White or clay-like stool is caused by a lack of bile, which may indicate a serious underlying problem. Pale stool at times is an indicator of some potentially serious underlying medical condition, especially if it is white or clay in color. If there is decreased bile output, stool is much lighter in color. Pale or gray Stool that is pale or grey may be caused by insufficient bile output due to conditions such as cholecystitis, gallstones, giardia parasitic infection, hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis, or cirrhosis. Pale stool can be a sign of bile ducts obstruction. A reduction or absence of bile salts can cause the stool to become yellow or pale. Blood in stool may result from bleeding in the upper or lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract — and the color of the blood can help indicate its source.. Black, tarry stool. I think id worry more about the ulcer and bleeding now and try to stay off anti-diarrheal medicines and see if the color returns to normal after triple therapy. For example, white stool is a clear sign that there’s a health problem-Normally, stool varies from different shades of brown to even green or black. White stools in pets can be a symptom of excessive calcium, liver disease or tapeworms. 23 years experience Family Medicine. For these causes, the treatment for pale stool color is to remove the specific trigger, such as the particular food or medication. It could be anything from a vitamin B12 deficiency to a symptom of anemia.The same is true when your stool is a paler-than-normal color—it doesn’t usually happen randomly. Pale or white stool. A blockage of the bile ducts from gallstones or a condition affecting your gallbladder, liver, pancreas, or liver can cause decreased bile output. Stool that resembles clay or pale in color, may indicate a health issue affecting the biliary system in the body, such as a blockage of the bile ducts or another problem resulting in a lack of bile. However, there is a rainbow of dog poop colors out there, and veterinarians will use poop colors to … Cancer. Despite the infant looking well, they are a potential sign of serious liver disease. Pale stool can sometimes appear due to Mylanta chronic intake. Tumor can obstruct the bile duct leading to the formation of pale or white colored stool. Depending on the specific color and consistency of feces, pale-colored stools can indicate a large variety of health issues. However, pale stool is also a sign of bile ducts obstruction. Bile salts in the intestines give stool its characteristic brown color. I would recommend you to visit your gastroenterologist after 2 weeks if there is no pain at site of operation. 80% of these heme compound come from breakdown of red blood cells, but the other 20% are from different sources, containing heme. Stool gets its normal brownish color from bile, which is excreted into … Although the color of stool can be affected by different foods and medications, it is typically brownish due to digestion of bile salts, digestive agents made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. If your stool is: Bile salts from the liver give stool its brownish color. Dr. William Blahd on WebMD says that certain anti-diarrhea drugs can cause light or pale-colored stool. Its absolutely normal. The color of stools varies, but typically falls within the spectrum of brown color, depending on the foods you eat. If the bile duct is obstructed, the bile will build up in the liver, which gives stool a pale or white color. Considerations. Stool can turn from its usual brown color to a whitish-gray or light gray if there is not enough bile in your digestive system. Detailed Answer: Hello! Stool that is pale or grey may be caused by insufficient bile output due to conditions such as cholecystitis, gallstones, biliary dyskinesia, giardia parasitic infection, hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis, or cirrhosis. Other medical conditions like viral infections, digestive problems, or a parasite infection can also cause pale colored poop. Generally, pale stools mean that the body isn’t secreting enough bile to give it the characteristic brown color. Stool that is light-colored (either pale, white, grey, or clay-colored) could indicate a lack of bile in stool. As it passes through the intestines it changes from light to a dark brown color. It is the bile that is responsible in giving the stool its normal color. Bile pigments from the liver give stool its brownish color. Those are about the only two ways Ive ever seen that a stool could be pale in color. In most cases, if your stool is light colored, you could have a problem with the biliary system. Bile salts are released into your stools by your liver, giving the stools a brown color.As your gallbladder is removed your hepatobiliary system is disturbed, disturbing pigment breakdown and causing pale stools. The change of stool color to gray or clay typically occurs gradually as these medical conditions progress relatively slowly and stool becomes pale over time. Remember that the color of stool comes from bile. Pale stools are not common in the neonatal / early infancy period. pale color stool. Bile is a fluid your liver makes to digest fats. The normal color of