Step 1 of 3
What colour is it?
Step 2 of 3
How firm is it? (veterinary fecal score, 1–7)
Step 3 of 3
Anything else? (tick all that apply)
This tool describes what stool changes commonly indicate — it does not diagnose. Many causes look identical from the outside, and only your vet can tell them apart. When in doubt, take a photo and a fresh sample to your appointment.
The 1–7 fecal score, explained
Vets score stool on a seven-point scale. Most healthy dogs and cats sit at 2 or 3. Knowing your pet's normal is what makes a change meaningful.
Takes effort to pass. Often dehydration, too little fibre, or a pet eating bone or hair.
Ideal. This is what you're aiming for.
Also normal and healthy — leaves a slight mark when picked up.
Borderline. Common during a food change or mild upset.
Diarrhoea beginning. Worth watching closely.
Clear diarrhoea. If it lasts beyond a day or two, or your pet is unwell with it, call.
Severe diarrhoea. Dehydration comes fast, especially in small pets, puppies and kittens.
Questions people ask
How long can I wait before calling the vet about diarrhoea?
For an otherwise bright, well-hydrated adult dog with mild diarrhoea and no other signs, 24 to 48 hours of monitoring with a bland diet is reasonable. Call sooner — the same day — if there is blood, black stool, repeated vomiting, lethargy, a painful belly, or if your pet is a puppy, a senior, very small, or has another health condition. Those groups dehydrate quickly.
What should I feed a dog with diarrhoea?
Keep water available at all times, then offer small, frequent meals of something plain and easily digestible — many vets suggest boiled chicken with white rice, or plain pumpkin, for a couple of days before gradually reintroducing the usual food. Do not give human anti-diarrhoea medication such as Pepto-Bismol without veterinary direction — it contains a relative of aspirin and is unsafe for cats.
Why does my dog have mucus in their poop?
A slimy coating usually comes from the large intestine, which produces mucus when it is irritated — a condition called colitis. Occasional mucus with otherwise normal stool is common and often follows stress, a diet change or a mild upset. Persistent mucus, or mucus with blood or straining, deserves a check-up and usually a fecal test.
Should I collect a sample?
Yes, and it genuinely speeds up the appointment. Collect a fresh sample — ideally less than 12 hours old — in a clean sealed bag or pot, keep it cool, and take a photo of anything unusual before you bag it. Fecal testing for parasites is one of the fastest, cheapest answers available.
Does this work for cats too?
The colours and the 1–7 scale apply to cats as well. Two differences matter: cats hide illness far more effectively, so any change deserves more attention sooner, and a cat straining in the litter box may not be constipated at all — in male cats especially, straining can mean a blocked urinary tract, which is a life-threatening emergency within hours.