It’s common for dogs to have to go as they’re done eating. In the ideal state, the time of the day should not influence what’s leaving their small stomachs. An upset stomach causes a range of things, which can include increased gastrointestinal motility.
In short, it comes out as either diarrhea or soft stool.
The stool can normally start as you begin your walk, just to turn more loose in consistency later on. Perhaps it’s even soft toward the end of the walk.
It’s not necessarily a bad sign. Fecal contents may not have had time to absorb water while sitting in the colon. As it sits there for longer, it ends up absorbing more water.
Watch out for your dog’s behavior. A happy dog eating, as usual, may not have any problems.
what treatment can I give my dog to harden his stool
It’s important you know that the first step is identifying what is causing the soft poop. However, it may be possible to treat it easily. At-home options are readily available as well as veterinarian options.
- Try out a good probiotic.
For a probiotic that is great and won’t break the bank, we recommend Nutri-Vet. It’s no secret that having a dog can be an expensive endeavor. You might as well save a little bit of money as long as the product is equally good.
The more expensive products aren’t any better than Nutri-Vet.
| Name | Nutri-Vet Pre and Probiotic Soft Chews |
| Flavor | Liver, Cheese |
| Manufacturer | Manna Pro LLC |
| Product Dimensions | 3.5 x 3.75 x 3.5 inches |
Pros
- It’s a product trusted by thousands.
- We gave it to a dog that loved it.
- We became believers after trying it.
Cons
- They’re a bit hard.
- Some dogs may not like them.
- Nutri-Vet is sometimes out of stock on Amazon.
- Adding organic canned pumpkin.
It’s important not to get pumpkin pie filling. Xylitol is toxic for dogs and can usually be found in pumpkin pie filling. Organic canned pumpkin is a great way to add fiber to your pet’s diet.
We recommend Native Pet Organic Pumpkin, which ensures your friend won’t get anything that’ll further upset his stomach.
| Name | Native Pet Organic Pumpkin |
| Flavor | Apple, Pumpkin |
| Item Form | Powder |
| Item Weight | 8 Ounces |
| Package Dimensions | 4.8 x 3.46 x 3.43 inches |
| Product Benefits | Antioxidant, Heart Health |
Pros
- It’s made specifically for your furry friend.
- It does what it’s advertised to do.
- It helped with GI symptoms.
- The dog loves it.
- It is worth the cost.
Cons
- It’s definitely more expensive than a normal pumpkin.
- You’ll never go back to the canned pumpkin after this.
- It’s not super cheap to use consistently.
- Find a bland food brand
Simpler food can help a dog’s stomach, especially if they’re prone to stomach issues. Boneless, cooked chicken breast is also an option. Lean-cooked hamburger meat is also good.
- Vet options
If you try out probiotics and fiber and it doesn’t help, it might be time to turn to the vet. At-home options are not always the solution, and diagnostic tests might be needed.
They’ll help determine the underlying cause to see if serious health issues are present and causing it. A PCR test can look at viral pathogens, bacteria, and parasites.
These are all the possible offenders causing soft stool in your dog. The treatment required will then depend on what the results of the diagnostics tests say.
Cost to Treat
Treating your dog’s soft stool will cost between $15 and several hundred dollars. It depends on the cause and what’s needed. If they simply need a probiotic, you can get it through the links above.
Your furry friend will be off running again in no time. Fecal tests can set you back $25 for the cheap ones, but specialized testing might be several hundred dollars.
On top of that, there’s the price of the medication. The length of time needed for treatment will greatly affect the overall cost associated.
Dietary indiscretion could require a fecal test, and dietary changes would be necessary. The cost of specialty service will vary depending on where you are in the country.
Here is generally what you can expect to pay for different services rendered.
| Abdominal x-ray | $200 |
| Abdominal ultrasound | $400 |
| Complete blood panel | $200 |
| Examination fees | $65 |
| In-house fecal test | $35 |
| PCR test | $35 |
| Urinalysis | $50 |
If you have pet health insurance, they might cover some of this treatment. Veterinary bills and diagnostics are often covered. While you want your pup to be healthy and never need medical care, health insurance can help shoulder the cost when you need it.
Sometimes bad things happen, and having a policy means you’re saving at the moment.
The poop is runny
After reading this, we hope it’s become more clear that your dog’s poop can be runny for several reasons. It’s not always a cause for concern but could indicate that they’re stressed or need fiber.
It happens every few weeks.
If you’ve tried some of the supplements we recommend, and fiber and probiotics aren’t helping, you should see a vet. Delaying necessary treatment is good for no one.
If your puppy has diarrhea but is still playful, we’d encourage you to try a fiber and probiotic supplement. If the issues persist, it might be time to see a vet.
When is it an emergency?
If you see the soft stool continuing or worsening over more than two days, it’s time to take action. Blood in the stool is a cause for concern, as is a dog that gets several of the following symptoms in combination:
- Vomiting
- Poor appetite
- Lethargy
- Changes to their mood
- Diarrhea