stool is brown, but it may vary because of the diet you take. Of course, this reason for passing clay-colored feces is only temporary and your stool will return to normal color when you stop taking the medication. For example, pale yellow stools are often associated with internal parasites, infections, food intolerance or intestinal irritation. Grace Cary/Getty Images. The normal color of your dog’s poop should be close to a chocolate brown color. Having stool that is light colored or pale may not be normal. The cause could be found anywhere along the biliary system of our body but one of the most likely places for this to occur would be in our livers . You should be concerned if your stools are deep red, maroon, black, or "tarry," especially if they have a noticeable odor. If your skin is looking a bit pale (which can occur in people of any skin tone), there’s usually a reason. White Poop. Thank you for the query. A healthy stool is a medium to light brown in color, with an S-shape, soft and smooth, formed into one long shape, about 18 inches long and 1 or 2 inches in diameter, with a natural and not repulsive smell, with uniform texture, which also quietly and gently dives into the toilet water. Pale stools: Pale stools can come from different sources. The biliary system includes the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. This is more so in children and if they start having pale stools then they should be checked by a physician on an emergent basis. Yellow Stool Stool that is yellow may suggest the presence of undigested fat in the stool. The appearance of pale stools can include a variety of light colors or tints, such as white, silver, gray, light yellow, or putty-colored. Dark urine can also be a sign of biliary obstruction. A 50-year-old female asked: what causes pale color stools? It’s normal for your stool to change color. But yellow stool, sometimes called pale stool… The color is the result of what you eat and how much bile is in your stool. Extra Hepatic Biliary Atresia is a condition where the bile drainage from the liver is poorly developed or damaged. Keep it in the refrigerator until you leave. Pale stool is stool (feces) that is unusually light in color instead of medium to dark brown. So if the stool has changes a day after you took Mylanta, that's the most probable reason. This means that during the process of stool formation, bilirubin is not present therefore the stool lacks the typical brown color [1,4]. Some types of cancer may cause light or pale-colored stool as well as fatigue. The bile may not be draining properly. When there is an abnormality in the stool color, especially if it persists or is accompanied by other symptoms like diarrhea or abdominal pain, then it needs to be investigated further. A lack of bile in the stool could be caused by a problem with the bile duct, such as an obstruction. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. Sometimes, white or pale stool can be a side effect of some medications. When the digestive system is unable to properly absorb fats, stool may appear pale … This may mean that there is blood in the stool. The normal color of stool is brown, which is due to a substance called bilirubin, which is a substance found in bile. Mayo Clinic: “Dehydration,” “Diarrhea,” “Stool color: When to worry.” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases “Diarrhea,” “Treatment for Constipation.” If there is decreased bile output, stool is much lighter in color. Then the stool should change back to normal color. Gray stool can be caused by liver dysfunction Stool will appear gray or pale because of the absence of bile salts, an important component of the bile produced by your liver and gallbladder. Pancreatic cancer may cause the stool to become a light yellow color due to lack of digestive enzymes coming from the pancreas 3.This may also cause fatigue, as food is not fully digested and nutrients cannot be absorbed. Bilirubin metabolism Bilirubin is the breakdown product of heme compounds. What to Expect: Remove the cause of the unusual color from the diet. This article highlights some of the potential causes of pale stools and the different ways to treat them. Dr. Kevin Gardner answered. In some cases, change in stool color can be caused by medical conditions or medications. It starts out as a yellowish green color. Save a Sample: If the strange stool color doesn't go away, bring in a sample. However, white stool isn’t normal. Cancer – A white stool can be an indicator of a liver or pancreatic cancer. Very pale or gray stools may be a worrisome sign that the biliary system is not functioning properly. The pale color may signify a condition (biliary obstruction) where the flow of bile to the intestine is obstructed, such as obstruction of the bile duct from a tumor or gallstone in the duct or nearby pancreas. In order to understand why stool may appear pale to gray or even white in color, it is important to first understand why stool has a characteristic brown color. Pale Stool . The strange stool color should go away within 48 hours. Black or red When you pass a white, gray or pale stool, it might be an indication of liver or gallbladder problem. 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