Dog Poops A Lot: Why It Happens And What You Can Do To Solve It

When can one say that a dog poops a lot? How often should a dog poop within 24 hours, and what can cause a dog from pooping excessively? We are here to answer your typical dog poop questions, and what you can do to keep your pup happy and healthy.

How Often Can One One Say A Dog Poops A Lot?

An average dog often poops anywhere between one to five times a day. Of course, many deciding factors can affect the frequency of your dog’s need to poop. This can include your dog’s age, diet, medical condition and stress.

Your Dog’s Age

Keep in mind that your pups tend to poop more often than older dogs due to their inability to control their bowel movements. Since they are still growing and their metabolism is faster, they tend to eliminate what they east faster the adult dogs. Another reason is that they have smaller stomachs. This means they need to be fed more as feeding fills their stomach, urging them to poop a lot. As for aging dogs, they tend to defecate less due to senior dogs being prone to constipation.

Your Dog’s Diet

A change in your dog’s diet can also affect the frequency of their urge to poop. Some dogs are sensitive to certain foods. Let’s say you gave your dog a treat they haven’t tried before. It’s best to slowly introduce this to your dog’s diet to check they can take the new chow.

Here’s another example. You may find that your dog poops a lot after feeding him different dog food. Their body could have reacted differently as they are not yet used to their new diet. Eventually, their digestive system will adjust to the new diet.

Be mindful of what you put in your dog’s feeding bowl. If not, consult your dog’s vet for advice.

Your Dog’s Medical Condition

Sometimes, the reason why a dog poops a lot is because of an underlying medical condition. Some of these conditions include food intolerance, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal parasites, tumour, viral or bacterial infection and rectal polyps. It important to check

Stress

That’s right – dogs can also experience stress, which can then lead to excessive pooping. The cause can vary – from being introduced to a new environment, new sounds and new smells.

Let’s say you had your house renovated, or maybe you moved houses. Your dog may find it hard to adapt to the new environment. This can stress him out, making him anxious or even poop a lot more frequently than usual. Be patient and let him adapt to the new environment.

What To Do If Your Dog Poops A Lot?

These are some of the things every dog owner should do if they find their dog pooping excessively than average.

Inspect your dog’s poop

Since it’s your dog, you should already have an idea on how your dog’s normal poop looks like. However, watch out for the following red flags on your dog’s poop.

Discolouration

Hard, white-coloured stool often tells you there’s too much calcium in your dog’s diet. If it’s yellowish or orange-tinged, it can indicate liver disease. Take your dog to the vet for consultation.

Blood

Dogs experiencing diarrhea can have a small amount of blood in their stool. However, if your dog’s stool consistently has blood, it can mean your dog has internal bleeding.

Mucus

Mucus in dog poop is often normal. This is a slime-like substance that keeps the colon moist and lubricated. Without it, it can cause pooping problems for your dog, making it difficult for them to poop, which leads to straining.

Fur

Some dogs tend to overgroom themselves. The tendency is they will have big clumps of hair in their poop. Discuss this with your vet, and he can give you the best advice to tackle the problem

Foreign Materials

Sing dogs like chewing on thigs, they sometimes ingest items that should be eaten – like rocks, plastic, cloth, grass, toys, even coins. If you do find foreign objects in your dog’s poop, take him to your vet to make sure there are no other foreign substances are left in your dog’s digestive system.

Worms

As icky as it sounds, worms can find their way in your dog’s poop. Before assuming what worms you find in your dog’s poop are from him, make sure it’s a fresh sample. If the poop sits too long outside, this could mean the worms are not fro your dog. But if it is indeed from your dog, consult your dog’s vet.

Unusual Consistency or Shape

If there is a sudden change in shape or consistency of your dog’s poop, it’s best to take your dog to the vet if this doesn’t return to normal after 48 hours.

Straining

If you notice your dog poops a lot and is straining during bathroom breaks, this can mean they have diarrhea or constipation. However, this can also mean something is blocking their poops, forcing them to strain. Take them to your vet if it keeps up.

Location Of Their Poop

It’s also worth checking the place where they poop. For potty-trained dogs, they usually have a comfortable spot where they take their bathroom breaks. If your dog now poops beyond his usual spots, this can mean that they could no longer control their bowel.

For any changes in your dog’s poop, it’s best to monitor for at least 24-48 hours. If you suspect a change in diet is the reason why your dog poops a lot, make sure to keep an eye on what they eat. Check if they can adapt to the new diest, and avoid feeding them with your table scraps. If there is no changes or improvement, consulting your vet is the best next step.

Be Patient To Your Fur Baby

It’s true that cleaning after a smelly mess now and then can make you feel frustrated – or angry. If you find your dog poops a lot, don’t take it against your dog. It’s undoubtedly not your dog’s intention to piss you off. While it’s easy to get frustrated in such situations, remember that your dog is experiencing a “situation.”

Even the best potty-trained dogs can sometimes experience “excessive poop situations.” Be patient, be kind, and understand the reason why your dog poops a lot. From there, you can think of the best way to resolve it.

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This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Internet.