Why Is My Dog’s Poop Black?

The sight of poop could be offsetting but a black poop? That should be a reason for concern. Dogs don’t normally have black poop but when they do, it could be a sign something is going wrong. Read on to learn everything about black poop in dogs, why it happens and how to treat them.

Stop Googling - Ask a Real Vet

Content:

1. Why Is My Dog's Poop Black
2. My Dog Has Black Diarrhea
3. How to Treat Black Poop in Dogs
4. FAQs
5. Conclusion

Why Is My Dog's Poop Black

Walking your dog and it decides to recycle nature's bounty by taking a poop, seeing a black poop for the first time would put you in distress. Having Black poop, brown poop or even green poop, does it really matter? Yes it does! When poop takes a different color other than the usual brown color, it’s for a reason.

The digestive system of a dog is designed to produce poop based on what the dog eats. But is black poop caused by a certain type of food or something else is up the sleeves ? Let’s find out.

Diet

The type of food your dog eats has a crucial role to play in the color of its poop. If your dog’s diet usually contains blood like in fresh meat, there is a likelihood its poop would be dark.

Bleeding in the GIT

Ulcer could lead to bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, if the bleeding occurs at the upper part of the GIT then the stool becomes black and tarry (Melena) due to digested blood. But when it occurs somewhere in the colon, the dog’s stool becomes stained with fresh blood.

“Black stool results from somewhere in the stomach which indicates that something serious is going on and would need the attention of a Vet”, - Dr. Vijay Nair

Medication/ Toxins

Some certain medications and supplements such as Iron supplements can alter the color of poop in dogs. For example, pain relievers could cause some irritation and bleeding to the GIT leading to black poop.

Infection/parasites

There are several infections and parasites that can attribute to black poop in dog, an example is the hookworm which colonises the intestinal lining of the GIT leading to bleeding and black stool.

I have come across some black poop clinical cases on several occasions, history has it that most of the black poop condition started from a change of diet while a few others were due to gastroenteritis.

Liver/Kidney Condition

A liver or kidney condition could affect the color of poop, these organs take part in waste metabolism which when disrupted leads to black poop.

Black stool sometimes comes with other symptoms like vomiting especially when it is GIT related. In order to watch out for a black poop and other symptoms in your dog, get the Petcube Camera and keep track of these symptoms even when you are not close by.

My Dog Has Black Diarrhea

It’s one thing to have black poop, it’s another to have black diarrhea. Diarrhea is usually related to a GIT condition which sets in when dogs are fed with something the stomach doesn’t agree with.

Stale food, worm infestation, infection or indigestion could lead to diarrhea but when it comes black, it means there could be an ulceration or an intestinal bleeding going on. In cases of gastroenteritis or Parvoviral enteritis, black diarrhea could be seen.

How to Treat Black Poop in Dogs

Treating black poop in dogs starts with getting a proper history on what the dog has been eating and when the black poop was first noticed. After which the following can be applied to resolve black poop in dogs:

• Change of diet, withdraw food types with blood still on it such as fresh meat or boil before serving.
• Deworm your dog regularly.
• Withdraw medications and pain killers that could cause ulceration, always consult your Veterinarian for proper guidance on use of painkillers.
• Usually, metronidazole tablets are effective for controlling diarrhea, but only administered with prescription. In cases of an infection, your veterinarian could place your dog on some fluid and antibiotics therapy.
• Take your dog to the Vet for a proper examination and test to ascertain the cause of black poop.

The financial burden in treating black poop could be overwhelming especially when an infection is involved but with our $3000 coverage in emergency Vet fees package, you can give your pet a better chance of recovering from black poop. Remember to claim a 27% discount by subscribing using the exclusive link.

FAQs

Why is my dog's poop black?

Your dog having black poop might be due to its diet type, ulceration, internal bleeding or an infection.

How to treat black poop in dogs?

Usually a change of diet would resolve a black poop condition, but a much more serious case would be best handled by a Veterinarian.

Why is my dog's poop black but acting normal?

It could be that the black poop is due to diet change and not a fatal condition.

What food causes black stool in dogs?

Food with blood on it like fresh meat or activated charcoal can cause black stool in dogs.

Conclusion

The sight of black poop could be disturbing and would put a concerned dog owner in distress. Diet change, infection and ulceration are some of the culprits that cause black poop. A change in diet, deworming and taking a visit to a Veterinarian would get your dog back on its feet.