My dog poops less on low-fat food. Is this normal after illness?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Romeo has good appetite and regular bowel movements, most likely there is nothing to worry about. His stool size should get back to normal soon. If you see your vet tomorrow, please make sure that he/she fully examines Romeo to ensure everything is OK.

Yes, this can be normal after extended episodes of diarrhea. The bland diet is highly digestible and will produce less stool than the regular diet. Once the stool is normal and the slow transition to his regular diet progresses, you should see his bathroom habits return to normal.

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Romeo. Constipation is an extreme form of constipation. This occurs when the dog is not able to pass any feces at all. Based on your description, this does not currently seem to be his problem. However, you do not want this to occur. Feeding more moisture such as canned food or warm water over the dry kibble can help to soften stool. You can try a low dose of his lactulose, but beware that it can cause diarrhea. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Romeo. You can see a period of not pooping after having diarrhea, so this can be normal. I wouldn't be too worried about it as he's otherwise normal. I would take him for a couple of walks a day, as this can stimulate pooping, and make sure he drinks plenty of water. I hope this helps!

Lots of food means lots of poop. Since his feces appear to be normal the frequency likely is caused by the amount of food. Once you are at the point where you feed a normal amount of food to maintain his weight, the frequency should get less.

If Romeo has had recent excessive stool production, it may be normal to have less for a day or two. It's fine for a dog to go a day without pooping, especially with that history. If he begins to strain unproductively, become painful, uninterested in food, or vomiting, contact your veterinarian.