How to Firm Up Dog Poop

I honestly don’t know any dog parents who are not obsessed with the quality of their beloved dog’s poop. It only takes a few loose, watery stools to set most of us on the path to a canine Google medical degree with all the research that then takes place to analyze what you are seeing. Right?

The short answer to the question on how to firm up dog poop quickly is to feed quality protein sources with minimal carbohydrate content, easy access to fresh water, and keeping things on hand like the probiotic Purina FortiFlora and canned pumpkin. We explain how these works and what else to try in detail below.

What Is Good Poop?

Ideally your dog’s poop should be various shades of medium to dark brown, but consistency also matters, which is where firming things up comes into play.

The perfect dog poop consistency is like Play-Doh. Not rock hard but not soft. It should pretty much hold its shape when you scoop it up (because you are cleaning up after your dog, like a good dog parent does, right?). Of course, consistency will often change by the day but by only small amounts.

The firmness of your dog’s regular stools is partially determined by their regular diet, just like your own.

Diet Matters To Firming Up Poop

Most dog parents feed dry kibble. The higher the carbohydrate count in such, the larger and less firm the stools. The better the quality of the kibble the better the chance of not only firmer poops, but less volume of poop overall. (Look at the ingredients list for real meat protein being high on the list of ingredients.) Less poop means that your dog’s body is using more of the nutrients instead of getting rid of excess bulk. Understanding this will give you a good foundation for firmer poops.

Those who feed a raw diet also emphasize the reduced quantity of poop with this diet as well as ideal firmness. I feed one of my dogs a raw diet and can attest that this is true, at least in my own giant-breed dog’s case.

I feed my other dog a cooked diet (they each get a dab of the other’s), with an appropriate level of a calcium supplement added. This ensures that this dog has the best possible poops for her diet.

How to Fight Canine Loose Stools

When there is a loose-stool issue that does not present as an emergency, my own go-to for fixing this is Purina FortiFlora. I find this probiotic to be all that is necessary in most cases. I will usually also eliminate any regular addition in my dog’s diet that may add to looser stools until the issue has resolved itself, such as probiotic-enhanced cottage cheese and/or yogurt. While healthy in moderation, when digestive issues are happening, these can add to them.

My own dog’s diet includes a variety of meats varying by the meal, so I will take note of which meals they had immediately preceding a loose-stool incident and skip that protein for a few days.

I also keep canned pureed pumpkin on hand. This fiber-filled miracle firms up dog poop quickly and helps with constipation. Basically, it’s a stool stabilizer. It’s not a bad idea to add to a small amount to dog’s diet daily as a side dish if you have a dog who likes pumpkin. Some dogs like it just mixed it into the dog’s food.

It’s important to always provide fresh water for your dog but even more so when their stools are loose, especially if loose stools progress to diarrhea.

When Dog Diarrhea Needs a Vet’s Attention

Bloody diarrhea, mucous, vomiting, and stomach pain are all signs that your dog needs to see the veterinarian. You usually can try Pepto Bismol. However, if you don’t see improvement in 24 to 48 hours, you need veterinary help. Watery stools can quickly dehydrate your dog. Puppies are especially vulnerable. Your dog may be battling parasites, bowel disease, bacterial infection, food allergies, colitis, or another serious illness that needs veterinary treatment.