My dog's stool is firm on grain-free food. How to make it softer?

This doesn't really sound like an issue to me - dogs can sometimes change their behavior patterns when it comes to the frequency of defecation and it doesn't usually mean there's a problem as long as the stool appears normal. It is also quite common for the first stool to be normal and subsequent stools softer, particularly if the dog is exercising. As long as Oakley has a good appetite, is not losing weight, and does not have blood or mucous in his stool you probably don't need to be concerned.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would NOT switch to grain free as these diets are being linked to heart disease in some dogs. Also, this will not help soften the stool. If you are worried about Deebo’s stool, you can add more water to his diet either to his food or with canned food. Or you can add 1-2 tbsp of canned (plain) pumpkin to his diet 1-2 times daily. Good luck and kisses to Deebo!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jackson. Dogs will normal defecate two to three times per day. Four to five times per day is likely abnormal meaning this particular diet is not agreeing with him. In addition, grain free diets are high in carbohydrates and can lead to weight gain. I would gradually transition him to a new formula over the course of seven days. Then keep track of his bowel movements to see if you are making progress. You can consider a large breed formula or one labeled for sensitive stomachs to start. If you are not making progress, then I would try a prescription low fat diet. I hope this information helps!

Hello, and thanks for your question. Yes, the slightly less firm stool can still be normal, and often stools will get progressively less firm when dogs defecate multiple times in succession on a walk or playing out in the yard. If it is getting notably looser to the point of diarrhea, then Max should be seen by a vet. But your description sounds completely normal! Hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Beuno. Stool problems in young dogs are most commonly caused by parasites or diet. I recommend having his veterinarian perform in depth stool testing to assess for parasites or other causes of gastrointestinal infections. If there is nothing found, then you may need to consider a diet change. I would recommend a prescription gastrointestinal diet that is formulated for use in puppies such as Purina Veterinary Diet EN. This is a highly digestible diet and many times can resolve the symptoms. You need to be careful with grain free diets as some have been associated with heart disease. They also tend to be quite high in carbohydrates which can lead to weight gain over time. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You can make sure that there is enough fiber in his diet. You can add canned pumpkin to add fiber to his diet which may help firm up his stools. You can add 1 tablespoon of canned pumpkin to his meals. You can also add probiotics such as Fortiflora. Best of luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That is a lot of stool! If the stool isn't diarrhea and is formed then I would blame the digestibility of the food you are feeding and would change brands of food. Individual dogs can digest the same food differently. I wish you the best!