If your dog’s poo is white or pale, it can be due to poor absorption of food, either due to the quality of the food or problems with your dog’s digestion. This may include problems with the pancreas or the production of bile in the liver. It may also be due to too much calcium in the diet (from bone or bonemeal).
What does white dog poop mean?
White dog poop is not normal for dogs. It indicates your dog’s diet is not well-balanced, or that there is a problem with digestion.
What do different types of white dog poop mean?
White and dry poop
This is often due to high mineral content, including bone and bonemeal. Dry poop may indicate your dog needs to increase water intake with their food to reduce the risk of constipation. If your dog passes normal brown poo that goes white as it dries out, this is normal as the pigments are degraded by sunlight leaving the white mineral deposits.
White and chalky poop
This can indicate a high calcium diet, for example in dogs fed too much bone or bonemeal. Normal poop may turn pale and crumbly if it is exposed to sunlight after your dog has passed it.
White and yellow poop
This can indicate rapid transit of food in the gut and is often softer than normal poop. Yellow can also be due to biliary or liver problems, so it’s best to have your dog checked by a vet if this persists.
White and runny poop
This can indicate rapid transit of food in the gut and poor digestion of the food.
White and slimy poop
Frequent, white jelly-like poop can indicate large bowl irritation, such as colitis.
White and soft poop
If the poo is pale and soft, this often means poor digestion. This can be due to problems such as reduced function of the pancreas (which produces digestive enzymes). Young dogs and certain breeds can be predisposed to reduced pancreas function known as Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, and are often very hungry but underweight.
What are the causes of white dog poop?
The causes can vary from too much calcium in the diet to problems with the pancreas, liver or intestines. Some tests may need to be carried out by a vet to find out the exact cause, including blood tests, faecal analysis and ultrasound scans.
What’s the treatment for white dog poop?
The treatment will depend upon the cause, but often involves a change of diet. If there is a problem with the function of the pancreas, an enzyme supplement may be given. Additional medication to help with gut function or to treat colitis or gut infections may also be given by a vet.
What should I do if my dog’s poop is white?
If your dog consistently has white poop, try swapping them on to a different complete, balanced dog food. It can be very helpful to keep a food and poop diary, noting what they are eating and the colour, consistency and frequency of their poops. If the pale poop continues, this information can be very helpful for a vet to determine what the underlying cause and best treatment will be.
When should I book an appointment with a vet?
If your dog has pale poop for more than a week on a well-balanced diet, or if they are underweight, have a ravenous appetite, or seem otherwise unwell, it is best to speak to a vet. They may suggest trying diet changes at home initially, or they may recommend your dog is seen sooner depending on the symptoms.
