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6 reasons for white specks in dog poop

White Specks In Dog Poop

What Are White Specks In Dog Poop?

White specks in dog poop are tiny dots found in fresh dog poop. Don’t be alarmed; they’re not always a sign of trouble, and they happen frequently. But, it does not mean you should overlook them.

Rice & grains in dog poop
Toys, fibers and bones in dog poop
Worms In Dog Poop

How To Identify White Specks In Dog Poop?

You will have to inspect your dog’s poop immediately. Otherwise, you risk it from being contaminated by the environment.

Wear gloves when you pick up dog waste. Especially if you suspect to be contaminated. Wearing gloves will allow you to protect yourself from a ripped bag.

Are the white specks in the poop moving?

Notice how big and long the white specks are

Check for texture. Food feels hard while worms feel soft.

How To Analyze White Specks In Dog Poop?

Not all white specks move. If it is not moving, then there are ten possible causes.

If it is moving, you know that there are only two possible causes, flies and worms.

  • Long white specks are a sign of worms or toy strings
  • Short white specks are a sign of food or fungal infection or tapeworms (they are small)
  • Thick white specks are a sign of medication, food, seeds, and nuts.
  • Thin white specks signify worms, larvae, and fungal infections.
  • Hard white specks are a sign  diet
  • Soft white specks are a sign of infection
  • Slimy poop indicates some type of bowel inflammation (Cancer, Tumors, Parvovirus, IBS)

6 Causes For White Specks In Dog Poop?

Grains, Rice, Seed, and Nuts

When To Be Concerned: Specks caused by food could be a sign of malabsorption. Check for more signs of malabsorption below. If no other symptoms exist, then you should not be concerned. However, some foods are hard to digest, like corn. 

  • Eating unusual things such as poop & trash
  • Weight loss 
  • Excessive hunger
  • Smelly stool
  • Oily Stool
  • Rumbling and gurgling stomach sounds
  • Flatulence
  • Depression
  • Lack Of Energy
  • Shabby and Scruffy Coat
  • Vomiting
  • Chronic Diarrhea

Your dog could be eating toy strings, bones, coins, and mulch.

When To Be Concerned: Check for more symptoms of foreign objects. If no other symptoms exist, then don’t worry. Most of the time, these items pass through the system.

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal tenderness or pain
  • Decreased appetite (known as anorexia)
  • Constipation
  • Lethargy
  • Aggression

How Do They Get It:

  • Unsupervised chewing time
  • Unsupervised outside time

Is your dog on medication. If so, you should expect that your dog’s stomach did not digest the capsules. In this case, white specks are normal.

Moving white specks in dog poop is usually worms. These can include Tapeworms, Roundworms, and Hookworms. It is unlikely to be whipworm or heartworm as they do not appear in the poop. Other symptoms of worms include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Regurgitating
  • Vomiting
  • Butt Scooting
  • Butt Licking
  • Pale Gums
  • Excessive thirst
  • Lethargy
  • Coughing
  • Odor
  • Hair loss
  • Anal gland issues


How Do They Get It:

  • Birth (Puppies)
  • Eating Fleas
  • Poop Eating
  • Skin Contact With Poop
  • Digging In Infected Soil
  • Groomers, Daycares, Kennels

 

If you inspected poop that is not fresh, flies might have laid larvae on the poop. If this is the case, make sure to check fresh poop. But, again, there would be no additional symptoms. Furthermore, the infestation occurred after leaving the dog’s body.

A dog gets infected with a fungal infection by inhaling the spores. Spores will make their camp in the canine’s lungs and multiply, resulting in a condition. Other symptoms of a fungal infection include:

  • Redness
  • Itching
  • Crusty skin
  • Dry/flaky skin
  • A foul odor on the skin

What To Do If I Find Specks In Dog Poop?

  • Call the vet if malabsorption symptoms are present
  • If there are no symptoms, wait one week and reassess
  • Vet appointment
  • Fecal Test
  • Dewormer

3 Types Of White Worms In Poop

1. Hookworms

Danger Level
Treatment Difficulty
Treatment Cost
$50-$150
Treatment Cost
3-5 Days

2. Roundworms

Danger Level
Treatment Difficulty
Treatment Cost
$10-$50
Treatment Cost
4 Weeks

3. Tapeworms

Danger Level
Treatment Difficulty
Treatment Cost
$10-$20
Treatment Cost
2 Weeks

How To Prevent White Specks In Dog Poop?

  1. Don’t let your dog eat poop
  2. Don’t let your dog drink from contaminated water
  3. Supervise outside time with the dog
  4. Flea protection
  5. Heartworm protection
  6. Avoid wildlife
  1. Change Food
  2. Teach Leave It
  3. Supervise Bones & Toy Destruction
  4. Prevent garbage eating by buying a foot-operated bin

What Do Worms Look Like In Dog Poop After Deworming?

Following treatment, dead worms may be visible in your dog’s stool for a few days, or he may suffer from diarrhea as the dead worms are digested. Dewormer medicine is a common reason for nighttime diarrhea so prepare by having your dog in a confined room

White Specks After Deworming?

