If your dog is dealing with soft or runny stools, it can be frustrating to clean up. It’s also never pleasant to see our furry friends suffering, so if your dog happens to be experiencing diarrhea, you’re probably wondering what you can do to help them.
In dogs, loose stools can happen for a few different reasons — like diet changes, stress, or even underlying health issues. In this article, we’ll talk about the best ways to firm up your dog’s poop, so stick around!
We’ll also review some of the best dog foods and supplement options for firming up dog poop that Under the Weather has to offer. Let’s get started!
Why Your Dog Might Have Soft Stools
If you’re going to solve this problem and help your pup, you’ll want to first understand why your dog is having soft stools in the first place. Here are a few common reasons why dogs experience diarrhea:
Dietary Indiscretion
This means your dog ate something they shouldn't have, like spoiled food or random things they found on the ground during a walk.
Sudden Diet Changes
If you’ve recently switched your dog’s food, it could potentially disrupt their gut bacteria and cause loose stools.
Food Allergies or Intolerances
Certain ingredients in your dog’s food might not agree with their stomach.
Infections
Bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections can also lead to diarrhea or soft stools in dogs.
Medications
Some medications, like antibiotics, can throw off your dog’s digestive balance and cause diarrhea.
Stress
Changes in their environment, like moving to a new city or even having guests over, can stress your dog out and affect their digestive health.
Underlying Health Issues
Chronic conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) can cause dogs to experience soft stools.
Simple Solutions for Firming Up Dog Poop
To help firm up your dog’s stools, Under the Weather’s Anti-Diarrhea Bundle for Dogs includes some great products that specifically target digestive issues. Let’s take a closer look at some of these products below:
Anti-Diarrhea Liquid
This veterinarian-formulated liquid works fast to firm up stools and calm your dog’s upset stomach. It contains kaolin and pectin, which absorb bacteria and toxins from your dog’s intestines. This helps reduce gas, diarrhea, and any cramping your dog might be experiencing.
This product will firm up your dog’s stools quickly, and is super easy to use. If your dog has diarrhea, it can be a real life-saver since you can use it right away to help your dog feel better. Sometimes, diarrhea episodes happen without warning, so this is quite convenient.
Bland Diets
When your dog is experiencing tummy troubles, a bland diet is usually recommended to help their gut heal. Under the Weather’s Bland Diets are freeze-dried, which makes them easy to prepare in emergency situations.
These bland diets also contain important electrolytes like potassium and sodium, which should help with rehydration and improve your dog’s energy levels. Here’s a breakdown of why Under the Weather’s bland diet dog food works so well:
- Human-grade ingredients, meaning it’s safe and high-quality
- Freeze-dried for easy prep
- Helps with hydration thanks to added electrolytes
Probiotic Powder for Dogs
Under the Weather’s Probiotic Powder for Dogs can help restore the balance of bacteria in your dog’s intestines. This powder includes beneficial bacteria (along with pumpkin and ginger) to soothe your dog’s stomach. Here’s how Under the Weather’s Probiotic Powder for Dogs can help:
- Helps firm up stools by improving gut bacteria
- Contains pumpkin and ginger to reduce digestive discomfort
- Easy to sprinkle onto your dog’s food daily (if necessary)
Natural Ways to Firm Up Your Dog’s Stools
If you’re looking for natural options to help firm up your dog’s stools, you’re in luck. There are several plant-based ingredients that you can mix into your dog’s food to help firm up their stools. Just make sure to ask your vet before doing so.
Fiber-Rich Foods
Fiber helps absorb water and adds bulk to your dog’s stool, making it firmer. Try these options:
- Pumpkin: Pumpkin is high in soluble fiber, which can absorb excess water and solidify stool
- Sweet potatoes: Another fiber-rich option that helps support gut health
- Oats: Oats provide both soluble and insoluble fiber, which will help keep your dog’s digestive system balanced
- Carrots: A high-fiber vegetable that can be given to dogs raw or cooked
- Psyllium husk: Psyllium husk is great for absorbing water and firming up stools
Easy-to-Digest Plant Proteins
Gentle proteins are also super important for dogs that are dealing with digestive issues. Some good plant-based proteins to mix into your dog’s food include:
- Peas: Peas are easy to digest and provide a good source of protein
- Lentils and chickpeas: High in both protein and fiber, these legumes help with digestion
- Quinoa: A complete protein that’s gentle on the digestive system
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Probiotics add healthy bacteria to your dog’s gut, while prebiotics help feed those bacteria. Both are extremely important for a balanced gut.
