Why does my dog get watery poop after long walks? Is it normal?

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.

Some dogs will have excessive bowel movements when they go for a walk. It's likely due to a combination of excitement, exercise and scent marking. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to change the behavior. Things that you can do that may address this and may help would be to add a daily probiotic to try to keep the stool more firm, switch the diet- I recommend a brand called Royal Canin because it is very easy to break down and pets tend to have good stool quality on this food, play with him before a walk to get some of the energy out so he is not as excitable, and lastly, neutering him may also help to make him less excitable. Keeping a sanitary shave will also keep the fur more clean or at least easier to clean up. I hope this helps to point you in the right direction. Please feel free to post any additional questions!

I am sorry to hear about Sam! If he is otherwise acting normally (normal energy, normal appetite, no vomiting) I would just monitor him and watch his next few bowel movements. Sometimes exercise can increase gastrointestinal activity, and stress can also sometimes cause some diarrhea (being out of town can be stressful). If he continues to have loose stool then seeing his vet is recommended.

If Kado's other bowel movements are normal I wouldn't be too concerned but if he is having looser stools all the time I would recommend bringing him in to the vet for an exam. It is not unusual for dogs to have a bowel movement and maybe even have it be a little loose on a run due to increased GI motility due to the exercise. If he is acting like he needs to go frequently, however, this can be a sign of colitis and he should see his vet. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951545

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pippin. If her stool goes back to normal later in the day, this can be due to the excitement of swimming. So dogs will get so excited to perform a physical activity. This combined with the movements of intense exercise can result in loose stool. If her diarrhea continues throughout the day or longer, then I worry it is due to ingesting river water. In this case, she should see her veterinarian for treatment next time it occurs. 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!

It sounds like Sheila may be suffering some GI distress. If this has been ongoing for a while, it would be best to bring her into your vet for a full exam to rule out issues such as parasites, constipation, GI inflammation, food allergies, or issues such as blocked anal glands, etc. Until you can get to the vet, you can try offering a bland diet of boiled rice and chicken to help settle her stomach, but it is best to bring her into your vet if her symptoms continue.