Question about Puppy Poo

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I have tried searching for this topic, but couldn't find this. Is it pretty common for puppies to have soft poop? This is a horrible comparison, but Peri's looks like soft serve ice cream (sorry for that visual)! She has only been home 4 days, is eating great, and had a good vet checkup and fecal exam on Tuesday. Her energy is great also. Is this just normal? Thanks in advance :)

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Did you change the puppies food? Yankee had soft poop too but I had changed his food from what the breeder was feeding him. If you introduced anything new to eat, it can cause loose stools.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, I am trying to slowly introduce Taste of the Wild in with it. Problem is that she likes it better than the Kirkland Puppy food. I bet that is why - will it last long?

[Adina P]

That sounds like the reason. Although my Rosco had soft poop off and on frequently as a young pup.

[fergie11]

I think it is very normal. If you check my discussions, I've been fighting the soft serve ice cream poops for quite sometime. Lucy is now 19 wks and she's doing good now. I also remember Fergie having soft poo when she was young. I did change Lucy's food the premium foods - used Fromm, Halo, Innova puppy and that was better for her. I also put plain yogurt on her food sometimes and I bought some probiotics from onlynaturalpet.com. This all helped. Then I ran out of her food one day and gave her Fergies which is TOTW grain free. Much to my surprise, she got even better poops with that. I also feed homemade food with their kibble. Just be patient but I know what a pain this is. As long as she's not going in the house or abnormally often you can treat it like this.

[Cami Jacobs]

We had this same problem. Finley had soft poos for months. I tried all the home remedy things. It was very frustrating especially living in a complex where picking up the poop is mandatory. We finally switched her to a high quality grain free food and got hard poops right away. I don’t know if it was the food or her age but I practically did back flips. We just started feeding Taste of the Wild too and haven’t had any problems. Good luck.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Okay, I think the Taste of the Wild should start hardening it up, especially since she is getting used to our home now/settling in. Thanks to all of your for your help! I might be a little paranoid, but it comes with the territory. Our chihuahua has had terrible stomach problems, so I am probably over-analyzing. We switched him to TOTW and he is doing unbelievably well. THANKS AGAIN!

[Tamara & Giada]

Giada also had soft poop until about 7 month old...........now it is normal.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

This is pretty common for puppies. If it stays really soft continually or gets even softer, you should take in another stool sample. Testing is not 100% for several bacteria/parasites. Meanwhile a spoonful of pumpkin stirred into his food is not only good for him, but will firm up his poop some. Bananas work too, but some puppies/dogs have a just the opposite reaction.

[Sharon, Boo & Cricket]

If the poops don't firm up you could also ask your vet about the possibility of coccidia or giardia. I think giardia doesn't show up on fecal samples a lot of the time?
Best of luck! :)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Thanks to all and Maryann - my breeder told me about the pumpkin and I started it last night - she loves it and the poop has gotten a little better. She is on preventative medicine for coccidia and has another vet appt. on Monday, so I will double check on everything again then.

[Janie]

A little bit of rice and pumkin mixed together should really help the soft stools after the vets clears her for any health promblems.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Went home during lunch - stools are much better. The pumpkin is working. Her appetite and energy is great - I am not concerned, but of course will see if the vet has any other insight on Monday. Thanks Janie!