Many dog owners, I included, hardly ever take note of white specks and other odd substances in the poop of our dogs. No one ever thinks much about dog poop or feels that they can get any valuable information from it. It took some determination for me to cultivate a more observant disposition towards my dog’s stool. And this was only after I discovered how crucial a seemingly casual practice as this could be to my dog’s health. Learning to observe your dog’s stool is the best and one of the quickest ways to know what has been happening in their bodies.
White specks can appear in your dog’s poop due to infections, undigested food, worms, or medicine capsules. Although they are not always a cause for alarm, having any abnormal particles or organisms in your dog’s poop is a matter of concern. It is highly advised that you closely monitor your dog’s poop to detect infections and take action as swiftly as possible quickly. Remedies differ depending on the material of the speck; hence, the best course of action should be decided after identifying what the specks are.
If you have ever come across white specks in your dog’s poop but have never been patient enough to take a closer look, in this article, I will address why it is important to do so. If you haven’t encountered these whitish foreign materials before, the chances are that you will, at some point in the future, and it’s best that you are well informed and prepared when they appear.
You’ll learn about the various causes of white specks in dog poop, how to identify what the specks are, and how to handle the situation.
What Are White Specks In Poop?
As the name suggests, they are usually white in color. They may not always be a sign of danger, but they are not to be ignored as well.
Some could be grainy, strand-like, or most commonly, tiny dots scattered throughout your dog’s poop.
White specks could be visible enough to draw attention or quite inconspicuous to the normal eyes. They could also be live organisms or inanimate substances. It is important to know what categories they fall into, as this will determine what steps you should take in addressing the issue. Determining if the specks in your dog’s poop are living or not takes some time and requires patience.
What Causes white Specks in Dog Poop and How Can They Be Treated?
Any of several factors could lead to your dog’s stool having whitish spots or strands. Some could be causes for concern, while some could be harmless. Some of these causes are:
Worms: If the white specks in your dog’s poop are living/moving around, then it’s most likely worms. Worms are the most popular cause of white specks in dogs’ poop. These worms include tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms.
Tapeworms: if you discover tapeworms in your dog’s poop, it is most likely caused by fleas that found their way into your dog’s stomach. Fleas are a prominent host of tapeworms and are an effective vehicle for penetrating the system of canines.
Some warning signs can help you know if your dog is having a hard time with tapeworms. If your dog is experiencing tapeworm infestation, you may find it rubbing its behinds against walls or dragging them on the floor. This is called scooting. You may also notice that it frequently licks its private parts.
Tapeworms are damaging to dogs’ health as they are known to cause great harm to the intestines of dogs. They attach themselves to the intestinal walls and cause great damage before they are excreted.
You can identify tapeworms in your dog’s poop by looking out for moving white specks that look like grains of rice.
Hookworms: Just like tapeworms, the intestines are the favorite spot for hookworms to hang out. They have hooks with which they attach themselves to the walls of the intestines, where they feed off the blood of dogs. They find their way into the system of your dog when it licks infested surfaces or the bottom of its paws.
Hookworms in your dog’s system may lead to weight loss, blood loss, and even death.
You can reduce or eliminate the presence of hookworms in your dog’s system by keeping them away from dirty and infected surfaces. Hookworms can be spotted in dogs’ poop if you watch for rice-like white specks.
Roundworms: Roundworms can also cause white specks in dog poop. They can be found even in puppies and, shockingly enough, could attach to them from birth.
The effects of roundworms on your dog may not be easy to spot. This is why regular deworming and an annual fecal examination is highly advised. Roundworms shouldn’t be left in your dog’s body for a long time as they may lead to weight loss and ultimately death.
Deworming is a widely used remedy for roundworm attacks.
Whipworms: whipworms are another source of white specks in dog poop. They may get into the body of your dog when it ingests food or water that has been infected. They may then live on your dog’s intestine, where they lay their eggs, which then end up in the feces of your dog.
Whipworms in your dog’s system will cause loss of blood, diarrhea, and weight loss. It is important to avoid feeding meat that hasn’t been cooked well to your dog. Also, always clean up your dog’s poop as fast as possible. This is because whipworm eggs may breed and infest the environment if your dog’s poop isn’t cleaned up fast.
Undigested food particles: these are a major cause of non-moving white specks in dog poop. They include seeds, rice, and other grains and may look like worms at first glance.
Medicine capsules: Medicine capsules or casings may be responsible for the non-moving white specks in the poop of your dogs. Many capsule casings are difficult to digest and will move out with feces.
Bone particles: Your dog may have eaten some meat and failed to grind the bones properly. These bone pieces can be found in the poop of your dog as non-white specks if they are closely examined.
Why does my dog’s poop look like it has seeds in it?
If your dog goes number two and you notice white specks in its poop, it could be worms. However, if the specks are not moving, they could be food remnants or the dog’s medication.
Note that the poop shouldn’t be left exposed for long before it is observed.
When you notice white specks in your dog’s poop, the first step is to identify what it is. The steps you have to take to find out might be quite uncomfortable, but are definitely necessary:
Bend down and get as close as you can to the dog poop; observe for at least 20 to 30 seconds.
Poke at it with a long, disposable tool, then observe for movement. Be patient, so you don’t miss it, as at times they appear motionless at first, then there goes the sudden move or twitch. You can repeat this multiple times to be sure.
