Why Is My Dogs Poop Cold? Surprising Causes And Solutions

Checking your dog’s stool from time to time is a smart idea. You can get a lot of information about your dog’s digestive health status. But sometimes you pick up your dog’s poop and wonder why is my dogs poop cold?

Cold dog poop may indicate a lower body temperature, which can be due to various factors. It could be a sign of dehydration or dietary issues. However, some serious health problems can also cause this problem.

What does normal dog poop look like?

What does cold poop indicate in dogs?
How should you address cold dog poop?

What does normal dog poop look like?

To describe the normal fecal matter of dogs, you need to know the four C’s. These are color, consistency, content, and coating.

When it comes to color, the poop should be colored brown. Vets have a consistency scale that goes from 1 which is very firm, to 7 which is watery. “The ideal stool is a 2: a firm, segmented stool that’s shaped like a caterpillar and feels like Play-Doh when pressed and holds its form.”, says Dr. Jessica Vogelsang. This will make it easy to pick up when outside.

The content of this poop should not include anything else. Parts of some recent food are okay. Also, there should be no coating on it. The smell of normal dog feces is not nice, but a really foul odor is typically a sign of disease.

What does cold poop indicate in dogs?

Normal poop temperature should be the same as the dog’s internal body temperature. “Normal body temperature for dogs and cats is 101.0 to 102.5°F (38.3 to 39.2°C)”, according to Dr. Malcolm Weir. If the poop feels too cold, there may be a few reasons for that.

How does diet affect the dog’s stool temperature?

The diet of dogs is very important to their digestive health. If there is not enough fat in its diet, the stool may be too solid to get out, thus cooling in the process. Dr. Katherine Scott explains a dog’s daily nutrition needs like this:

An adult dog needs at least 10% of its daily calories from protein and a minimum of 5.5% from fats. An adult dog’s diet can contain up to 50% carbohydrates, including 2.5% to 4.5% percent fiber.

Fiber is a key nutrient that bulks up the stool making it easier to pass. If it’s not found in the dog’s diet, the poop may cool while waiting to come out. Water is an important part of the dog’s diet. But drinking too much of it, or drinking really cold water can cause its poop to become cold. The same can happen if the dog likes eating cold treats like frozen blueberries or ice cream.

What environmental factors can affect stool temperature?

Another cause of cold feces in dogs is the outside temperature. If it’s really cold outside, the dog may defecate in a cold spot, causing the feces to turn cold really fast.

Cold weather also causes digestion to slow down, meaning that the food will need a longer time to pass, thus cooling off on the way. Dogs like the Huskies love the cold, but some are not as well insulated. If they get too cold and hypothermic, their poop may also become colder.

During cold weather, there is also snow, and some dogs love to eat it. Cold snow will cool the excrement. Lack of physical activity may also cause the body’s temperature to drop slightly, which will lead to colder poos.

When does cold poop indicate a health issue?

Some serious reasons for a dog’s cold stool could be health issues. Dogs that vomit or experience diarrhea will become dehydrated with time. These symptoms can happen due to gastrointestinal infections caused by viruses and bacteria. This will cause them to lose the heat of their bodies and feces.

Intestinal blockage can be caused by tumors or other reasons that block the passage of stool. It can also happen due to a seamless reason like when a dog eats the string from a rope toy. Because the poop can not move properly, it will cool down.

Other illnesses to keep an eye on are pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Liver and kidney diseases can also cause the dog’s poop to change and lose its color and texture.

Can there be other causes for this condition?

Another thing that explains why dog poop is cold is the dog’s age. Older dogs tend to have cold poops because their body temperature becomes lower. This is the opposite of puppies that have warmer body temperatures. The size and breed of the dog may also have some slight effect, with larger dogs having somewhat warmer bowel movements.

Some medications like NSAIDS can have side effects that can change the temperature of the dog’s excrement. If a dog has gone through surgery recently, its GI tract might not work properly and cause cold poops. This should be told to the vet just in case.

Sometimes, stress can cause changes in dogs. The stress hormone called cortisol reduces the dog’s metabolic rate, reducing the amount of heat produced. This will lead to colder poops.

How should you address cold dog poop?

Before you do anything about the cold dog stool, you need to inspect it carefully. If it has changed color to black, this might indicate a bleed somewhere inside the intestines. A red color is a sign of bleeding near the anus and rectum. Orange dog poop is a result of a chicken and rice diet or some other foods. If the fecal consistency is watery or solid, it might also give you some information on its health.

Seeing mucus or white bits on the poop should alert you to ask for veterinary guidance. The same can be done if the illness lasts for more time than you would usually expect. If the problem is not that serious, there are things you can do to help the dog out.

Adjust the diet

If one of the cold dog poop causes is related to its diet, then you should change it. Include foods higher in fiber to help bulk up the stool. Include warmer foods in the diet and don’t give cold treats. Dogs can eat vegetable soup to keep warm while getting enough fiber in their diet. Keeping the dog hydrated is an essential part. Just make sure the water is lukewarm and not cold.

Keep the environment safe

Make sure your dog is warm during colder days. If it lives in a dog house, make sure to add proper heat insulation so the heat stays inside. Buy it a warm blanket that will keep it warm and snuggly. If you can, try to have the dog live inside and let it rest beside your heating system. Getting some clothes like jackets for your pups will also work wonders when you need to go out for a walk.

Give proper medications

Because the dog’s health and cold poop are connected, you need to stay on top of your dog’s health. Giving your dog a dewormer will help to get rid of some worms that can cause dog digestive problems. There are natural dewormers for dogs if you only want to use home-based remedies. If some of your dog’s medications are causing problems, ask your vet to change them for something better. Also, don’t avoid the regular vet checks at least once a year.

Why is my dogs poop cold? – A conclusion

The appearance of the dog’s fecal matter is important if you want to know if it is healthy and thriving. That’s why every owner should be checking it from time to time. Sometimes, you will find that the poop has gone colder than usual.

Poop can get cold if exposed to very cold weather. But this weather also means snow, and if a dog eats it, its poo will get colder. The diet of the dog also plays a very important part in the temperature of its feces. Improper diets with low fiber and fats are proven causes of this condition.

The worst reason for this problem could be some health issues. If you find additional symptoms besides the cold poop, you should keep in mind to inform your vet. They will do what is needed to help your furry friend.

FAQ

Can the temperature of my dog’s poop change based on the time of day they poop?

There may be slight fluctuations in the temperature of the fecal matter during the day. Usually, early mornings and nights are colder, thus causing the poo to be colder. During the day, it may get warmer.

How do you know if a dog is cold?

Besides wondering “why is my dogs poop cold?”, there are other signs that will suggest your dog is feeling chilly. It may be curled up and shivering trying to conserve some heat. You can also check if it’s cold to the touch.

Why is my dog’s poop white?

The excrement can appear white if the dog’s diet is very high in calcium. Dogs that eat bones may also have white parts in their poo. Some issues with the pancreas and bile ducts may also be a cause.