Reviewed by: Dr. David Tittle, BVetMed, CertVA, GPCert(WVA&CPM), MRCVS
Our dogs drink from puddles, lick up ice cream from the sidewalk, and happily scarf down dropped snacks. It’s no surprise their digestive systems take a hit now and then. While something they ate is often to blame for diarrhea or soft stool, other factors like stress or infection can also play a role.
Dietary changes, stress, infections, or other conditions can all affect stool quality in dogs. Dogs may also respond to emotional triggers—like a change in routine, boarding, or separation stress—with a bout of digestive upset.
While occasional diarrhea might not be a big deal, it’s important to know when it crosses the line into something worth a vet visit. If diarrhea lasts more than a few days or shows up alongside signs like frequent vomiting, fever, lethargy, or discomfort, it’s time to call your vet.
What if my dog’s poop is black? What should you do?
In addition to veterinary help, there are a few ways you can try at home to firm up their stool.
What is loose stool?
Soft dog stool can fall anywhere between normal and full-blown diarrhea. It might hold a loose shape or collapse into a soft pile, making it sticky, messy, and difficult to pick up. While it may not seem serious at first, this kind of stool is often a sign that something isn’t quite right with your dog’s digestion.
This is usually your dog’s way of signaling that something isn’t sitting right. It could be something they ate, a recent change in food, a virus, parasite, or a mild reaction to stress. Less commonly, some bacterial infections will cause loose feces. Puppies tend to experience soft stool more often as their digestive systems are still developing.
Is soft stool normal for dogs?
While there might be some variation from dog to dog, normal dog stool should be firm, brown, shaped like a log or segmented, and easy to pick up.
Some dogs are naturally more regular than others, but most will go one to three times per day, depending on their size, diet, and activity level. Veterinarians recommend taking note of your dog’s regular output, so you will know if anything is off.
If it happens once or twice and your dog seems otherwise healthy, it may not be anything serious. But if it’s happening regularly or paired with other signs, it’s worth taking a closer look.
What’s wrong with loose stool?
Soft or unformed stool might not seem like a big deal, but it can point to a few deeper issues. Most often, soft stool is a sign of mild gastrointestinal upset, but it can also indicate that your dog’s digestive system isn’t working as well as it should.
In some cases, you might notice your dog producing more stool than usual or having larger bowel movements than expected based on how much they’re eating. This can be a red flag, often tied to low-quality dog food that contains filler grains, poor protein sources, and hard-to-digest carbohydrates.
These ingredients tend to pass through your dog’s system without offering much nutritional value, leading to excessive waste.
Want to learn more about what goes into high-quality dog food? Read our guide on dog nutrition.
Other possible causes include:
- Too many table scraps or fatty snacks, which can irritate the stomach
- Mild infections, parasites, or food sensitivities
- Stress-related digestive upset, especially in dogs prone to stress or experiencing a change in routine
- Eating something they shouldn’t have, like spoiled food, garbage, or something scavenged outdoors
Another problem with loose stool is that it can interfere with natural anal gland expression. Dogs have two sacs on the sides of their anus that secrete a smelly fluid during bowel movements. When stool isn’t firm enough, those glands may not empty properly. Over time, this can lead to discomfort or even infection.
Even if your dog seems fine, soft stool that lingers shouldn’t be ignored. It often reflects something that needs attention, whether that’s diet quality, stress management, or gut health support.
If your dog is experiencing stress-related diarrhea, you’re not alone. Big changes like moving to a new home, staying at a boarding facility, or being left alone more often can all lead to digestive upset.
How to help firm up your dog’s stool
If your dog is consistently passing soft or unformed stool, it’s worth taking a closer look at their diet. Even if they seem fine otherwise, ongoing digestive issues can lead to other health problems over time.
A good starting point is switching to easily digestible, high-quality food. Dogs have shorter intestines than humans, so much of their digestion happens in the stomach. They benefit from foods that are simple to break down and leave less waste behind.
For short-term help, a bland diet of plain chicken and rice can help bind stool and ease diarrhea. For long-term support, try a high-quality dry kibble that lists real meat first and avoids fillers, by-products, or artificial ingredients. Also, avoid frequent changes in diet; unlike humans, dogs don’t require a varied diet to thrive
Fiber is another key part of the puzzle, as it helps add bulk to the stool and absorb excess moisture. Foods like plain canned pumpkin (just be sure it’s pure pumpkin, not pie filling), small pieces of apple or carrot, and cooked sweet potato can all be gentle, fiber-rich options to support healthy digestion. Read more about the benefits of pumpkin for dogs.
Don’t forget the basics. Access to fresh water and daily exercise is important to keep your dog’s bowels moving smoothly and prevent stool from sitting in the colon where it absorbs excess water and becomes soft.
Finally, consider adding prebiotics and probiotics. These healthy gut microbes support digestion, fight infection, and help restore balance after digestive upset. Your veterinarian can recommend a supplement tailored to your dog’s needs.
Go slow with food changes
Whenever you make changes to your dog’s diet it can result in stomach upset or digestive problems. Start by introducing a small amount of the new food into their regular meals, and over the course of a few days gradually increase the amount of new food until you have made a complete change.
The bottom line
It is a fact of life with most dogs that you will have to help them manage a bout of diarrhea or loose stools. By paying attention to their normal eliminations, you can quickly respond when something is “off”.
Usually, a simple diet change will help improve the digestive problem for your pup and firm up your dog’s stool. Remember to consult your veterinarian if digestive problems occur frequently, last a long time, or if they are combined with other health concerns.
Sources:
https://topdogtips.com/how-to-firm-up-dog-stool/
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/doggie-diarrhea/
Any health or medical information in ElleVet blogs is from a variety of public and reputable sources. This information is intended as an educational resource only and is not a substitute for expert professional care.