Forbes: Tapeworms In Dogs: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment, According To A Veterinarian Dr. Bethany spent a year at a small animal-exclusive practice in Washington state, where she was first introduced to … Tapeworms are segmented parasites that live in the intestines. Dogs can be ...

Understanding the Context

Stool comes in a range of colors. All shades of brown and even green are considered typical. Only rarely does stool color indicate a possibly serious intestinal condition. Stool color is generally influenced by what you eat as well as by the amount of bile — a yellow-green fluid that digests fats ...

Key Insights

Colon cancer stools Not all stool changes mean you have cancer, but some could be warning signs. When cancer grows in the colon, it can affect how a stool looks, the size and how often you go to the bathroom. Colon cancer stool: What to look for and how to test at home Constipation Overview Constipation is a problem with passing stool. Constipation generally means passing fewer than three stools a week or having a difficult time passing stool. Constipation is fairly common.

Final Thoughts

A lack of dietary fiber, fluids and exercise can cause constipation. But other medical conditions or certain medicines may be the cause. Diarrhea — loose, watery and possibly more-frequent passage of stool — is a common problem. Sometimes, it's the only symptom of a condition. At other times, it may be associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or weight loss. Luckily, diarrhea is usually short-lived, lasting no more than a few days.

Larger amounts of mucus in stool, associated with diarrhea, may be caused by certain intestinal infections. Bloody mucus in stool or mucus along with belly pain may signal a more serious condition, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and even cancer.