My GSD puppy's poop is dry and powdery. Could his diet be why?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Cesar. This is not a normal consistency of feces. The stool should be formed and solid. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian for fecal testing. An infection should be ruled out. A diet change can help to improve stool quality if those tests are negative. Finally, there is a condition known as Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) that is common in his breed. I recommend discussing these possibilities with his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Personally the color doesn't bother me but the consistency does. That is diarrhea. It is too soft and not formed. I would go back to the Royal Canin food as it sounds like he digests that one better. Be sure though that he has had his stool tested for intestinal parasites and is up to date on his DHPP vaccines. Good luck!

Chronic diarrhea can be a frustrating issue! In a young German Shepherd, my main concerns for Charlie are that he may have intestinal parasites, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or inflammatory bowel disease. If he has not recently had a stool sample checked for parasites, this is a good starting point. If no parasites are seen, consider discussing blood work (CBC, chemistry, B12, TLI, folate) and an abdominal ultrasound to try to get to the bottom of this situation. Probiotics (Fortiflora and Proviable are two brands) may be beneficial. I hope that all goes well!

This sounds more like a gastrointestinal problem to me. I recommend switching to a bland diet like Hills prescription i/d or sensitive stomach. Check a fecal also for parasites. GSD also get pancreatic insufficiency that can have similar symptoms and that is treated with an enzyme supplement. I recommend a second opinion with another veterinarian before consulting a neurosurgeon. In the meantime if you apply a thin film of Vaseline to the fur around the rectum and down the legs the diarrhea won’t stick to the fur and she will stay cleaner. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kelly.

This is not normal. I would have your vet recheck his stool to ensure all the coccidia is gone and no other parasites are present. I would also consider having him checked for giardia. Also, make sure he is on a high quality puppy food like science diet or royal canin. Some of these more expensive, “high protein, grain trees” food can be too rich for them. At his age he really only needs dry kibble. Canned food and milk can also cause an upset stomach and be too rich for him. Finally make sure he isn’t getting into anything like eating dirt, bugs, etc as these things can also cause diarrhea. He may need a probiotic to help balance his normal bacteria. I would talk to your vet about a good suggestion for his age and weight and current health. I hope this helps!

She may have eaten something she shouldn't have, it could be infection or possibly intestinal parasites. You can submit a stool sample to your vet to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. In the meantime, withhold food for 12 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet in small, frequent amounts until the stool is normal before transitioning slowly to Jedda's regular diet. See your vet if Jedda becomes lethargic, begins vomiting, loses her appetite or exhibits signs of abdominal pain. A bland diet can be plain white rice mixed with one of the following: cottage cheese, boneless/skinless chicken breast, cooked/drained ground turkey or cooked/drained ground beef.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. I would recommend switching to a different food altogether like Science Diet or switch to a different puppy formula of Royal Canin that has less fiber. You can also try adding in a probiotic such as Purina Fortiflora to see if this helps normalize his bowel movements. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please remember to rate this answer as helpful or not. Thank you!