Why Is My Dog’s Poop Cold? 

Whenever you notice anything new and usual in your dog, this can be a worrying time for you. Especially when you notice their poop is cold, as this could be a sign that there is something wrong in their digestive tract. 

Why Is My Dog’s Poop Cold? 

More often than not, your dog’s poop being cold with no other symptoms as a one off isn’t too much to worry about. However, if this is accompanied by other symptoms or starts to happen on a regular basis, this is a sign that there is something wrong. 

Is It Normal For A Dog’s Poop To Be Cold (A Cause For Concern)?

No, it isn’t normal for your dog’s poop to be cold. Your dog’s poop should be around the same temperature as their body temperature – meaning the poop shouldn’t feel cold to you. 

What Could Be Causing My Dog’s Poop To Be Cold? 

The Outside Temperature

If you leave the poop outside overnight, or even just for a couple of hours, the poop will have adjusted to the outside temperature, therefore making it colder. If you want to tell if the poop is cold normally, pick it up straight away. 

Elderly Dogs

If you have an older dog, this means their poop is going to be colder than that of a younger dog. So if you have dogs of varying ages, or notice that your older dog’s poop is colder than when they were younger, it might just be an age thing and nothing more serious. 

Viral Diseases

If your dog’s poop is cold straight after they have passed it, this suggests that they have a viral disease. If this has accompanying symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing or diarrhoea, it is likely a viral disease that may require treatment. 

Gastrointestinal Infections, Such As Bacterial, Viral, Or Parasitic Infections, Can Cause Changes In The Digestive Tract That Affect Stool Consistency And Temperature.

If the issue behind your dog’s cold poop is a gastrointestinal infection, the poop will be accompanied by diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. It is more than likely that this will require treatment, so a trip to the vet will be needed. 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ibd) Can Cause Chronic Inflammation Of The Digestive Tract And Lead To Abnormal Stool Consistency And Temperature.

If your dog has IBD, this can cause diarrhoea, which causes dehydration. This, in turn, can cause your dog’s body temperature to lower, which will cause your dog’s poop to be colder and will need to be met with treatment. 

Food Intolerance Or Allergies Can Lead To Digestive Issues That Affect Stool Temperature And Consistency.

If your dog has a food intolerance or allergy, one of the side effects of this can be diarrhoea. If your dog has runny poop and is pooping more often than usual, this will cause cold poop because it isn’t having time to warm up. 

Pancreatic Insufficiency, A Condition In Which The Pancreas Does Not Produce Enough Digestive Enzymes, Can Cause Abnormal Stool Consistency And Temperature.

This is known as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and is a very serious illness that will need a trip to the vet. This can cause runny and watery stools that are relatively frequent, and due to this frequency, will end up being cold. 

Intestinal Obstruction Or Blockage Can Cause Stool To Back Up In The Intestine And Lead To Changes In Temperature And Consistency.

This is what can happen when your dog has an irritated anus as if the poo is too big to come out, causing the stomach bacteria to break down and releases gas eventually the poop will leave. 

 

But if there isn’t enough space for the poop to leave, the gas will be stuck inside until it can eventually leave. This will cause cold poop as your dog will be going to the toilet so often that the poop doesn’t have enough time to warm up. 

Certain Medications Or Supplements Can Affect The Digestive System And Lead To Changes In Stool Temperature And Consistency.

All medications have side effects and some of these, such as NMDA receptor blockers and NSAIDS, can cause diarrhoea. If your dog is getting diarrhoea as a result of these medications, these will cause cold poop as the poop isn’t having enough time to warm up. 

Liver Or Kidney Disease Can Affect The Body’s Ability To Process Waste Products, Leading To Changes In Stool Temperature And Consistency.

If your dog has liver or kidney disease, one of the most common symptoms of this is diarrhoea. As previously mentioned, if your dog has diarrhoea, the poop doesn’t have enough time to warm up, so is likely to be cold when it comes out. 

Other Things To Look Out For When Dog’s Poop Is Cold?
Diarrhea Or Constipation

If your dog has diarrhoea alongside a cold poop, this could be the sign of a viral infection. This may require some treatment from the vet, so take them in and see if they can offer you any medication to help your poorly pooch. 

Loss Of Appetite

If your dog has a loss of appetite, this can be caused by a number of different things. Regardless of the reason, one of the signs of this is vomiting. Vomiting can cause dehydration, which causes your dog’s body temperature to go down, which then causes their poop to be cold. 

Vomiting

If your dog is vomiting, regardless of the reason, this can cause dehydration. When your dog is dehydrated, it means that they can lose body heat, which is then a possible reason behind your dog’s cold stool. 