Using a magnifying glass to aid your view is a brilliant idea as most of these white specks may be smaller than the eyes can handle.
If the white specks in your dog’s poop are not moving, there is nothing to worry about. If it is, contact your vet immediately to communicate the situation.
It could be a serious infection or worms, which are the absolute worst
If you take a closer look and observe no movement, you might wonder what else could be wrong since the possibility of it being worms has been ruled out. Here are other possibilities:
Seed-like white specks in your dog’s poop may be caused by the casings of capsules that your dog’s system failed to crush completely, bones from meat it has had for food, and unprocessed grains.
The white specks or dots could also be fly larvae(eggs). This should definitely be considered if the poop has been laying around for a while.
If you are still unsure, do well to consult your vet, to confirm and rule out any dangerous implications.
What Do Parasite Eggs Look Like In Dog Poop?
Some of the most prominent causes of white specks in dog poop are the eggs of parasites like tapeworms and hookworms. They dwell in the intestines of dogs, and the dogs pass out their larvae with poop. Parasite eggs look like grains of white rice or cucumber seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions On White Specks In Dog Poop
Why is my dog’s poop soft?
If your dog’s poop is soft and mushy, it’s a possible indication of the presence of giardia, which often leads to diarrhea. It’s an indication that the colon, an organ that absorbs the water from the intestine, is not functioning properly.
It could also be a possible indication of other intestinal parasites. Make a trip to the vet if it becomes a consistent observation.
What should a dog poop look like?
Your dog’s poop should be tubular, chocolate-brown, firm, and easy to pick up. The chocolate brown color comes from Bilirubin, which is contained in bile.
Any slight color change is an indication that something is wrong. There also shouldn’t be any foreign objects or non-food materials in it.
Are all white specks in dog poop caused by worms?
No! Not all white specks in dog poop are caused by worms. If the specks aren’t moving, they could be white rice from undigested food, medication the dog is on, or perhaps, traces of bone from a previous meal.
Can rice cause white specks in dog poop?
Yes! Rice can appear as white specks in dog poop. Your dog may have a hard time digesting rice since it is generally intended for human consumption. Rice grains can pass through a dog’s digestive tract and form white spots in its poop.
What should I do if I find white specks in my dog’s poop?
White specks in your dog’s poop can have a variety of causes. If undigested food is the issue, readjust your dog’s diet, making sure to replace raw diets with something cooked and healthier.
If it’s an intestinal infection or worms, your dog will need deworming ASAP! Avoid doing this treatment yourself, as a vet is more qualified for handling these situations.
A flea-free environment, routine testing, and good hygiene are some of the boxes that should also be checked to ensure that your dog’s health is optimal.
What looks like sesame seeds in dog poop?
Tapeworms. If you have noticed white specks in your dog’s poop that first look like grains of rice, then sesame seeds, it’s worms.
Can medication cause white specks in dog poop?
Yes! Medications can be the reason you are finding white specks in your dog’s poop. The specks can be undigested medication pills. The hard casings of pills are quite difficult to break down and often come out as the tiny white dots you observe in your dog’s poop.
Can deworming stop white specks in dog poop?
Yes! Deworming can stop white specks in dog poop if the white specks are worms. If they are a result of other factors, other preventive or corrective measures may have to be considered.
What worms can cause white specks in dog poop?
Either tapeworms or pinworms could cause white specks in poop as a result of worms. Tapeworm infection, although uncommon, has its key symptom as white specks in poop. The white or yellow specks could be flat or square-shaped and about the size of a grain of rice.
Is raw meat healthy for dogs?
No! Raw meat is not healthy for dogs. It is not nutritionally balanced. There could be future health concerns from contamination. Your dog is likely to ingest harmful bacterias, as many pathogens like listeria bacteria are present in uncooked meat.
How do I improve food digestion in my dogs?
Here are a few steps you can take to improve your dog’s digestion:
Exercise routine: Balance their caloric intake and the energy expended. The more energy your dog uses, the faster their digestion process.
Normalize feeding your dog a high protein, low-fat diet as this will ensure that helpful bacterias remain in the gut and improve digestion.
Avoid raw foods. They are easily contaminated as a result of exposure to pathogens.
Probiotics and fermented foods will also go a long way in improving your dog’s digestion process.
Can bones cause white specks in dog poop?
Yes! Bone can cause white specks in dog poop. You might want to step back a bit in your inclusion of raw meat in your dog’s diet, as the presence of white specks or chalky white specks could mean you are feeding your dog way too much bone and calcium. Although bone is a healthy meal, too much could spell trouble.
In Conclusion
White specks in the poop of your dog can be traced to several possible causes which may or may not be harmful to your dogs but shouldn’t be glossed over. White specks can be spotted through a thorough examination of your dog’s poop, and this could be crucial and life-saving if harmful worms happen to be responsible.
White specks caused by worms will most likely be moving. If you come across specks like this, it should be addressed quickly by a visit to the vet. The earlier worms are spotted, the lesser the harm they would have caused to the health of your dog.
Symptoms of worm attacks include uneasiness, scooting, frequent vomiting, pot belly, weight loss, and inflammation.
You can keep your dog free from devastating worm attacks by maintaining proper hygiene, ensuring that you take them for regular medical checks, and, very importantly, sending their stool samples for examination. Your dog deserves the best of health. Spotting and dealing with white specks in their poop as quickly as possible will go a long way to ensure that they receive nothing less.
