Help My Dog’s Poop is Runny!
Chances are your dog has runny poop right now and you are trying to find out what’s wrong. Dealing with runny poop is well… a sh*tty situation.
That is why I will cover why your dog’s stool is runny, why fiber is important, and suggestions for high-fiber foods that replace or supplement your dog’s food.
Reasons Your Dog Has Runny Stool
There are multiple reasons why your dog’s stool might be runny. Before switching or supplementing his/her food, check the following:
Did you dog eat something, he/she should not have eaten? That could include any new treats that were introduced to the diet. Maybe your dog ate something from the table that caused an upset stomach. Or anything uncommon he/she snitched from the side of the road during your walk. Maybe your dog swallowed a piece of that new toy you bought him/her?
Was he/she very stressed throughout the day? Stress can cause diarrhea in dogs and might be the reason for runny poop.
Did you switch his/her food recently? Switching your dog too quickly from one food brand to another might cause diarrhea.
Has this happened more and more recently? Was this a one time thing or has this been happening more often lately? If you dog has constantly excessive diarrhea, go see a veterinary immediately.
Does your dog eat a lot of grass? If your dog is eating a lot of grass, he/she might lack micronutrients or fiber in his/her diet. Check out my article about why your dog eats grass here.
Does your dog have any allergies you know of? My dog had troubles with his poop consistency for weeks until I found out he has a chicken allergy. Check out my article about chicken allergies here.
If you answered any of these questions with YES, then this might be the reason your dog has runny poop. Have a close eye on your dog to see if the diarrhea continues!
Many digestion problems in dogs are caused by poor quality dog food. A lot of food brands use fillers or low quality ingredients. Consider switching to different dog food if you suspect that your dog food might be causing diarrhea (see below).
It is also important to make sure that your dog is on worm medication. Tapeworms, ringworms or other worms can make your dogs’ stool runny. Definitely take your dog to the veterinary to test him/her for worms, in case he is not taking any medication for it already.
Fiber for Runny Stools?
Fiber is great for intestinal health and will help with digestion problems. It helps to absorb water into the intestines which helps with any inconsistencies in your dog’s stool.
Typically dog food contains between 2% and 5% of fiber. Dog food is considered high-fiber if the fiber content is between 5% and 12%. If your dog’s stool is runny, you might want to consider switching your dog to a high-fiber diet. Always talk to your veterinary if you are unsure about your dog’s diet. Below you can find two ways to add fiber to your dog’s diet. Either you supplement your dog’s food or you switch your dog to food with higher fiber content.
High-Fiber Options - Supplementing Dog Food
1. Carrots:
My dog LOVES carrots! They are healthy and an easy treat to give out. A medium size carrot has about 2g of fiber.
2. Pumpkin seeds:
You can give your dog (roasted, not raw) peeled, unsalted pumpkin seeds to supplement his food. One tbsp of pumpkin seeds contains about 1g of fiber
3. Flaxseed:
Mix 1 tsp (for small breeds) or 1 tbsp (for larger breeds) of grounded flaxseeds with water and mix it with your dog’s dry kibble. One tablespoon of flaxseed has about 3g of fiber.
4. High-Fiber Treats:
If your dog lovers treats, this option is for you! I found that these Probiotic + Digestion Treats have the best price vs. quality ratio. You’ll get probiotics (which are good for the gut) with a mix of pumpkin, flaxseed and papaya.
There are many options for high fiber foods, test around to see what your dog likes.
High-Fiber Options - Switching to a High-Fiber Dry Kibble
Whenever you would look up high-fiber dog food, many times brands appear that only have 3.5-4% fiber content. Always check the label to make sure whatever you are buying actually has high fiber contents. High-Fiber diets can get really expensive (more than $5/lbs), which is why I have looked up more affordable options with the same dietary benefits. I have done some research for you to save you some time on reading labels.
The following options have a fiber content greater than 5% but are still affordable:
Rachael Ray Nutrish
Brown Rice & Venison Recipe with 6% fiber content.
Blue Buffalo
Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe with 10% fiber content.
Solid Gold
Chicken, Sweet Potato & Green Bean with 10% fiber content.
Dealing with a runny stool is no fun. That’s why fiber is such an important part of your dog’s diet. It helps regulate your dog’s stool and is great for your pups overall health. Remember that every dog is different and if you are not sure about your dog’s diet, always consult your veterinary.
Happy munching!
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