My dog's stool is firm on grain-free food. How to make it softer?

Question

When I first adopted my dog I fed him food with grain and his stool was very soft, like soft ice cream, and frequent. I switched him to grain free dog food months ago and ever since his stool is firm, and he only has a bowel movement once a day. Some days, like today, he barely goes but a small amount and it seems even firmer. Switching off of grain free food isn’t an option, so I have been giving him pumpkin which has not helped. What else can I do to give him softer, more frequent stool? Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Male | neutered | 2 years and 2 months old | 17 lbs

Sara Farmer, DVM · Accepted Answer

As long as Gary isn't straining to defecate or having other problems I wouldn't worry about his stool seeming to be small or firm. The typical frequency for defecation is once a day to several times a day, and some dogs may not even go once a day. If Gary is straining to defecate or has a history of anal gland problems or constipation this may not be ideal, but otherwise you probably don't need to make any changes to his diet.

My dog's stool is firm on grain-free food. How to make it softer?

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