Pet Parents! We hear you! When the leaves are down, and the snow is gone… there are landmines of Clean-Up Duties! What if the job became easier with a more solid POOP to pick up? Here are 6 proven ways to make your dog’s poop healthier & easier to pick up!
What to do if your dog’s poop is on the MUSHY-SIDE?
- Start by withholding food for 12 to 18 hours, and provide water in small amounts frequently. Disclaimer: Do NOT do this with puppies or senior dogs. Only with a generally healthy dog. This can clear the intestine and give it some rest.
- If you have a puppy, senior or health-compromised pet, go on to the next suggestion!
- Boil rice in a lot of water. When soft, drain the rice in a strainer and offer the dog the creamy white liquid that’s left. Add some chicken broth or a teaspoon of baby food to make it tastier.
- As your dog tolerates this, offer the grains of rice in small amounts to eventually meet his regular food volume. Other human food to add (in small quantities) to your dog’s diet for good poop management:
Plain canned pumpkin( Not pie filling). Strangely, this can be effective for diarrhea or constipation! Boiled potatoes, without skin, Cottage cheese, Boiled egg , Cooked chicken (without skin)
Adding Probiotics
- Vanilla or unflavored yogurt can help dogs who can tolerate milk products. This adds beneficial bacteria that aid digestion. Add about 2 tablespoons to their diet/day.
- Herbs: Fennel and ginger have gut-soothing qualities…Just go easy on the amount- a few sprinkles!
Your Dogs’ Stools Reveal Much about their Health!
Look at the consistency and the color of the mushy poop. The definition of perfect dog poop is chocolate brown, shaped in logs, closely packed, and easy to scoop. Chocolate brown is normal, while orange, green, or gray may signify problems with such organs as the gall bladder, liver, or pancreas. Black stools that look like tar are very serious and may indicate internal bleeding!
The experts say it should be like cookie dough or Play-Doh when pressed. Large amounts, watery, pudding-like consistency, or signs of mucus (looks slimy) or blood streaks, are not normal. A picture is worth 1000 Words!
Of course, if your dog is experiencing signs that the home remedy is just not working, PLEASE don’t hesitate to call your vet! Here are some signals that you should call: lethargy, fever, vomiting, dry, tacky or pale gums, or weakness. If your dog has existing conditions, such as advanced age, diabetes, cancer, or any medical issue, then this is another concern.
You know your dog, and when things just don’t seem right. While loose stools can be common in dogs, it helps to limit these as much as possible!
Do you want to know how I make sure Poppy’s Poops are the right color and consistency? It isn’t just feeding these human foods! Poppy’s diet consists of quality kibble that includes both PRE-and PRO- biotics, supporting her immune health and her digestive tract. Poppy’s Preferred Food, Life’s Abundance Weight-Loss, can be found here! This pet food (a Wonderful SENIOR food), guarantees the amount of health-promoting probiotics in their dog food, with strains selected that are species-specific, and optimized to support canine health.
In addition to this, we have now added a new product, Gastro-Pro-Plus from PawTree. Gastro Pro Plus is a natural and complete combination of probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, and soothing herbs that help your dogs (and cats!) maintain a healthy, active lifestyle with good gastrointestinal health! 