Time is of the essence when you’ve got a dog with loose stools. Operation Backyard is afoot as soon as your poor pupper makes the slightest sound that they’re uncomfortable: you’ve only got about a minute until your immaculate carpet is tarnished beyond repair.
In all seriousness, a dog who suffers with loose stools for a few hours is one thing; yet for others, the inability to produce normal stools is routine. Indeed, a whopping 70% of a dog’s immune cells are located in their gut, meaning that if a dog’s gut is in disarray, they don’t have much protection from other diseases. With these poor pups in their thoughts, pet nutritionists have worked hard to deliver food for dogs with loose stools that are designed to help dogs with chronic loose stools out in any way they can. After carrying out product research, we’ve assembled what we regard as the best dog food for loose stools that will hopefully function as stool hardeners and taste delicious at the same time.
Purina’s formula is geared towards dogs who have a difficult time regarding digestion and sensitive skin. The prebiotic fiber in particular is optimal for digestion, as it keeps the digestive tract active and stools healthier. Featuring lamb as the principal ingredient, Purina wouldn’t dream of including by-products and instead focus on maintaining an optimal protein to fat ratio.
Purina’s decision to include mineral zinc in their kibble helps a dog’s immune system fight any bacteria and viruses present by promoting the production of antibodies that fight intestinal pathogens. Combined with omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids that support joint health, your dog will start to feel like themselves again in no time.
For more information on the brand, check out our guide on Purina Pro Plan Dog Food.
Calorie content: 3,905 kcal/kg (498 kcal/cup)
Minimum crude protein: 26.0%
Minimum crude fat: 16.0%
Maximum crude fiber: 4.0%
Maximum moisture: 12.0%
First three ingredients: Lamb, Oat Meal, Barley
Hill’s Pet Nutrition have been working for over one-hundred years to ensure our canines derive optimal amounts of energy from their delicious kibbles. Their Chicken and Barley flavored formula is what to feed a dog with diarrhea. As anticipated, high levels of prebiotic fiber play a huge role in ensuring the microbes in your dog’s gut are well balanced. Each ingredient has been rigorously assessed to ensure no food source will spoil the nutrition ratio that allows this dog food for loose stools to work as well as it does.
Proudly manufactured in the USA, not only will the amount of times your dog has to dash to the toilet significantly decrease thanks to Hill’s recipe, you’ll even notice a difference in relation to the shine of their coat, energy levels, and skin complexion. We’ve dubbed this kibble as our premium pick for many reasons, and the countless delighted customers who praise this food’s impact on their dogs also agree with us. Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken is one of 5 dog food recipes mentioned in our review of Hill Science Dog Food.
Calorie content: 3,717 kcal/kg (372 kcal/cup)
Minimum crude protein: 24.5%
Minimum crude fat: 15.6%
Maximum crude fiber: 1.3%
Maximum moisture: NA
First three ingredients: Chicken, Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal
Following a diet with limited ingredients is highly beneficial for all canines’ health, yet for dogs who often produce loose stools, following this type of diet is imperative. Put it this way, if a kibble includes plenty of ingredients, there is a greater chance that one of them may upset your dog’s stomach. Featuring salmon – a natural source of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids – and potato as the principal ingredients, Wellness’ formula is the ideal food for loose stools.
The family owned company ensure continuity between their Salmon and Potato formula and the others by containing no gluten, wheat, or meat by-products in their recipes. These harmful products have been swapped out for superior superfoods such as flaxseed – a plant-based food rich in fatty acids and fiber. And based on Wellness’ success in sales, it certainly seems as if their choice of healthy superfoods has worked.
You may also like our review of Wellness Core Dog Food.
Calorie content: 3,487 kcal/kg (446 kcal/cup)
Minimum crude protein: 25.0%
Minimum crude fat: 12.0%
Maximum crude fiber: 5.0%
Maximum moisture: 11.0%
First three ingredients: Salmon, Salmon Meal, Potatoes
As chicken is the primary food allergen for dogs, Taste of the Wild’s decision to feature salmon as this formula’s principal ingredient has substantially boosted its popularity among pet owners. Likewise, the real salmon is a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids, easy to digest, and plays an extensive role in minimising inflammation in the gut.
Finding a dry dog food for loose stools has never been easier: the proprietary K9 strain probiotics in this kibble are mixed in after the cooking process has taken place in order to increase their efficiency and viability. Out of all the superior ingredients, chicory root fiber in particular shows how seriously Taste of the Wild take digestion problems: the inulin fiber passes through a dog’s body undigested and nourishes their gut bacteria. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream is one of 7 dog food recipes mentioned in our review of Taste of The Wild Dog Food.
Calorie content: 3,600 kcal (360 kcal/cup)
Minimum crude protein: 25.0%
Minimum crude fat: 15.0%
Maximum crude fiber: 3.0%
Maximum moisture: 10.0%
First three ingredients: Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes
It’s all in the name: Blue Buffalo Basics signifies a return to dogs’ ancestral roots by focusing on the quality in their dry dog food for loose stools rather than quantity. The brand successfully get back to basics by only including limited ingredients in their formula– each and every one adding an extra layer of nutrition to this salubrious formula.
