FAECAL SCORE
GUIDE
Use these faecal scoring
systems to assess the
stool quality of dogs,
puppies and cats
Score stools individually
from 1 (formed and dry) to 5 (liquid).
DIRECTIONS FOR USE When consistency of the stools is not
homogeneous, record the higher score.
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR DOGS
Too Hard/Too Soft Acceptable Optimal
HARD, DRY, CRUMBLY
1
STOOL
DRY, VERY CLEARLY
2
DEFINED CRACKS
CLEARLY DEFINED
2
2.5 SHAPE WITH VISIBLE
CRACKS
MOIST STOOL
3 STARTING TO LOSE
SHAPE AND CRACKS
MOIST STOOL WITH
3.5
NO CRACKS
MOIST STOOL WITH
4 LITTLE CONSISTENCY
AND NO REAL SHAPE
LIQUID STOOL WITH
4.5 MINIMAL
CONSISTENCY
5 ENTIRELY LIQUID
STOOL
More detail on pages 2 - 5
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR DOGS
HARD, DRY, CRUMBLY STOOL
(crumbs) It tends to split apart rather than
being crushed.
DRY, VERY CLEARLY DEFINED
CRACKS
The outside is very dry and the inside is
almost dry. Leaves no residue on the
ground when picked up.
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR DOGS
2.5
CLEARLY DEFINED SHAPE WITH
VISIBLE CRACKS
It leaves very little residue on the ground when
picked up.
MOIST STOOL STARTING TO LOSE
SHAPE AND CRACKS
This stools “components” are less separate and
the cracks are still visible.
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR DOGS
3.5
MOIST STOOL WITH NO CRACKS
The stool still has a distinct shape. This stools
different “components” stick to one another.
MOIST STOOL WITH LITTLE
CONSISTENCY AND NO REAL SHAPE
It holds water well. No floating “stool-water” is
visible.
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR DOGS
4.5
LIQUID STOOL WITH MINIMAL
CONSISTENCY
ENTIRELY LIQUID STOOL
(No texture)
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR SMALL & MEDIUM PUPPIES
Too Hard/Too Soft Acceptable Optimal
FORMED, DRY AND
1
HARD FAECES
FORMED DRY BUT
NOT HARD FAECES
2
SOFTER ONES ARE
SLIGHTLY STICKY
2
SOFT FORMED
2.5
FAECES
SOFT UNFORMED
3
FAECES
SOFT UNFORMED
4
FAECES
LIQUID FAECES
4.5 ASSOCIATED WITH
SOFT FAECES
5 LIQUID FAECES
More detail on pages 7 - 9
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR SMALL & MEDIUM PUPPIES
FORMED, DRY AND HARD FAECES
II III IV
FORMED, DRY BUT NOT HARD FAECES
Cylindrical shape faeces, dry appearance,
separated in pellets. Harder ones can be
deformed with some difficulty (fig. II) or more
easily (fig. III).
SOFTER ONES ARE SLIGHTLY STICKY
(fig. IV)
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR SMALL & MEDIUM PUPPIES
2.5
V VI VIII
SOFT FORMED FAECES
Formed but very soft faeces. Cylindrical shape
separated in pellets (fig. V) or with presence of
stria (fig. VI). Softer ones are pasty, still
cylindrical in shape but no stria (fig. VIII).
3
VIII IX
IF 7 WEEKS OLD OR LESS
4 VIII IX X
IF 8 WEEKS OLD OR MORE
X VIII IX X
SOFT UNFORMED FAECES
Faeces mainly unformed with a small formed
part (fig. VIII) or pasty unformed faeces
(fig. IX & X). In some cases (fig. IX) a cylindrical
shape is visible (a) but is not maintained due to
the high humidity.
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR SMALL & MEDIUM PUPPIES
4.5
VIII
XI XII
LIQUID FAECES ASSOCIATED WITH SOFT
FAECES
The main part of the faeces is represented by
soft (fig. XI) or liquid (fig. XII) faeces.
LIQUID FAECES
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10
FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR LARGE & GIANT PUPPIES
Too Hard/Too Soft Acceptable Optimal
FORMED, DRY AND
1
HARD FAECES
FORMED DRY BUT
NOT HARD FAECES
2
SOFTER ONES ARE
SLIGHTLY STICKY
2
SOFT FORMED
2.5
FAECES
SOFT UNFORMED
3
FAECES
4 SOFT UNFORMED
FAECES
LIQUID FAECES
4.5 ASSOCIATED WITH
SOFT FAECES
5 LIQUID FAECES
More detail on pages 11 - 13
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11
FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR LARGE & GIANT PUPPIES
FORMED, DRY AND HARD FAECES
2
II III IV
FORMED, DRY BUT NOT HARD FAECES
Cylindrical shape faeces, dry appearance,
separated in pellets. Harder ones can be
deformed with some difficulty (fig. II) or more
easily (fig. III).
SOFTER ONES ARE SLIGHTLY STICKY
(fig. IV)
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12
FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR LARGE & GIANT PUPPIES
2.5
V VI VIII
SOFT FORMED FAECES
Formed but very soft faeces. Cylindrical shape
separated in pellets (fig. V) or with presence of
stria (fig. VI). Softer ones are pasty, still
cylindrical in shape but no stria (fig. VIII).
3
VIII IX
IF 7 WEEKS OLD OR LESS
4 VIII IX X
IF 8 WEEKS OLD OR MORE
X VIII IX X
SOFT UNFORMED FAECES
Faeces mainly unformed with a small formed
part (fig. VIII) or pasty unformed faeces
(fig. IX & X). In some cases (fig. IX) a cylindrical
shape is visible (a) but is not maintained due to
the high humidity.
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13
FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR LARGE & GIANT PUPPIES
4.5
VIII
XI XII
LIQUID FAECES ASSOCIATED WITH
SOFT FAECES
The main part of the faeces is represented by
soft (fig. XI) or liquid (fig. XII) faeces.
LIQUID FAECES
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR CATS
Too Hard/Too Soft Acceptable Optimal
1 HARD, DRY,
CRUMBLY STOOL
2 FORMED HARD STOOL
2.5 FORMED, FIRM STOOL
UNFORMED STOOL,
3 SOFT BUT WITH SOME
SHAPE
4 VERY SOFT STOOL
5 LIQUID STOOL
More detail on pages 15 - 17
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR CATS
HARD, DRY, CRUMBLY STOOL
(crumbs)
Crushing the stool leaves no mark. It tends to
split apart rather than being crushed.
FORMED, HARD STOOL
This stool has clearly defined cracks. The
outside is very dry and the inside is almost dry
(unlike the score 2.5 stool, which is softer).
When pressure is put on the stool, separate
small pieces break off along the cracks.
Leaves no residue on the ground when
picked up.
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR CATS
2.5
FORMED, FIRM STOOL
This stool has a clearly defined shape with
visible cracks. It’s surface may be slightly damp
but is still well formed.
When pressure is applied the stool is crushed,
although you will feel some resistance, unlike
the score 3 stool.
It leaves very little residue on the ground when
picked up.
UNFORMED STOOL, SOFT BUT
WITH SOME SHAPE
A moist stool with no cracks.
It still has a distinct shape when compared to
the score 4 stool. This stool’s different
“components” stick to one another.
Leaves residue on the ground when picked up.
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FAECAL SCORING SYSTEM
FOR CATS
VERY SOFT STOOL
Very wet, but not liquid stool. When compared
to the score 5 stool, this stool retains the water
that is nevertheless visible between its different
constituent parts.
LIQUID STOOL
Entirely liquid stool (no texture) or liquid stool
with minimal consistency.
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