If your vet ran test and found deworming to be necessary and the specks are not gone, consult your vet. If you dewormed your dogs your self you may have misdiagnosed. Take your dog to the vet. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Dog Poop Look Like?

There are many types of dog poop, including diarrhea, squishy, soft, firm, rock hard. The digestive track causes food to have different textures. Food is either completely digested, partially digested, or not digested.

  1. White
  2. Yellow
  3. Purple
  4. Brown
  5. Black
  6. Orange

Dog poop with yellow spots means there is bile in the poop. Also, if your dog is eating a fatty diet, it will cause excess fat to be in the stool.

Owners put dogs on a chicken and rice diet when they are sick. Dogs put on a chicken and rice diet sometimes has yellow poop. Yet, it is most likely not the chicken and rice causing the yellow poop. Instead, it is the underlying condition that caused you to put your dog on this food in the first place.

Your dog’s poop is liquid and yellow because of the liver. When the liver is diseased, it causes bile to leak into the intestines, leading to this type of stool.

Your dog’s poop is purple because it contains undigested red blood cells. Purple poop is a serious sign that something is wrong. Call your veterinarian immediately.

Your dog’s poop is pale because it is full of undigested calcium.

Your dog’s poop is green because it is full of undigested plant matter. Green poop could signify that your dog is not getting enough nutrients. It can also be a sign that they cannot process their nutrients. It could also indicate an upset stomach.

Your dog’s poop is red because it has blood in it. A small cut or ulcer in your dog’s stomach or intestines could be the cause of red poop. An intestinal blockage, anal gland infection, or tumor could also cause.

Dog poop turns black in the sun because it’s composed of tiny bits of digested bone, hair, and fat. When these substances meet heat or air, they start to decompose.

Your dog’s poop is white because it’s composed of tiny bits of digested bone, hair, and fat. These substances are not dangerous when your dog is healthy. However, white specks can be a sign of problems with your dog’s diet, such as too much calcium or even dietary diseases. So if you notice white poop regularly, it might be time to consult your veterinarian

Follow the instructions above to rule out worms as a possibility.

If your dog’s poop has white balls in it, you should take a closer look for signs of worms.

Consistency Of Poop

Your dog’s poop has mucus or slime in it because the digestive system is struggling to break down the food. Mucus in poop happens when your dog eats something that doesn’t agree with its stomach.

Your dog’s poop is hard as a rock because the dog’s diet lacks water. When the body does not get enough fluids, it causes the poop to be hard. In addition, the digestive system removes as much moisture as possible before it’s excreted. That leaves a dry, compacted waste product that is difficult for your dog to pass.

To firm up a dog’s poop, he needs to eat a lot of fiber. If a dog’s poop is soft, it can be due to various factors. The stool is too soft because they are underfed or eating too much soft food. In addition, they may not get enough exercise, and even too much water intake. Dog poop can turn very soft and runny because of diarrhea. If a dog is sick or has eaten something harmful, the poop might turn very soft and mushy.

To firm up your dog’s poop, you need to add water to the dog’s diet. Add a bit of water to your dog’s food or feed your dog vegetables and fruits.

A dog’s poop is runny because he is sick or has diarrhea. A watery stool may also be because of a worm infestation. If your dog’s poop is soft or runny, white or red specks may be present. These are most likely the worms’ eggs, and you need to take them very seriously.

If the dog’s poop is solid & regular but then changes to soft, it can be due to an irritation in the stomach or an infection. You can firm up your dog’s poop by feeding your dog more fiber and giving your dog more exercise.

Your dog’s poop is dry and crumbly because he is not getting enough water or fiber in his diet. You need to add apples or pears, green beans, and carrots to the dog’s diet.


Your dog’s poop is mushy because he is not eating enough fiber. When the stool becomes very soft, it can be due to a lack of healthy bacteria in the digestive system. Or it can be due to an overgrowth of yeast. You need to give him more fiber by feeding him vegetables and fruits.

Things Inside Poop

There are bugs in your dog’s poop because they are omnivores. Omnivores can eat plants, meat, and other things. So, bugs would be something they could have inside their poop. In addition, bugs could be there after the poop has been sitting out for a while.


There are eggs in your dog’s poop because you let the poop sit outside for a while. As a result, flies lay eggs in poop.

  1. Flies- There are crystals in your dog’s poop because you let the poop sit outside for a while. Flies lay crystals in dog poop after they eat through it. These crystals turn into white specks on the surface.
  2. Table Scraps – Table scraps can cause crystals to form in your dog’s poop. If you feed your dog table scraps, make sure they are non-greasy. The oil in your dog’s poop causes crystals to form. Grease is also what attracts flies to dog poop, which can then cause crystals to form.
  3. Citrus – Some people recommend not giving your dog foods that contain citrus. Citruses can cause crystals to form in your pet. But, this is not a proven cause of crystals in dog poop.
  4. Cat Litter- Some people use cat litter crystals in their cat boxes. Cat litter can cause crystals to form in your dog’s poop because it doesn’t get digested. 
  1. Worms
  2. Rice
  3. Nuts
  4. Grains
  5. Bones
  6. Toy Strings

Black worms are most likely maggots, which are the larvae of flies that lay eggs in dog poop.