Blue’s exclusive LifeSource bits – a well-esteemed feature of the brand’s kibble – contain the perfect balance of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Relying on cold-formed methods to ensure their effectiveness, the amount of nutritional benefits they bring your pet should significantly help them harden up their loose stools. Blue Buffalo Basics Turkey & Potato Recipe is one of 10 dog food recipes included in our Blue Buffalo Dog Food Reviews.
Calorie content: 3,495 kcal/kg (364 kcal/cup)
Minimum crude protein: 20.0%
Minimum crude fat: 12.0%
Maximum crude fiber: 6.0%
Maximum moisture: 10.0%
First three ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Broth, Potatoes
If your poor dog is suffering due to their digestive system, Whole Earth’s protein-packed formula will have them producing firm stools in no time. Curated for senior dogs in particular, this poultry-free product proudly includes pork, beef, and lamb that will have your pet going wild around dinner time.
Each bag of Whole Earth Farms’ kibble is cooked in the USA with an exciting selection of curated ingredients. Not only is this food for dogs with diarrhea, its ample nutritional benefits mean your dog will shed less, profit from steady releases of energy, and have healthier skin. Health transformations start with what’s in their bowl, and a diet containing no soy, by-products, artificial colors, or preservatives will set your dog up for years filled with health. Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Pork, Beef & Lamb is one of the 6 recipes included in our review of Whole Earth Farms Dog Food.
Calorie content: 3,640 kcal/kg (374 kcal/cup)
Minimum crude protein: 26.0%
Minimum crude fat: 14.0%
Maximum crude fiber: 3.50%
Maximum moisture: 11.0%
First three ingredients: Pork Meal, Potatoes, Peas
Instinct take the limited ingredient philosophy seriously by only including one protein and one vegetable in their kibbles – in this particular formula, they’ve chosen salmon and peas to create a robust blend of delectable flavors. The salmon is certainly not by-product standard and instead is a wonderful, high-quality food source.
Yet the principal technique that allows Instinct to stand out from the crowd is all down to coating their kibble in freeze dried raw. This method reaps two principal benefits: firstly, the kibble retains its unrefined, pure flavor. Secondly and most importantly, this method augments the nutritional benefits by ensuring the levels of antioxidants and natural omegas are maintained rather than lost through baking processes. By advocating for concentrated forms of protein, Instinct are leading the way in natural dog food. We’ve got our eyes peeled for what they’ll do next.
For a full list of our favorite options, see our round-up of Nature’s Variety Dog Food.
Calorie content: 4,335 kcal/kg (493 kcal/cup)
Minimum crude protein: 28.0%
Minimum crude fat: 18.0%
Maximum crude fiber: 3.0%
Maximum moisture: 10.0%
First three ingredients: Salmon Meal, Peas, Tapioca
Manufactured in Mishawaka, Indiana, Holistic Select’s kibble functions as a stool hardener for dogs by virtue of its premium ingredients. Some ingredients that aren’t included often in natural kibble are the live yogurt cultures. Due to their role in populating the gut with ‘good’ bacteria to promote healthy digestion, their inclusion makes this kibble a smart choice of food for dogs with diarrhea.
As Holistic know that a dog’s diet is the key to a healthy life, the company have made sure to include live, naturally occurring microorganisms in their kibble. An affordable kibble packed full of flavor and nutrients is hard to come by; yet Holistic have managed it. Hopefully they don’t realise how exceptional their kibble is and up the price just yet!
Calorie content: 3,718 kcal/kg (454 kcal/cup)
Minimum crude protein: 23.0%
Minimum crude fat: 15.0%
Maximum crude fiber: 4.50%
Maximum moisture: 10.0%
First three ingredients: Lamb Meal, Oatmeal, Peas
As dry food for dogs with diarrhea is often tough for senior dogs to digest, Natural Balance have struck the perfect equilibrium: this food isn’t too runny that it becomes impossible to eat, nor is it too tough that a senior dog with tummy issues would find it hard to consume.
As well as their Chicken and Sweet Potato formula, Natural Balance also offer customers other delectable flavors, including Buffalo and Sweet Potato and Duck and Potato. The inclusion of sweet potato in particular shows how determined the company are to help your pet produce harder stools: this natural treat supports a healthy digestive system and contains beneficial vitamins such as A, C, and B6.
Read our in-depth reviews of Natural Balance Dog Food and Senior Dog Food.
Calorie content: 1,100 kcal/lg (405 kcal/cup)
Minimum crude protein: 5.50%
Minimum crude fat: 3.50%
Maximum crude fiber: 1.50%
Maximum moisture: 78.0%
First three ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Potatoes
To finish off our product selection, we wanted to flaunt a formula that doesn’t abide by the grain-free approach: Nature’s Recipe’s Adult Dry Dog food featuring Lamb Meal and Rice. It’s time to dispel the common myth that all carbohydrates aren’t good for your dog. In fact, rice functions as a lean source of carbohydrates, whereas unhealthy carbohydrates like corn or wheat do not reap the same health benefits.
