Puppy parents are keenly aware of their pet’s individual bathroom habits, and in the beginning, there can be a lot of questions, and there is a learning curve to figure out just what IS normal? As a go-to resource for your buyers, it’s good to understand why a puppy may experience changes in their “routine” and prepare your puppy parents for what they might expect ahead of time! Feel free to share these reasons with your buyers and help them understand how switching foods can disrupt their digestive system.

5 Reasons Your Puppy’s Poop Is Soft:

1. Homecoming

By the time you bring your puppy home, they’ll be leaving the only environment they’ve ever known! This is a major change for a little pup to deal with, and it can sometimes lead to a few weeks of looser stool. Providing a caring environment and keeping a watchful eye is your best bet in this situation. If you don’t see a return to firm (but not hard) stool after a few weeks, or if there are other accompanying symptoms, it’s time to visit the vet!

2. Pet’s Water Bowl

A pet’s water bowl is one of the most overlooked causes of diarrhea and loose stool. Every time a pet drinks from their water bowl, they release their saliva and many potential contaminants into the water. Parasites and germs such as giardia, e.coli, and salmonella can often be found in pet’s water bowls, leading to loose stool and diarrhea. The more your pet drinks from a water bowl before more water is added to it or before the bowl is cleaned, the more concentrated and dangerous the contaminants become.  

How to combat this:

• Wash your pet’s water bowl thoroughly with hot water every day.
• Continue to add more fresh water to your pet’s bowl throughout the day, so the germs remain less concentrated.
• Always use the biggest water bowl available, even for small dogs. The more fresh water in the bowl, the less concentred the germs will be.
• Choose a good-quality stainless steel bowl. Unlike plastic bowls, they are easier to keep clean and don’t get small scratches where germs can hide.
• Do not allow your pet to drink from shared or public water bowls.

3. Table Scraps 

If your pup experiences a change in their stool, another potential suspect is any extra food they may be getting outside of their daily diet. Talk to family members about not feeding your pup fatty meats, gravies, sauces, or foods high in starch, etc., Monitor your pup’s diet over a short period of time, and you should see a return to normal!

4. Scavenging

Dogs, especially puppies, explore the world around them with their mouths, so it’s not surprising that they can pick something up that doesn’t agree with them from time to time. It’s important to be aware of the environment your puppy will be exploring and remove anything that could be potentially harmful. You should always contact your animal health professional if your pup’s stool appears bloody, seems in pain, or has other symptoms with the change in stool. 

5. Changing their diet

Switching a pet’s food can disrupt their digestive system and cause soft stool. It can be hard on a puppy’s system to abruptly change their food from a formula they have always eaten. It is important to continue to feed your pet a complete and balanced diet, fed and trusted by your breeder.