How To Firm Up Dog Poop (10 Tips For Healthy Bowel Movement)

If your furry friend’s poop has been loose lately, you’re probably searching for ways on how to firm up dog poop. However, before you experiment on some home remedies, it is important to first find out the if it’s just a regular loose dog poop or a case of diarrhea that needs veterinary attention. After the diagnosis, the vet will most likely prescribe some treatments or advise dietary changes such as incorporating fiber and probiotics to your dog’s diet.

The good news is that you’ve come to the right place because I’m sharing a few tips on this topic. Discover the causes of soft stools in dogs, the difference between loose stools and diarrhea, and how to firm up dog poop. 

What Causes Soft Stools In Dogs? 

If your dog has soft stools, you may be spending a lot of time figuring out what’s causing them. 

There are many reasons why a dog can suffer from loose stools. The following are the most common causes of loose dog stool. 

Poor Diet: One of the most common causes of loose stools in dogs is a poor diet. If a dog consumes a lot of fatty foods and does not have enough fiber, it will probably experience loose stools at some point. 

Diet Changes: When a dog owners introduce new foods into their dog’s regimen, it may affect the dog’s bowel movements. Most dogs will get used to the new food eventually after having a few incidents of soft stools. 

Allergies: If a dog is allergic or sensitive to certain ingredients, it may suffer from loose stools. Many dogs are allergic to dairy and certain meats. Observe the symptoms your dog shows or get him to the vet to know if he has food allergies.

Medical Conditions: Dogs who suffer from medical conditions like colitis and kidney disease may be prone to loose stools. 

Infections: Viral and bacterial infections can cause dogs to have soft stools.  

Stressful Situations: For some pups, stress can cause them to suffer from soft stools. The following situations can cause a dog to become stressed: Moving to a new environment, getting a bath, meeting new people and pets, and adjusting to schedule changes. 

Does Your Dog Have Soft Stools Or Diarrhea? 

When your dog has loose stools, you may wonder if your furry friend has diarrhea. How can you tell the difference? 

As a general rule, loose stools are usually chunky whereas diarrhea tends to be more liquid-like. 

If your dog is experiencing diarrhea, it may be a sign of an immediate health problem. You should take your dog to the vet if diarrhea doesn’t stop in a couple of days. 

What Should Healthy Pup Poop Look Like? 

According to many experts, healthy pup poop should be brown and compact. 

If your dog’s poop is green, red, black, yellow, or another unusual color, it’s generally a sign of a much bigger problem. 

Make sure to contact a vet immediately if your dog’s poop isn’t brown. For further information, check out this unhealthy dog poop chart.

How To Firm Up Dog Poop 

When your dog is experiencing soft stools, you may not know what to do. Should you change your dog’s diet? What about making sure your dog stays hydrated? Check out how you can significantly improve your dog’s soft stools. 

Step 1: Determine The Cause Of Your Dog’s Loose Stools 

The first thing that you should do is try to determine why your dog’s stool has been loose. 

Does your dog have loose stools after eating certain foods? Has your dog experienced a stressful situation recently? 

One great way to identify the cause of your dog’s loose stools is to keep a dog food diary. At the end of every day, write down what you fed your dog and note any of its symptoms. 

Once you know the cause of your furry friend’s loose stools, you will then be able to prevent them from occurring. If you’re unable to identify the cause of your dog’s soft stools, you can always call a vet for help. 

Step 2: Experiment With Dry Food 

Do you normally give Fido canned wet dog food? Wet food usually contains a lot of water, which can cause loose stools in dogs. 

You may want to consider switching to dry food. Since dry dog foods have doesn’t contain that much water, they could harden your dog’s stools. Check out our reviews on the best dog food.

The best dry dog foods should contain ingredients such as wheat, rice, and oat. These ingredients can improve your dog’s loose stools. There is a wide variety of top-quality, best cheap dog food at the local pet or grocery store. 

Step 3: Incorporate Fiber To Your Dog’s Diet

Most of us already know that fiber intake can play a huge in regulating our bowel movements, and it’s crucial for your furry friend’s diet too.  

The problem is that dog food typically only contains 3 percent fiber, so you’ll probably have to give your dog a fiber supplement. These specific supplements can be found online or at your local pet store. Be sure to talk with a vet before giving your dog a fiber supplement. 

If you don’t want to give your dog a fiber supplement, you can include raw fruits and vegetables into its diet. While raw fruits and veggies are always a great addition to your dog’s regimen because they are high-fiber foods for dogs, canned pumpkin is a good option too as long as it is not flavored or seasoned. 

Canned pumpkin may be able to relieve your dog’s upset stomach and get rid of soft stool. 

You can even make your own homemade dog food that’s rich in fiber. There are many online recipes to help you create the perfect high-fiber dog food for your furry friend. 