Lethargy Or Weakness

It is often that a deficiency of some sort can cause this. This may be the cause of a Vitamin B deficiency, where not enough oxygen will be carried around the body, causing your dog to be lethargic. This can also cause runny poop that will feel cold to touch. 

Abdominal Pain Or Discomfort

If your dog has abdominal pain or discomfort, this is likely caused by a gastrointestinal infection, this can also lead to cold poop. It’s not nice to see your pet pooch in pain, so ring the vet for advice and see what is best to make them comfortable again. 

Blood In The Stool

If you notice any blood in your dog’s stool, this could be a sign that your dog has internal bleeding. This is serious and you need to take your dog to the vet immediately so that they can get treatment. 

Mucus In The Stool

Mucus in your dog’s stool could be caused by parasites, a dietary indiscretion, an infection, IBD, stress, or cancer. All of these can cause a number of different symptoms in your dog, including cold poop, and they are all a reason to get your dog checked by a vet. 

Changes In Stool Color Or Consistency

Normally, your dog’s poop should be brown and a medium consistency, but it’s also good to be aware of what’s normal for your pup. If you notice changes in their stool or if they have any white, green, red or black in the poop, this is a sign something is wrong. 

Increased Frequency Of Bowel Movements

If your dog is pooping a lot more often than usual, not only can this be for a number of different reasons, but it can also cause their poop to be cold. This is because it doesn’t have the time to warm up properly. 

Irrespective of this, it’s always good to check what is causing them to be going to the toilet more often. 

Straining Or Difficulty Passing Stool

This combined with a cold poop is likely to mean your dog has either a colon tumor or a polyp. These will definitely need treatment from a vet. You may also notice with this that the poop is long and skinny, which is definitely an indicator that a tumor or polyp is likely. 

Flatulence Or Excessive Gas

If your dog has excessive gas, one of the reasons behind this could be due to a change in diet. Anything that messes with your dog’s dietary tract can cause a number of different issues, including gas, which may then, in turn, lead to your dog having a cold poop. 

Dehydration

If your dog also has a virus, this can lead to dehydration. If you notice that even with drinking water your dog still seems to be dehydrated, take them to the vet and they will be able to administer fluids to help hydrate them. 

Fever Or Elevated Body Temperature

A fever or high body temperature is another sign of a virus and if you notice that your dog’s body temperature is above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or even below 99 degrees Fahrenheit, this could be a sign that there is something majorly wrong and they will need to see a vet. 

 

Is My Dog Sick If Their Poop Is Cold?

As it isn’t normal for your dog’s poop to be cold, there is a chance that they’re sick. If you have ruled out leaving the poop out for a long time or it getting colder as your dog gets older, this means there’s a chance that they’re unwell and should be seen by a vet. 

Should I Be Worried If My Dog’s Poop Is Cold?

You shouldn’t necessarily be worried if your dog’s poop is cold. In some cases, it might just be because it’s been left outside for a while or due to old age. However, there are other issues that may be more serious and if you suspect this, you should take your dog to the vet immediately. 

Can I Do Anything To Prevent My Dog’s Poop From Being Cold?

Other than following vets advice, to prevent your dog’s poop from being cold in the first place, make sure they have a good and healthy diet, with enough meat and fiber, and ensure they are hydrated. 

How Can I Tell If My Dog’s Poop Is Abnormally Cold?

As it’s more than likely that you will frequently pick up your dog’s poop, you will know what is normal or abnormal for your dog. If their poop is cold as a one off then they should be alright. But if it is suddenly much colder than normal and this continues, this suggests something is wrong. 

Does The Temperature Of My Dog’s Poop Indicate Anything About Their Overall Health?

It isn’t necessarily the temperature of their poop that should be a cause for concern; particularly if it is a one off or if there are no other symptoms. However, it’s the combination of cold poop and other symptoms that are the sign that something is wrong. 

Can I Tell If My Dog Is Dehydrated By The Temperature Of Their Poop?

It may not just be the temperature of their poop that will indicate to you that your dog is dehydrated, because there will also need to be other signs for this to be the case. Dehydration is a sign of a virus and if you notice anything like this, your dog may need vet treatment. 

Should I Take My Dog To The Vet If Their Poop Is Cold?

If you are worried about your dog’s poop being cold, particularly if this is a new change, then it’s best to take them to the vet. Even if it turns out to be nothing to worry about, it’s better to get a peace of mind; or otherwise, get the treatment administered as soon as possible. 

How Can I Treat My Dog If Their Poop Is Cold And They Appear To Be Unwell?

Your first port of call should be to take them to the vet as they are the animal medical expert and will be able to see what is causing your dog’s poop to be cold. Then, they will be able to recommend some treatment or give some advice on how best to help them.