Why It’s Important for Your Dog to Eat a Balanced Diet and Stay Hydrated
You eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water in order to stay healthy, right? Your dog needs to do the same thing in order to maintain their digestive health. Most dogs have sensitive stomachs, and need a good mix of protein, fiber, healthy fats, and essential nutrients to support their digestion. Let’s break it down below:
Complete and Balanced Diet
Make sure that your dog’s food contains all of the necessary nutrients they need, including proteins, fibers, and healthy fats. Under the Weather’s bland diet dog food is a great choice because it’s formulated to contain plenty of these ingredients.
Hydration
Proper hydration is just as important as eating a balanced diet. Water helps break down food and absorb nutrients. It also ensures your dog’s stools are nice and firm. Make sure that your dog has access to fresh water at all times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Dog’s Poop Runny?
Runny poop in dogs can happen for several reasons, such as eating spoiled or inappropriate food, a sudden change in their diet, infections, food allergies, stress, or health problems. It can also be a side effect of certain medications.
How Can I Stop My Dog’s Loose Stools?
To help your dog with loose stools, you can slowly add more fiber to their diet, make sure they’re eating balanced meals, and consider giving them probiotics and prebiotics. Avoid changing their food too quickly, and if the problem persists, talk to your vet.
Why Is My Dog’s Poop Soft but Still Shaped?
When your dog’s poop is soft but still holds its shape, it could mean they have mild digestive problems (or they’re eating foods with a lot of soluble fiber). It could also happen if they’re adjusting to new food.
Should Dog Poop Be Hard or Soft?
Healthy dog poop should be firm, log-shaped, and easy to pick up. If it’s too hard, it might mean your dog is dehydrated or constipated, while poop that’s too soft can suggest that digestive issues are happening.
What Foods Can Help Firm Up Dog Poop?
To firm up your dog’s poop, you can try feeding them foods like pumpkin, sweet potatoes, oats, brown rice, and carrots. These foods are rich in fiber, which helps absorb water and add bulk to the stool.
How Can I Make My Dog’s Poop More Solid?
You can help solidify your dog’s poop by feeding them fiber-rich foods like pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Make sure their diet is balanced and includes easily digestible proteins and carbs, along with probiotics and prebiotics.
Does Rice Firm Up Dog Stool?
Yes, rice, especially white rice, can help firm up your dog’s stool. It’s easy to digest and absorbs water, which helps make the stool more solid.
Do Carrots Help Firm Up Dog Poop?
Yes, carrots can help firm up dog poop because they are packed with fiber, which absorbs water and adds bulk to the stool.
How Can I Firm Up My Dog’s Poop Naturally?
To firm up your dog’s poop naturally, you can add high-fiber foods like pumpkin and sweet potatoes to their meals. Make sure they have access to plenty of water, too, because dehydration can cause diarrhea.
Conclusion
If you’ve tried everything to firm up your dog’s stool and they’re still having diarrhea, you may want to take them to the vet. In fact, if your dog is experiencing diarrhea for longer than 24 hours, you should take them to the vet anyway.
Firming up your dog’s stool is all about figuring out the cause and taking the right steps to support their digestive health. Adding fiber-rich foods, probiotics, and prebiotics to their diet, along with making sure that they stay hydrated, can make a big difference in improving stool consistency.
For a convenient and reliable solution, we’d recommend Under the Weather’s Anti-Diarrhea Bundle for Dogs. It includes everything from Anti-Diarrhea Liquid to bland diet dog food, and Probiotic Powder.