All Nature’s recipes include a healthy amount of taurine – an amino acid that grows and repairs essential nerves and supports the heart. It also functions as a recommended food for dogs with diarrhea by virtue of the fiber gained from the brown rice. Nature are your classic premium brand without the bank-breaking price tag!
Calorie content: 3.510 kcal/kg (312 kcal/cup)
Minimum crude protein: 21.0%
Minimum crude fat: 12.0%
Maximum crude fiber: 4.0%
Maximum moisture: 10.0%
First three ingredients: Lamb Meal, Barley, Feeding Oatmeal
If you’ve browsed our product selection and found a kibble you believe your poorly dog with diarrhea would love, you’re one step closer to making your pup’s digestive system less explosive. Yet how did your dog’s digestive system get into this mess in the first place – was it just bad luck, or could their digestive distress be the result of other factors? Read on to educate yourself on your dog and their digestive system and how you can support them through this trying time.
There are numerous factors that can be blamed for your dog producing loose stools. We’ve discussed three of the most common determinants below:
Scavenging: Dogs are scavengers and, to our disgust, love nothing more than when their sniffing leads them straight to a tasty morsel on the side of the road. Enjoying this form of ‘street food’ may result in your dog suffering from a very upset stomach hours later.
Check out our guide on the Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach.
Stress and Emotional Turmoil: Dog owners have come to associate barking and pacing as their pet experiencing stress, yet digestive issues aren’t thus far a widely acknowledged symptom. If a dog has been left alone for long periods of time in your home, has recently lost a close family member or moved house, the assumption that their unsettled digestive tract may be due to stress is even more likely. This is important to remember when your dog is incontinent – they should not be scolded, but nurtured as this occurrence may be a symptom of anxiety.
A sign of a more serious underlying health condition: If your canine hasn’t had a proper bowel movement in several days, this is their body’s way of communicating that something isn’t quite right. Several of the more serious underlying health conditions you may be dealing with are liver and kidney disease or pancreatitis. Therefore, it’s important to get your dog to a vet as soon as possible.
You may also like our guide on Dog Food for Kidney Disease.
Plenty of probiotics: An abundance of probiotics in dog food is necessary if a brand wants their kibble to be acknowledged as food for dogs with loose stools. The definition of probiotics as “living microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts confer health benefits on the host” by the World Health Organisation proves exactly why they should be included in all dog food. A dog’s gut microbiome – defined as the unique collection of hundreds of different types of single-celled microorganisms in its digestive tract – is balanced out by this ‘good’ probiotic bacteria, thereby improving a dog’s digestion. As probiotic microbes don’t tend to hang around in a dog’s digestive tract, the switch from a traditional formula to one which is adept at dealing with digestive issues is recommended.
Take a look at our review of the Best Probiotics for Dogs.
No grains containing gluten: Dogs are perfectly capable of digesting some grains due to their production of pancreatic amylase – a digestive enzyme that allows the body to break down carbs. However, dogs should not be fed grains high in gluten such as corn and wheats. If fed gluten, dogs who are sensitive to gluten and those who suffer from a gluten intolerance experience their immune system attacking their gastro intestinal tract, thereby damaging the intestinal lining.
Nutrient ratios are taken incredibly seriously: Unlike budget pet food that sells itself by proclaiming how delicious your dogs will find it, food for dogs with soft stools actually have an objective to achieve. Therefore, this sub-set of dog food is made by innovative, high-caliber brands who focus on attaining the optimal ratios of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber required for your dog to thrive.
A limited ingredient diet: As your pet will be exposed to less ingredients with. limited ingredient diet, the risk that one of them will disturb their gastrointestinal tract is reduced. Besides, the ingredients that are included must contain a large amount of nutrients to achieve the same heath benefits that containing a number of ingredients would do.
A: One of the primary reasons that dogs have diarrhea is due to switching too rapidly from one kibble to another. To our horror, many owners simply switch from kibble to kibble without a second thought, causing their dogs significant gastronomical upset.
To safely adjust your dog’s diet, a gradual incorporation of new kibble for old kibble is necessary. The ratios should resemble the following:
A: Made with love, homemade recipes to make your dog’s poops more solid should be filled with fiber and natural goodness. This reliable recipe has been taken from site topdogtips and, although it certainly doesn’t look appetizing, will help get your poorly dog back on the right track.
Ingredients
To start, take your half a cup of uncooked rice and cook it in accordance with the instructions on the box. If you’re a natural procrastinator, boil the chicken alongside the rice. Once you’ve thoroughly checked that the chicken is cooked through, cut it up into small chunks: your dog will struggle to digest large pieces of chicken, especially when their digestive system is already struggling.
When the chicken has been broken up into bits, mix it together with the rice, pumpkin, and plain yogurt and voila – you’re done! Now all that’s left is to wait on the bowl to cool down so your poorly dog can enjoy their treat without hurting their tongue too.
*Warning: Do not feed your dog this meal on top of their normal calorie intake. Instead, substitute 30% of this recipe for their regular kibble*