Normal Dog Poop: This type of dog poop is just what you want. It’s firm, like a dough and is medium-chocolate brown in color. The poop emoji looks like it does because the perfect poop coils out very similarly, showing it took the perfect ride though your dog’s intestines. Not too hard and not too soft, you won’t see any abnormalities or parasites and contrary to popular belief, it shouldn’t even really smell that horribly. Don’t get us wrong, poop stinks. But it shouldn’t be terribly foul if it’s healthy poop.

Diarrhea or Watery Stool: Loose, runny or watery stool is a mess for you and for your dog. It is a sign that something isn’t great in the gut. It could be stress, diet changes, infection, parasites or more. Sometimes watery stools may contain food that’s not been digested. Diarrhea or watery dog stool can be dangerous becasue your dog can dehydrate rather quickly. If your dog is suffering from diarrhea, keep a close watch for signs of dehydration.

Bloody Stool: Another type of dog poop pet parents see is that which has blood in it. If you see blood in dog poop, you may see signs of an underlying health concern like an intestinal blockage, colitis, IBS or even cancer. Sometimes the blood in dog poop will be bright red and fresh. Sometimes, it can be dark and tarry, which means it likely has been an issue a bit. If you notice your dog has bloody stool, you should consult with your veterinarian to be sure there’s not something severe happening.

Mucous Stool: If you see mucous in your dog’s poop, it may be suffering from inflammation or infection. Mucous stool is usually slimy or slippery and can often be accompanied by diarrhea, bad gas, or other digestive problems. Sometimes very small amounts of mucous may be a lubricant for dog poop, but if continued, it could also be a sign of colitis or other digestive condition. It could even be parasites or infections, so checking with your vet is not a bad idea. Another type of dog poop that is similar is greasy or oily, and that could be a sign of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) so be sure to mention this to your vet.

Undigested Food in Poop: If your dog is pooping big plops of what seems like undigested food, that is a sign that it may not be getting the nutrients it needs from the food you feed. It could be because of an intolerance to the food or an underlying health concern or even parasites. It could be that they’re not getting enough fiber to ensure the food moves through the digestive tract appropriately to be broken down and absorbed, and you want to take care of that quickly, so they’re not malnourished.