Why is my dog having frequent small, soft poops but acting normal?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Diarrhea resolving can take a few days, so it is normal that it isn't as solid as normal. The straining however isn't normal. I would recommend checking to make sure around her anus looks ok (no bleeding or wounds), and if you can feel under her anus at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions, does it feel like hard marbles are under the skin. If this is the case she could have full anal glands which can be making her uncomfortable in her back end. This would require a vet visit to empty them before they burst. Otherwise, as long as she is eating/playing, I would just monitor her to see if the behaviour continues. If she is still straining tomorrow I would take Riley to the vet to make sure she isn't constipated, but it might just be a one-off episode. If her next poop is normal without straining then I wouldn't worry about it. Best of luck with Riley!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diarrhea can be observed with conditions such as colitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications for diarrhea depending on the results. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Hello. Probably not. Exercise can & will facilitate bowel movements, & the faster stool moves through the bowels, the less water is absorbed making the stools a little softer. This may be just normal for your pup. If anything changes, of course discuss this with your veterinarian, but if everything else is OK, I would not be too worried. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is possible that there is no more stool in the colon because the soft poop was the precursor to diarrhea. But the only way to differentiate an empty colon from a constipated colon is to have Buddy examined by a vet. A rectal exam is usually sufficient to tell the difference, and then the vet can recommend an appropriate treatment. https://www.petcoach.co/article/constipation-in-dogs-101-what-you-need-to-know/

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I suspect that what you describe could be actually liquid feces or if not it could be anal sac fluid which can be expressed excessively in cases of gastrointestinal issues. Soft stools can be observed with conditions such as colitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Blue evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications depending on the results. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not necessarily uncommon and sometimes we see this being transient. In this case, it will get better on its own. If it does not get better and becomes diarrhea entirely, then things like colitis for example would have to be considered. For this reason, I recommend that you monitor him for now. If no improvement is seen or it becomes diarrhea, I recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She may be constipated. You can start by trying to use something to try to relieve her if she has constipation. You could start giving her 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin with her meals which may help with cases of mild constipation. If that does not improve this, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment though it is likely that this will resolve. Good luck and have a great day!