Puppy
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Let’s talk puppy poops!
You can tell a lot from a puppy’s poop - whether it’s around their overall health, how well they’re tolerating their diet or how well they’re settling into their new environment. But as a puppy pawrent, how can you tell the difference between a good poop and a bad one? And how do you know when it’s time for veterinary attention?
Well, we (Poo)ch experts are here to help you brush up your knowledge and get you fluent in puppy poop; ensuring you stay on top of their overall health and wellbeing.
Keeping an eye on your puppy’s poop is a great way to keep on top of their health, and give you an idea of what’s going on inside their tummies. So, next time you whip out the poo bags, be sure to take a peek and consider our very own Puppy Poop Chart:
Being such big balls of rambunctious energy - puppies gotta eat!
Puppies eat small portions, but up to three times a day. So of course, what goes in, must come out.
The average 12-week-old pup will poop 2-4 times a day, not long after they’ve had their feed. Younger pups will pass poo even more regularly than this. As a pup matures, they usually start pooping just once or twice daily.
When your pup first comes home with you, you may find their first poop is relatively healthy looking - dark brown, long, moist, and firm.
But you may find that their next one will be softer, lighter in colour and almost liquidy. Despite these being signs of issues with their digestion or diet, this can be quite normal for your pup’s first week at home.
Their first normal poo would have stemmed from being with their mum and litter mates, before coming to their new home with you. The stress of being in a new environment and dealing with change, can cause them to have a little bit of an upset tummy. However, if the runny poo continues, and after taking a gradual approach to changing their food, then seek some advice from your vet.
Your puppy’s diet is of the utmost importance, and their sensitive tummies (as well as their development and growth), should always be taken into consideration. This is why here at Pooch & Mutt, we’ve poured our expertise into creating the perfect puppy food that ticks every box.
Both our dry and wet food is packed with delicious, protein-rich chicken and healthy veggies that can help with their immune system and firm up their poops. AND with added probiotics - we’ve got your pup’s diet sorted.
It may be that your puppy’s experiencing constipation, where they can’t quite push their poop out. If this is the case, you can try encouraging them to drink more, introducing more fibre in their diet with puppy-safe ingredients like pumpkin puree, or even gently massaging their bum with a cotton ball dipped in warm water.
However, if constipation is paired with vomiting, lack of eating or drinking, bloating or pain, your puppy could be suffering from an obstruction and will need to see a vet asap.
Younger puppies are known to be little poop machines, with it not being uncommon for them to poop after every meal. This is due to their small, developing tummies, and the change of environment and diet as they settle into their new home.
The amount a puppy poops should reduce as they grow older. If your pup’s still pooping a lot after 12 weeks, you may need to assess their diet or consider they may be suffering from other digestive issues.
If that’s the case, be sure to contact your vet for further advice.
Using our puppy poop chart, you can easily keep a close eye on your puppy's poops, but many external factors can be at play when it comes to dealing with abnormal puppy bowel movements. So, what exactly should you be looking out for that rings alarm bells, that should be immediately looked at by a vet?
If you notice any of these changes in their poop, as well as other symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, pain or a change in their drinking and eating habits, be sure to contact a vet immediately.
If your puppy isn’t displaying any worrying symptoms alongside their diarrhoea and a vet has given them the all-clear, you could consider some natural remedies to help soothe their tummy and help firm up their poops.
When a puppy has diarrhoea, it’s best to temporarily revert to a simple diet, just to get their digestion back on track. Natural, bland and puppy-safe ingredients include:
Once your pup’s poops are looking a bit better, that’s when you can get them back to their normal diet. Pooch & Mutt’s Puppy Wet Food contains many of these natural ingredients, including chicken and potato, so you can continue feeding them all that nutritional goodness within their everyday diet.
As your puppy grows into an adult dog, it may be that sensitive gut and digestive issues are just the norm. If that’s the case, their diet should reflect this and provide all the essential nutrients they need.
Here at Pooch & Mutt, we provide an entire range dedicated to sensitive doggy tummies. From our Health and Digestion Dry Food and treats to our Vet Recommended Dog Food for Sensitive and Gastrointestinal issues, we have everything you need to satisfy your dog and take care of their tums.
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