When you add fiber to your pet’s diet on a consistent basis, it will probably have firmer stools in no time. 

Step 4: Give Your Furry Friend Probiotics 

The best probiotics for dogs have been shown to help dogs’ digestion by adding good bacteria to their gut. 

In order to keep your dog’s digestive health in check, try supplementing its diet with probiotics to keep the balance of good and bad bacteria in your dog’s gut. Just make sure to give dog-friendly probiotics.

Please note: You shouldn’t give your dog human probiotics. Since a dog’s stomach and digestive enzymes are different than ours, human probiotics can significantly harm your dog. There’s a good chance that your dog will experience diarrhea if it consumes human probiotics. Talk with a vet if you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s digestive system and giving probiotics. 

Step 5: Offer Your Dog White Rice And Boiled Chicken 

Does your dog like white rice and boiled chicken?

Many pet owners feed their dog boiled chicken and white rice because these foods are really easy for them to digest. 

These foods may be able to get rid of your dog’s soft stool. Rice water for dogs is also a great remedy for diarrhea

Step 6: Substitute Dog Dairy Products With Alternatives 

Many pups can’t eat dairy products without getting the runs. If you suspect that your dog is sensitive to dairy products, you’ll want to feed it dairy alternatives. 

A few great alternatives to dairy include legumes, nuts, cereal, and avocado [1]. Be sure to get dog food and dog treats with these safe, non-dairy ingredients. 

Step 7: Avoid Feeding Your Dog Fatty Foods 

Foods that are high in fat are often difficult for most dogs to ingest. 

When dogs consume fatty food, they’re likely to have loose stools. 

As a result, you shouldn’t give your dog fatty foods, so you should avoid it.

Step 8: Make Sure Your Dog Drinks Lots Of Water 

As you’re trying to firm up your dog’s soft stool, provide fresh water for your furry friend throughout the day. 

Most pups who suffer from loose stool become dehydrated extremely easily, so it’s important to give your dog lots of water to replenish lost fluids. 

Step 9: Create A Stress-Free Environment  

Similar to humans, our furry friends can suffer from digestive issues when they’re stressed, which affects normal bowel movements.

I think your dog’s loose stools are caused by stress, you should create a stress-free environment for your furry friend. 

Be sure to avoid doing activities that stress your dog out and remove any triggers from your home. 

Step 10: Schedule An Appointment With A Vet 

If you aren’t having any luck with these tips, you should contact a vet as soon as possible. Your dog’s stool could be a sign of an underlying condition. 

During the visit, the vet will probably take a stool sample to determine whether or not your furry friend is suffering from an underlying condition. 

While loose stools in dogs isn’t usually a sign of an underlying condition, your dog may experience some pain and discomfort. Be sure to let the vet know if your dog is experiencing pain and discomfort from the loose stools. A vet may be able to prescribe your dog some medication to relieve these symptoms. 

Conclusion

When it comes to loose stools in dogs, it’s not usually a serious problem. In most cases, you should be able to improve your dog’s stool with a few simple steps. 

The best way to firm up your dog’s stool is through its diet. Your dog should have a high-quality diet that includes protein and fiber. You can also incorporate probiotics into your dog’s diet. Avoid feeding your furry friend fatty foods and dairy products. You may want to try a fresh dog food meal plan tailored to your dog’s nutritional needs – in fact, there’s even a company called Tailored that specializes in this.

As you are hardening your dog’s stool, don’t forget to give it lots of water. By doing so, you will keep your furry friend from becoming dehydrated. 

If your dog’s loose stools persist after changing its diet, you should visit a vet sooner rather than later. A vet can perform a number of tests to determine what’s causing your dog’s loose stools. 

You should also contact a vet if your dog is experiencing diarrhea or its poop isn’t brown. A vet will be able to let you know what’s wrong with your pup. 

FAQ

1. Why is my dog pooping so much? 

A dog’s regimen often causes it to poop a lot. If you suddenly introduce a new food into your dog’s regimen, it could start pooping more than usual. 

Your dog’s increase in poop could also be due to eating too much, environmental changes, stress/depression, medical condition, or bacteria. 

If your dog experiences an increase in poop for several days, you should get in touch with a vet as soon as possible. For some pups, an underlying condition could be causing them to poop a lot. 

2. What can I give my dog to harden his stools? 

If your dog is experiencing loose stools, you’ll want to focus on its diet. 

Instead of feeding your dog wet food, consider giving it dry food instead. You should also ensure that your dog’s food is rich in fiber by giving it vegetables, fruit, and canned pumpkin. 

If your dog isn’t a picky eater, try incorporating white rice and boiled chicken into its diet. Lastly, probiotics are a great addition to your dog’s regimen to add beneficial bacterial to its gut.