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Poop red flags you need to know about

Here’s when to worry if something’s not coming out right.

LearnDigestive healthConstipationPoop red flags you need to know about
Bright red poop
Black, tarry stools
Clay-colored poop
Thin, ribbon-like stools
Painful stools
Severe constipation
Extreme diarrhea with dehydration

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Everyone hopes for predictable poops. But if you happen to find a surprise in the toilet, how do you know whether to worry or flush and forget it?

Here are seven types of bowel movements that you should know about, and when to call your healthcare provider (HCP).

Sources: MedlinePlus. Black or tarry stools. Page... + 10
  1. MedlinePlus. Black or tarry stools. Page accessed on November 2, 2022.
  2. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Understanding Minor Rectal Bleeding. Page accessed on November 2, 2022.
  3. MedlinePlus. Stools-pale or clay-colored. Page last updated on June 16, 2020.
  4. Cleveland Clinic. Adult Jaundice. Page last updated on July 23, 2018.
  5. Mayo Clinic. Narrow stools: Should I be concerned? Page last updated on July 2, 2022.
  6. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Constipation. Page accessed on November 2, 2022.
  7. Mayo Clinic. Diarrhea. Page last updated on August 18, 2021.
  8. The Mayo Clinic. Vasovagal syncope. February 19, 2021.
  9. National Cancer Institute. Anal Cancer Treatment (PDQ)–Patient Version. Updated October 27, 2021.
  10. Mayo Clinic. Anal cancer. August 12, 2021.
  11. American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Anal Cancer. Last revised September 9, 2020.
Written by Rose Hayes, MA, RN.
Medically reviewed by Megan Burke, MD.July, 2024
Updated onOctober, 2026
Written by Rose Hayes, MA, RN.
Medically reviewed by Megan Burke, MD.July, 2024
Updated onOctober, 2026
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