Yes, you should be looking at your dog's poop

Every person—and pet—poops. And, while it’s kind of a weird thing to think about, you should regularly be checking out your cat or dog’s poop.

“When it comes to our pets, their poop can be like a window showing what’s really going on with their health,” Brian Zanghi, PhD, senior researcher and nutritionist at Purina, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “You might want to get comfortable looking through that window.”

Looking at your cat or dog’s poop could tip you off to when your pet has health issues, Zanghi says. In general, he says you’ll want to be aware of three things: the poop’s size, shape and consistency.

“Basically, you want the size to be consistent with the amount of food your pet is eating,” Zanghi says.

As for shape and consistency, Zanghi says they go hand in hand. “Too hard can indicate constipation, but you don’t want it to be so soft that it’s unformed,” he says. “Essentially, the perfect poop is when it’s formed and it cleans up without any mess. When you see that day in and day out, that’s when you know your pet is in good health.”

There are a few reasons why your pet’s poop might change.

Another reason you’ll want to scope out your cat or dog’s poop is to look for any changes that might come up. There are a few reasons why your pet’s poop might change:

· Stress

· Eating something from outside

· Changes in their environment

· A stomach infection

· Excessive exercise

“Some changes are normal, but if they occur day after day, it could be a sign of a bigger problem,” Zanghi says.

So, the next time you take your pet out, take a closer look at their poop. “You just might see something that ends up improving their health,” Zanghi says.