How do I make my dog’s poop softer? Simple and Effective Tips

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Learning About Your Dog’s Digestion

  • Question None of the suggestions in the article are working. What should I do? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer Dogs can have a soft stool for a number of reasons. The article focuses on the causes you can control at home such as diet, fiber content, and food intolerance. However, if a dog has a health problem such as bacterial overgrowth in the bowel, a deficiency of digestive enzymes, inflammatory bowel disease, or even bowel cancer, then this requires specific pharmaceutical intervention and the dog should see a vet.
  • Question My dog had Giardia but is now free from it. Her stools were firm, but a week later have become soft again. Should I repeat another round of Safeguard? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer Giardia can stick to the dogs coat, bedding, or carpets, so the dog may have accidentally reinfected herself. Provided she is otherwise well, then another course of Safeguard is a good idea. But in order to prevent reinfection occurring again, bathe the dog, wash the bedding, and steam clean all soft furnishings.

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    Soft Dog Poop: An Overview

    How do I make my dog’s poop softer?

    Soft stool in general is defined as feces that are not fully formed, or that is soft in consistency and cannot be easily picked up. Soft stool—which sometimes looks like soft-serve ice cream in consistency—can progress to diarrhea, which can be serious, says Dr. Ashley Rossman of Glen Oak Dog and Cat Hospital in Glenview, Illinois.

    Avoid Fatty Foods

    Decrease fat content from commercial foods or any other sources.

    Don’t feed your dog high-fat foods (snacks or home diet), especially fats that become rancid easily.

    If youre cooking for a dog, note that foods fried in oil, particularly palm oil, are hard to digest and they can form a layer in your dog’s intestine that leads to watery or soft stools.

    SOFT POOP IN DOGS (Causes and What to Do)

    If your dogs poo is too soft, making it difficult to pick up easily, these six tips can help firm it up and make clean up a cinch.

    The number one reason why a dogs poo is too soft is that they are being overfed. Soft poo is a very common sign of a dog who is getting too much food. Check their weight and ensure the amount your dog is actually having is suitable for their size and that it is weighed out accurately. If you are giving treats or chews, stop this until you have firmed up their poo or reduce their daily food allowance to compensate for the treat. If you are feeding dental sticks, count these as treats and also keep an eye on any scraps your dog might be getting from other family members!

    Feeding a dog induces the gastrocolic reflex which makes them want to go to the toilet shortly after eating (this is particularly demonstrated in puppies). If your dog is an adult and you are feeding them three times a day try dropping it to two, this way the food is in your dogs digestive system longer and has time to fully digest before the next meal arrives. Puppies will need to be fed more frequently because their stomachs are small, check that their meal spacing is allowing enough time for the food to be digested.

    On average a dog needs around 6 hours to fully digest a meal, longer in others. Obviously your dogs feeding schedule will need to fit in around you but meals too close together may cause the gastrocolic reflex to start when the food isnt fully digested. Feeding your dog in the morning then again at tea time allows enough time between meals for the food to fully digest. Make sure there are at least 6 hours between meals and if you have checked the amount is right and no treats are being given try leaving 7-8 hours.

    If you know your dog is partial to eating things it shouldnt, keep them close by when walking. Dogs can be attracted to many disgusting things to eat including other animals poo, dead animals and discarded human food. This is likely to upset their stomach and cause loose stools.

    If you have checked the feeding amount is correct, cut out treats and spaced the meals and your dog is still producing soft poo the addition of just a couple of tablespoons of cooked carrot, sweet potato or squash to their meal can work wonders in firming up their poo. It should be a pretty quick change too. Use cooked veg, not raw, as this makes them more effective at absorbing extra water. Your dog will be producing firm poo in no time.

    Sometime the reason your dog produces a soft poo may not be related to what they have eaten. Stress or over-excitement may trigger your dog to go to the toilet producing soft stools. Make a mental note of what your dog was doing just before producing the loose poo and see if you can spot a pattern. Knowing what is the trigger can help you avoid these situations and ultimately the loose poops!

    Over exercise can also trigger the bowel to empty before it is ready. If your dog suffers from loose stools after an exciting ball session you may need to cut it back to less vigorous exercise.

    If your dogs poo suddenly changes and you have not changed any other element of their routine, it may be a one-off but if it doesnt return to normal in a day or so it is worth getting them checked for intestinal parasites at the vets.

    Finally – You could try Wolfworthy. Wolfworthy is based on the diet dogs evolved to eat and has many of the health benefits of a raw food diet such as smaller firmer poos.

    Also, Wolfworthy is rated one of the best British dry dog foods by AllAboutDogFood.co.uk and featured in DogsToday magazine as one of the UK’s best dog foods.

    If you have any other questions our Help page is packed full of information on our food