A pet parent was overheard asking a pet shop owner whether her choice of food was making a difference in the health of her dog. How, she pondered, could she gauge the health benefits of her pooch's intake?

Dr. Edward Moser, a consulting veterinary nutritionist to Wellness, believes there's no better way to evaluate what goes into your pet than by inspecting what comes out. Typically, the consistency, volume, color and odor of pets' fecal matter reveal a great deal about whether they are eating right and effectively utilizing - digesting - the food's beneficial components. A poorly formed voluminous stool can be a sign of overfeeding, feeding a poorly digestible diet (i.e. poor quality or high fiber), or maldigestion. Consult with your veterinarian for help with a diagnosis to the problem, and always take a stool sample to your pet's wellness visit. And that, friends, is the straight poop from Dr. Moser.

Dr. Edward Moser holds diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, and advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (where he is an adjunct assistant professor Veterinary Nutrition) and The Ohio State University.