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My dog's poop looks strange. Is it mucus, worms, or something else?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

I’m not sure which of my dogs is pooping like this but I was wondering if this is normal or not? Does it seem like it could have worms? If so, what kind of worms?

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4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By C. Rathjens, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 29th, 2018

That looks like mucus rather than worms. It is not normal and is caused by irritation in the colon for some reason. I'd recommend feeding each dog a bit of glitter or crayon shards with their normal food (easiest with canned food, or their kibble moistened with water) and note which color you give you which pup, and see who ends up producing the abnormal stool sample, so you can take them to the vet. Hope that helps!

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    Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 24th, 2019

    It's obviously hard to know for sure without being able to examine the stool but from the photos, that almost looks like cloth from a toy or something? I can't say for certain though that it's not a type of worm. If Buddy is in the habit of eating toys or other inedible objects, you should prevent this as they can cause an intestinal blockage (which may require surgery). If you still have the stool, you may drop it by your vets office to confirm what the origin is. You may also consider erring on the side of caution and have his stool checked for worms just to be safe. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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    Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 8th, 2021

    Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I'm sorry but the photo is not clear enough when I enlarge it for me to tell much. If you are concerned about intestinal parasites then I suggest you have your veterinarian run a fecal test. Your other option would be to mail in sample to an outside lab for testing. ( https://www.1800petmeds.com/Fecal+Worm+Test%40Home+Kit-prod12328.html ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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    Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Published on January 30th, 2018

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be worms potentially. Otherwise, this would still be abnormal and may be because of something Buddy ate. I recommend that you have Buddy evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check a stool sample for abnormalities. Good luck and have a great day!

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