How to help your dog firm up its stool

Soft stool is a common issue in dogs. In many cases, it is not serious and resolves quickly. However, if your dog struggles to produce solid stools, you may need to assist it. Paying attention to its diet and ensuring the dog's environment is stress-free could help firm up its stool.

Understand the difference between diarrhea and soft stool. There is a slight difference between diarrhea and soft stool. Soft stool is formed but can still be scooped into a waste container. Diarrhea contains more liquid, is often unformed, and can't be scooped. Diarrhea is often a sign of illness or the body expelling toxins from spoiled food. On the other hand, soft stool is usually not caused by infection or disease but may result from an inappropriate or low-quality diet, lack of fiber, or foods that your dog can't tolerate.

Understanding What to Do When Your Dog Has Diarrhea. When your dog experiences diarrhea, it is essential to monitor them closely. This means you should follow your dog outside to observe the nature of their abdominal discomfort. If the dog's stool contains blood, is very loose, or if the dog appears unwell, take them to the vet for a checkup.

• On the other hand, if the dog seems otherwise healthy but still has diarrhea, avoid feeding them for 24 hours but ensure they have access to fresh water. After a day of fasting, introduce a bland diet, such as boiled chicken and white rice (one-third chicken, two-thirds rice). Continue this for 2-3 days until their stool firms up. You can read the article How to Prepare Chicken Rice for Dogs for more details.
• If your dog has diarrhea for more than two days, it’s time to consult a vet.

Understanding Your Dog's Nutritional Needs. If your dog’s stool is soft, it’s important to improve the quality of their waste to make clean-up easier and ensure their health is maintained at an optimal level. A dog’s diet should include easily digestible protein and fiber to keep them healthy and promote normal bowel movements.

• A meat-based diet is ideal for dogs. While dogs can be fed either a meat or non-meat diet, they require a high amount of protein. A non-meat diet should include legumes, but these can cause bloating and softer stools. Therefore, if your dog is on a meat-free diet, consider switching to a high-quality meat-based diet.

Choosing a Balanced Diet. You don’t necessarily need to feed your dog a premium diet. For example, canned ground meat diets are often high in fat and minerals (like salt), making them appealing even to picky eaters (much like how chocolate is more tempting than a healthy bean salad – tasty and good for you, but not always the best choice). Therefore, aim for foods with meat as the main ingredient. The listed ingredients should be "real meat," not "meat-derived ingredients," "meat by-products," or "meat meal."

• Opt for lean meats like chicken, rabbit, or white fish. Look for products with fewer ingredients, as these tend to contain fewer processed elements and preservatives, and more natural ingredients that resemble real food.
• Choose carbohydrates from rice, wheat, oats, or barley, rather than from soybeans or soybean-based products.
• While price isn’t always an indicator of quality, be prepared to pay more for high-quality food, as these are typically made from better ingredients than heavily processed products with more grains.

Using a Lactose-Free Diet for Puppies. The only milk suitable for dogs is mother’s milk. For puppies that are still nursing, you can use Lactol mixed with water as a substitute. If a puppy is very young and has just transitioned to a milk substitute, consider choosing lactose-free food if they develop soft stools. Some puppies are born with a deficiency of the lactase enzyme, which helps break down lactose, the primary sugar in milk. Puppies with this enzyme deficiency cannot break down lactose into digestible sugars, and the undigested sugar draws water into the intestines, leading to loose stools.

Switching from Wet Food to Dry Food. Remember that wet food (canned or pouch-based) contains about 75% water, while dry food contains around 10% water. The higher moisture content in wet food results in wetter and more frequent stools. This has a significant impact on stool volume (decreased volume) and the amount of water in the stool (resulting in firmer and drier stools).

• Gradually introduce the new food to your dog. Take at least 4-5 days to slowly mix in the new food while reducing the old food. This approach allows the gut microbiota to adjust and aid digestion.
• A protein-rich diet, such as beef, chicken, and high-protein dog food, can also soften stools. The byproducts of protein digestion can draw water from the intestines.
• Dog food containing wheat or high levels of wheat can also contribute to softer stools.

Avoid Feeding Your Dog High-Fat Foods. Additionally, steer clear of easily spoiled fats for your dog. Avoid feeding them fast food or fried snacks. These products are often fried in palm oil, which is difficult to digest and prone to spoiling. Harmful fats can form a layer in the intestines, leading to loose stools.

Feed Your Dog a Bland Diet if Soft Stools Persist. A bland diet should include soft rice and lean pork or lamb. Feed your dog these foods for at least 5 days, then check if their stool has firmed up. Note that most commercially available dog foods designed to improve stool quality include rice, as it is low in protein, low in salt, and a very digestible starch.

• Dog foods that help firm up stools include: Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d, Royal Canin Intestinal, Eukanuba, Royal Canin Digestive Low Fat, and Hill's Science Diet.

Supplement with Probiotics for Your Dog. The intestines rely on beneficial bacteria to aid digestion. If your dog’s diet is poor and their soft stools have persisted for a while, harmful bacteria may overgrow, disrupting the natural balance of healthy gut flora. Supplementing with "good" bacteria can help restore balance, improve digestion, and firm up stools. The bacteria you need to add is called Enterococcus faecium, which is found in the over-the-counter probiotic powder Fortiflora. This probiotic is specifically designed for dogs and comes in packet form. Typically, you need to mix one packet into your dog’s food daily for 5 days.

• Keep in mind that the gut microbiota of dogs differs from humans, so giving them human probiotics won’t be effective. In the worst case, the lactose in human probiotics could cause diarrhea.
• You can purchase Fortiflora online or from your veterinarian.
• Generally, for large breed dogs, give at least one small bottle per day for 5 days; for small breed dogs, give half a bottle per day for 5 days.

Increase Fiber in Your Dog’s Diet. Boosting fiber in your dog’s diet can be beneficial for some dogs with soft stools. Fiber acts like a sponge, absorbing moisture and normalizing stool consistency. It helps firm up stools in cases of diarrhea and promotes healthier, more solid bowel movements. Fiber also helps reduce the risk of colon cancer and serves as a filler to keep dogs feeling fuller, helping to reduce calorie intake in overweight dogs.

• However, over-supplementing with fiber is not ideal, so be sure to check labels for foods that contain around 10% crude fiber.
• You can increase fiber by mixing oatmeal or wheat bran into your dog’s meals. Start by adding about 1 teaspoon per 10 kg of your dog’s weight.
• Additionally, you may want to consider fresh fruits and vegetables for your dog, but avoid canned vegetables, as they are often high in salt.

Always Ensure Clean Water for Your Dog. Dogs with soft stools lose more water due to the increased fluid content in their stool, so it’s essential to ensure that your dog has access to clean, fresh water to compensate for the fluid loss. Clean and wash your dog’s water bowl at least every two days and make sure there is always fresh, cool water available for them.

Avoid Stress-Inducing Activities for Your Dog. If your dog gets stressed during bath time, it may be helpful to postpone their bath for a few days and see if their stool firms up. For some dogs, stress is closely linked to digestive issues. In such cases, reducing stress can help improve stool consistency.

• Stress can alter the pH balance in the intestines, making it more alkaline, which disrupts the natural digestive process that benefits from an acidic environment for gut flora.
• In these instances, feeding your dog a bland, easily digestible diet, such as chicken and rice, can help reduce the frequency of stool passage.

Take Your Dog to the Veterinarian if Soft Stools Persist. Many cases of soft stools can be resolved by altering the dog’s diet. However, soft stools may also indicate other underlying health problems. If your dog continues to have soft stools despite dietary changes, it is best to take them to the vet for an examination.