Your dog’s poop has yellow seeds because they get the seeds from the food they are eating. The yellow seeds come from plants in your yard or plant in your garden. They also might be eating bird seeds on walks.

Your dogs have flatworms in their poop when they have a white speck inside their poop. The flatworms may be a different color, but you will see a lot of tiny white dots if they have them.

Tapeworm segments (dead ones) can look like sesame seeds.

Your Dog Ate Poop

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A dog eating its poop is usually a sign of an issue absorbing nutrients. So make sure to clean up your dog’s poop right away.

It is not unusual for your dog to eat animal poop. Learn more about why dogs eat poop here.

  1. Pumpkin
  2. Pineapple
  3. Multivitamins
  4. Supplements
  5. Honey
  6. Apple Cider Vinegar
  7. Probiotics
  8. Green Veggies
  9. Dietary Fat
  10. Cooked Grains
  11. Lime
  12. Stool eating deterrent spray
  13. Meat tenderizer

Find a way to prevent it from happening again. Either by buying a dome cat litter box or preventing your dog from being in a specific room.

Get a dome-shaped litter box. Buy a door stopper or gate that allows the cat into the room.

If your housecat is healthy, there should be no reason to worry if your dog eats cat poop. However, you may want to take your dog to the vet if the cat has parasites or bacterial infections.

If your dog is throwing up after eating poop, it could be a sign of a health issue. But it can also be due to the sour taste of cat poop.

It is dangerous to have poop lying around in your house because it can lead to several health problems.

How Often Do Dogs Poop

Your dog poops so much because you are overfeeding them or your dog is ill.

  1. Feed your dog the desired food
  2. Wait for 12 hours.
  3. If they don’t poop, feed them another meal.

If they still do not poop

  1. Canine Massage
  2. Vet Prescribed laxatives (never human laxatives)
  3.  

Once to three times a day

You should take your dog out after every meal but at least twice a day.

Dog Can't Poop

It is not a big deal to miss one poop. However, if your dog misses tomorrow, take your dog to the vet. Meanwhile, give them pumpkin as it has a lot of fiber.

Massage activates the digestive tract. See this article for more information.

He may be constipated or have UTI. Take them to the vet.

  1. Exercise (walking, running, playing)
  2. Canine Massage
  3. Fiber (pumpkin, supplements)
  1. Take them for a walk.
  2. Teach the “potty command.”
  3. Have a specific leash
  4. Go out at particular times.
  5. Feed them at particular times
  6. Calm them down

The environment is stressing out your dog. If this is the case, you need to teach your dog that outside is not scary. Do this by giving your dog a treat every time they are outside. Also, you can create a sheltered potty area that blocks the elements.

Your leash is too short. You need an 8-12 feet leash for potty time. See this article for more information.

How To Dispose Of Poop

  1. Potty Pads or Indoor Bathroom
  2. Poop Bags
  3. Burry It
  4. Composite Pile
  5. Hire Someone
  6. Poop Vacuum
  7. Worm Farming
  8. Hose & Dilute
  9. Dissolve It
  10. Dedicated Dog Waste Septic Tanks
  11. Teach Them To Use The Toilet

No. In some areas, it’s against the rules to not pick up your poop in your yard and throw it away. But, you must pick up after your dog when walking in all areas.

Yes, but not the bags can’t. The bags are bad for your pipes. It could cause a blockage which would cost over $5,000 to fix.

No, bacteria in it make it bad for plants. Also, you might get parasites in your garden.

  1. Pick up solid pieces.
  2. Spray area with water
  3. Wipe away area
  4. Spray it poop cleaner
  5. Wipe it away
  6. Use Steam Cleaner with soap.
  7. Use a steam cleaner with water.
  8. Use a steam cleaner with scent booster crystals.

Recommended Steam Cleaner

It will decompose. Make sure to you a biodegradable bag.

  1. Pick it up
  2. Throw it in the bag
  3. Place the bag in the garbage bin for pick up.
  1. Put it in a poop bag. 
  1. Place that in a garbage bin.
  1. Dispose of it in a garbage bin

Other Questions


They do this to leave their scent. Waling puts pressure on scent glands, thus, leaving scent in the area.

A bath should be able to dislodge the poop. Otherwise, you might need scissors. The easiest way to avoid this is to groom your dog correctly—Groom your dog every six weeks and do daily brushing.

Some dogs may have diarrhea if they are partially blocked. If they are entirely clogged, they will be constipated. You may even notice vomiting. Take your dog to the vet immediately.

1 thought on “White Specks In Dog Poop”

  1. Keikilani DL Joseph

    My dog has pooped I believe 6 times today and it is very watery and other things in it. My dog is not eating or drinking as normal. What could it be.Her poop to me is not normal.

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