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Green Dog Poop: 4 Vet-Reviewed Causes & Facts

Written by: Brooke Billingsley

Last Updated on February 12, 2024 by Dogster Team

Labrador retriever dog poops in the green park

Green Dog Poop: 4 Vet-Reviewed Causes & Facts

VET APPROVED

Dr. Ashley Darby Photo

REVIEWED & FACT-CHECKED BY

Dr. Ashley Darby

BVSc (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »

It may not be a very glamorous topic, but it’s important for us as dog owners to keep an eye on the appearance of our dog’s poops. Your dog’s poop can tell you a lot about their health, like making you aware of the presence of intestinal parasites or digestive problems. One thing you may see on occasion is green dog poop. The good news is that this is typically not cause for concern, but there are a few reasons that your dog’s poop might be green.

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The 4 Causes for Green Poop in Dogs

1. Eating Grass

Although there’s a belief that if your dog is eating grass you should be concerned, this isn’t always true. Some dogs simply enjoy the taste of grass, or they may be bored and it’s accessible to them. Some dogs will eat grass if their stomach is upset, but this should only be a concern if your dog is regularly eating grass and then throwing up or having diarrhea.

small dog smelling nag eating grass
Image Credit: Pezibear, Shutterstock

2. Green Treats

Dog treats containing green dyes can lead to green poops. This can happen with artificial or natural dyes, so don’t count on natural dog treats to not cause green poop if they’re green in color. Greenies and other green-colored treats are often the culprits in causing green dog poop, especially if you feed them to your dog every day.


3. Toxin Exposure

Although green poop isn’t usually a major concern, this can be a cause for concern because many rodenticides and snail baits are green in color. If your dog has consumed mouse or rat poison that is green in color, then there’s a chance that you’ll notice green poop.
It’s absolutely essential to your dog’s safety that you always keep rodenticides and pesticides out of reach. If you suspect your dog has eaten any type of rodenticide or other toxin, you should immediately contact a pet poison hotline while you drive to the nearest veterinarian. This should be treated as a medical emergency.


4. Bile

Bile is a liquid produced in the liver. When bile is released from the gall bladder into the intestines it is a yellow-green color. Normally bile in its true form is not seen in the poop, but in some cases of digestive upset, it ends up there causing a green stool.

dog vomits white bile
Image Credit: suchinan, Shutterstock

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When Should I Call My Vet?

If your dog is having digestive problems, then it’s a good idea to call your vet. This can indicate anything from parasites to nutritional deficiencies to intestinal obstructions. You should also head straight to the vet if there is any possibility that your dog consumed rat poison or other green toxins. Even if you didn’t put anything out, there’s a possibility that your dog will find rodenticides that were left by previous homeowners or tenants, or that were put out by neighbors. Your dog may take three days or more to start showing signs of rodenticide poisoning. Even if your dog seems fine now, it’s worth getting them checked over. Rodenticide causes blood clotting problems that can be easily missed until your dog has lost a critical amount of blood.

The Perfect Poop

Pay attention to the four C’s when it comes to dog poop: color, consistency, content, and coating. A perfect poop will be a chocolate color but can be golden or darker brown. The “content” will likely be explored by your vet, but if you see anything abnormal, like rice-like white pieces, then they could have parasites. Mostly, you shouldn’t see much of anything inside the poop. The consistency will be a little firm. Finally, there won’t be a coating on healthy feces. The perfect poop for dogs is chocolate brown, slightly firm, and coating-free.

woman throwing dog poop
Image Credit: Francesco83, Shutterstock

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Conclusion

Green dog poop is rarely a cause for concern, but it can be something worth talking to your vet about. If your dog regularly has green poop because of the amount of grass they’re eating, then it’s best to talk to your vet about potential causes and remedies. If green dog treats are causing your dog to have green poop, don’t worry. Any vomiting or poop with a runny consistency is a reason to head to your veterinarian, as is exposure to green toxins.


Featured Image Credit: SasaStock, Shutterstock

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