes from eating grass

• Red streaks: Requires immediate veterinary attention

• Black and tarry: May indicate bleeding higher in the digestive tract, and should be addressed by a vet

→ Dr. Tim’s Pro Tip: Healthy stool holds its shape, leaves minimal residue, and stays consistent day to day. You want a poop you can hit with a golf club and send it flying!

Why Is My Dog Pooping More on New Food?

A change in food often comes with a temporary change in stool. That’s normal.

For one, the gut is adjusting

Your dog’s digestive system is powered by a complex microbiome. When you introduce a new food (especially one with different protein, fat, or fiber levels) that system needs time to adapt. Expect temporary changes to their stool for a few days up to two weeks.

Volume can increase before it decreases

Switching from a filler-heavy food to a higher-quality, high-protein formula like Dr. Tim’s Pet Food can initially lead to more frequent stools. As your dog adjusts and absorption improves, stool volume typically decreases. Less poop = better nutrient absorption!

How to handle the food transition the right way

It’s very important to avoid switching foods abruptly. A gradual transition helps minimize digestive upset:

• Days 1 – 3: 75% old, 25% new

• Days 4 – 6: 50% old, 50% new

• Days 7 – 9: 25% old, 75% new

• Day 10+: 100% new

Give it another 1 – 2 weeks for things to fully normalize.

When is it time to worry?

Softer stools during transition are normal. Bloody diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, or symptoms lasting beyond two weeks are not, and that’s when you need to contact your veterinarian.

Why Higher Quality Food Often Means Less Poop

This is one of the benefits of feeding your dogs higher quality kibble that actually surprises a lot of owners. Stool volume isn’t just about how much your dog eats: it’s about how much their body can actually use.

Low-quality, low-digestibility ingredients pass through the body. High-quality, highly digestible nutrients get absorbed. What isn’t absorbed becomes waste.

• 85 – 90%: Digestibility of quality animal proteins (chicken, beef, salmon)

• 55 – 65%: Digestibility of many plant-based protein fillers

• Up to ~40% less stool: Reported with highly digestible diets

What does digestibility really mean?

Digestibility is the percentage of nutrients absorbed versus excreted. The higher the digestibility, the more your dog benefits from every meal. 

Recently, we sent three of our Dr. Tim’s diets to an independent testing facility to measure their true digestibility. All three came back around ~89%, which is considered excellent for a dry kibble.

Why does animal protein matter?

Dogs are built to process animal protein efficiently. Ingredients like chicken, beef, and salmon provide highly bioavailable nutrients and amino acids that their bodies can readily use.

Plant-based fillers like corn, wheat, and soy aren’t inherently harmful, but they’re less efficient as primary protein sources. That difference usually shows up in stool quality and volume.

The bottom line is that less poop doesn’t mean your dog isn’t eating enough: it means their food is working.

Why Is My Dog Eating Poop?

It’s unpleasant, but common for some dogs. And it’s not always just behavioral. Some dogs may seek out stool because of undigested nutrients, enzymes, or imbalances in gut bacteria. If food isn’t highly digestible, more nutrients pass through, which can make the stool more appealing.

What to do to get your dog to stop

Start by addressing their diet first. Switch to a highly digestible, animal-protein-rich formula and be sure to feed appropriate portions. Then, give it at least 4 – 6 weeks to evaluate changes. 

After that, it’s time to manage behavior directly:

• Clean up their stool immediately

• Increase exercise and mental stimulation as well

• Talk to your veterinarian about digestive support if things still haven’t resolved after all of these steps

Your Dog Deserves Pet Food That Works

Your dog’s stool is daily feedback on how well their diet is working.

Firm, consistent, low-residue stool is a strong sign of good digestion and nutrient absorption. If what you’re seeing doesn’t match that, it may be time to look at what’s in the bowl.

Dr. Tim’s Pet Food formulas are built around high-quality animal protein and maximum digestibility so your dog absorbs more from every meal.

Explore Dr. Tim’s Pet Food formulas

About Dr. Tim’s Pet Food

Dr. Tim’s was built on a simple idea: pets perform and feel their best when nutrition is done right. Founded by veterinarian and endurance musher Dr. Tim Hunt, our formulas are designed to support real-life performance, from working dogs to everyday companions.

We focus on high-quality, animal-based proteins, transparent sourcing, and functional ingredients that support digestion, skin and coat health, and overall wellness. Every recipe is crafted to match your dog’s metabolism, not follow trends.

With patented probiotics that survive processing, ocean-sourced omega-3s, added taurine for heart health, and carefully selected vitamins and minerals, our foods are built to deliver results you can see.

No corn, wheat, or soy. No shortcuts. Never a recall. Just honest nutrition, backed by veterinary expertise and made fresh on a regular basis.

Because your dog depends on you to choose wisely.