Orange Dog Poop? Here Is What You Should Know

Do you understand what’s really making the difference in your pet? Could you pinpoint why your dog looks weary, weak, and producing unusual poop? Are you aware that the color of your dog’s poop indicates whether or not it is healthy?

If you do not, you are not alone. Seeing your pet weak and sickish can be frustrating and draining. Understanding what affects your pet can take a long time, as animals cannot communicate their pain. Making sense of the color changes in your dog’s poop can help make all the difference.

Dogs will likely produce orange or red-hued poop in certain instances. This is a sign that your pet requires veterinary attention, preferably instantly. However, knowing the causes and remedies for this problem will ensure you know what to double down on. Here are a few insights you need.

Is Orange Poop Normal?

No. Orange, yellow, or red-colored poop indicates a severe health issue with your dog, meaning you require instant medical attention. This color change indicates that your dog has eaten something orange, intestinal inflammation, gallbladder obstruction, or liver disease. Red blood cell destruction could also cause this change.

Orange poop is a concern if it is slimy, has a foul smell, is soft, and is unusually runny. Orange diarrhea could also indicate a medical problem with your pet.

However, it should not be of concern if the poop has normal consistency, has uniform coloring, and does not produce an overly foul smell. You also do not need medical attention if the dog has eaten orange-colored foods, including carotenoids like sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squash, and carrots. Artificial pigments in the dog’s kibble could also contribute to the color change.

What Are The Causes Of Orange Poop In Dogs?

A breakdown of the causes of the color changes could help identify the best solution to the issue at hand. They include the following.

Gallbladder Obstruction

Gallbladder or biliary obstruction happens when the bile duct gets blocked, affecting the bile flow between the dog’s liver and gallbladder. It compromises the storage capacity of the gallbladder since it forms thick mucoid bile masses inside it. This obstruction contributes to severe health complications if left untreated, including liver and gallbladder destruction.

Gallbladder obstruction is common in middle-aged and senior dogs. While it is not gender-specific, it is prevalent in particular breeds, including cocker spaniels, miniature schnauzers, and Shetland sheepdogs.

Causes Of Gallbladder Obstruction

There are six leading causes of biliary obstruction in dogs:

• A high-fat diet raises cholesterol and hyperthyroidism, causing biliary obstruction
• Adrenal hyperplasia, whether atypical or typical
• Cancer
• Inadequate or the lack of intra-organ movement, also called gallbladder dysmotility
• Lipid metabolism issues
• Cystic hypertrophy

Symptoms Of Gallbladder Obstruction

The clinical signs of biliary obstruction include the following.

• Dehydration
• Abdominal pain, discomfort, and inflammation
• Jaundice
• Excessive thirst and urination
• Anorexia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Bile or vasovagal peritonitis

Diagnosis

Only an experienced vet can help diagnose gallbladder obstruction in a dog. This professional will establish whether the neoplasia, pancreatitis or choleliths caused the condition. They will use different methods for the diagnosis, including biochemistry, imaging, hematology, and lab tests.

Biochemistry requires analyzing the health of liver enzymes, including ALP, ALT, AST, and GGT. It will also check increased bilirubin, low albumin, and electrolyte abnormalities.

While hematology focuses on anemia and leukocyte imbalance, lab tests test if triglycerides have increased. On the other hand, imaging relies on radiography and aspiration sampling of biliary fluids.

Treatment

Surgery is essential in treating gallbladder obstruction. If cancer has caused the problem, chemotherapy shall suffice.

Intestinal Inflammation

Intestinal inflammation in dogs is also referred to as inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS). This condition causes the dysfunction of the intestinal muscles, triggering constipation and diarrhea. It causes the intestines to swell with inflammatory cells, irritating the gastrointestinal walls.

A vet diagnoses IBS by examining the damage exerted on the intestinal cells, which could stem from stress or diet issues. Additional causes could include bacterial infection, immune system dysfunction, allergies, and parasitic infection.

Dogs can experience stress from lifestyle changes, environmental changes, anxiety, phobia, and additional family members. On the other hand, insufficient dietary fiber can cause diet-caused intestinal inflammation.

Symptoms Of Intestinal Inflammation In Dogs

The following are the clinical signs of intestinal inflammation in dogs:

• Incessant vomiting
• Diarrhea and constipation
• Bloating, flatulence, and straining in defecation
• Appetite loss
• Abdominal discomfort and pain
• Changes in stool color
• Significant weight loss

Treatment

While dogs have no pre-defined treatment for IBS, vets will help manage the condition. They often recommend lifestyle and dietary changes, ensuring the pet is in a safe, healthy, and hygienic environment. Additional treatments include vitamin injections, antibiotics, probiotics, and fiber supplements.

Liver Complications

Liver diseases are among the leading causes of orange poop in dogs. A functional liver guarantees an excellent digestive system, ensuring your dog’s excrement has a particular consistency and color.

Liver conditions are categorized into acute and chronic. Acute liver diseases happen suddenly, often within days or a week. They stem from viral and bacterial infections, including eating specific medications and mushrooms.

In contrast, chronic liver conditions develop over time. In this case, the liver issue reflects an underlying health problem, including cancer and hepatitis. Its symptoms often take longer to manifest.

Causes Of Liver Issues

Various elements cause liver conditions in dogs, including the following.

• Trauma-induced liver scarring
• Viral, parasitic, or bacterial infections
• Poisonous substances and chemicals
• Hormonal diseases, including diabetes
• Cysts
• Cancer

Signs And Symptoms

Various clinical symptoms and signs indicate your dog has a liver issue. They include the following.

• Incessant vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea
• Orange, brown, or reddish poop
• Runny and blood-stained poop
• Skin color change
• Substantial weight loss
• Excessive thirst and urination

Treatment

The type of liver disease your dog suffers determines the treatment. The following are some of the treatment options a vet could consider.

• Antibiotics
• Chemotherapy
• Surgery
• Fluid injections
• Medications to manage symptoms

Red Blood Cell Destruction

Red blood cell destruction changes your dog’s poop color to brownish, orange, or reddish. These blood cells carry oxygen, which releases hemoglobin when broken down. An increase in the number of destroyed red blood cells causes the poop color to change.

Rice And Chicken For An Upset Stomach

Suppose your dog has a stomach upset. Then, feeding it with well-cooked rice and chicken could help relieve the pain or discomfort. However, while this move will protect your dog against pain or discomfort, it could turn the pet’s poop into orange. The color of the poop will go back to normal once the stomach issue gets resolved.

Bottom Line

Consider medical help once you notice a significant color change in your dog’s poop. Medical help suffices if the dog’s poop’s consistency and smell are abnormal. The insights above will help guide you in determining your pet’s health.