It is a known fact that dogs need to be taken out multiple times so that they can do their business. But how many times a day should a dog poop?
The answer to this question differs from dog to dog. Several factors affect the bowel movement of dogs and the frequency with which they poop.
Read this post to understand what is the normal and healthy number of times a day a dog should poop and how you can help your dog with his poop problems.
How Many Times A Day Should A Dog Poop?
The number of times a dog poops differs from dog to dog. It is normal for your dog to poop 1-5 times a day. Most dogs poop twice daily – in the morning and the evening.
A puppy poops more often than an adult dog. Puppies have faster metabolism that slows down with age which means that your dog won’t have to relieve itself as often as it did when it was a puppy.
Dogs are animals of habit, so if they poop once a day or 5 times a day, as long as it happens on a consistent schedule, there is no reason to worry.
How Much Dog Poop Is Too Much?
There is nothing like too much dog poop unless there are some other underlying health problems in your dog.
Dogs poop according to their schedule. So if your dog generally does potty twice a day and it starts going three to four times, it does not make much difference. It might be because your dog ate more than usual.
As long as there is no blood in their stool or any other consistency changes, it won’t be a problem if your dog poops more. In case the sudden changes include blood in the stool or the stool becomes loose, then take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.
What Causes A Dog To Poop Excessively?
1. Overeating
It is very simple, if your dog eats too much, then it will also poop too much. Sometimes a pet owner can’t ignore the puppy’s face when it asks for more food. But you must keep a check on their diet so that your dog does not do excessive pooping.
You should also refrain from feeding scraps from your plate to your dog. It is better that you don’t add any more calories to your dog’s diet because that can lead to an upset stomach in your dog. If you keep your dog’s diet in control, then you can also control their pooping.
2. Bacteria
Certain bacteria can interfere with your dog’s bowel movement and can cause excessive pooping in your dog.
Dogs sometimes like to eat dog poop which contains a lot of bacteria. Your dog may pick up bacteria from another dog’s poop or their poop. To prevent this, you should keep your surroundings clean and pick up your dog’s poop as soon as they defecate.
3. Changes in Diet
Any changes in your dog’s diet can interfere with your dog’s stool. A dog becomes adapted to certain foods that you give him and when you change the food items in his bowl, it may take time for him to adjust to that.
If you want to avoid any excessive pooping in your dog, then make gradual changes in your dog’s diet rather than any sudden changes. Excessive bowel movements can be a result of the wrong mix of nutrients in your dear dog’s new diet.
4. Changes in Environment
Your dog’s pooping routine can also change if there is a change in its environment like the entry of a new person/pet or some unfamiliar smell in the house.
If this is the reason for defecating more, then things will get back to normal in just a few days when your dog gets adapted to the changes.
5. Stress
If your dog is having any stress or depressing thought, then it results in irregular bowel movements in the form of diarrhea or just excessive pooping.
If stress is the reason for excessive pooping in your dog, then there might be other symptoms as well like whining, excessive barking, pacing around the room, etc. In this case, you should pay more attention to the diet and exercise routine of your dog.
With the right nutrition and appropriate exercise, you will have a healthy dog with normal pooping in just a few days.
How Long After Eating Should A Dog Poop?
It takes 6 to 8 hours for the food to digest in your dog’s body, which means that you can expect your adult dog to poop after 8 to 12 hours of its previous meal. However, puppy poop happens after every 4 hours.
If your dog poops after every meal, then it is not the food that it just ate but from its previous meal.
Can Dogs Poop On Command?
You can train your dog and teach him to poop on command. It is not very difficult. You just need to add certain signs or words to your potty training that indicate that your dog needs to poop.
Once your dog understands and links that word to pooping, then he can poop on command. Don’t forget to praise your dog with treats when he obeys your commands.
Why Do Dogs Sniff Before They Poop?
When a dog poops, the anal glands of that dog expel a certain musky scent on the dog’s feces. The scent can express the things that the dog is feeling like there is a different scent for a scared feeling, there is a different scent for marking territory, etc.
The scent makes a statement that other dogs can sense by sniffing.
From the scent, your dog can infer how many dogs have been in the area, if there is a lovely female in the area, and how long the other dogs have been in the area. It helps them stay safe or find a female/male dog to mate with.
Why Do Dogs Poop Every Time They Eat?
Dog’s stomach is connected to their colon and the stomach sends a message to the colon to make room for the new meal. It is a reflex action which means that the dog’s stomach is full and the food needs to move on to the intestine.
Most dogs poop 30 minutes after having a meal. It does not mean that your dog defecated the meal it just had but it is a combination of the previous meals and snacks.
How Long Can A Dog Hold In Poop?
Adult dogs can hold their poop for about 8 hours in case there is no way for them to release. Puppies can hold their poop according to their age. For example, if your pup is 4 months old, then it can hold it in for 4 hours. 8 hours is the maximum amount of time that dogs can hold their poop in.
However, if you have an older dog with some health issues, then it won’t be able to hold the poop in for a long time. You need to take care of senior dogs, especially when it comes to defecating.
What Happens If A Dog Holds His Poop Too Long?
When the poop is held in for a long amount of time, it gets reabsorbed by the dog’s body which can make it sick sometimes. The bacteria in the feces can cause abdominal pain in your dog.
It is less probable for a dog to have to hold in the poop for a longer time. If it happens once in a while then it does not affect your dog much.
Is It Ok For A Dog Not To Poop Every Day?
There is no reason to panic if your dog didn’t poop for 24 hours. Just keep him under observation and if your dear pet still does not defecate after 48 hours then he may be suffering from constipation.
You can give your dog some medications for constipation after consulting with your vet if your dog’s poop routine does not get back to normal. You can also try some home remedies like bran cereal or canned pumpkin that will help your constipated dog.
Does Overfeeding A Dog Cause Loose Stools?
Overfeeding puts pressure on your dog’s digestive system and reduces its efficiency to work normally. This results in an upset stomach and a loose stool in your dog.
It is ok if your dog overeats once in a while but you need to keep a track of your dog’s diet for its good health.
Also Read: Can Your Dog Eat Pepperoni?
How Do I Know My Dog Needs To Poop?
1. Whining
Whining is generally a sign that your dog wants your attention. However, it is common for your dog to whine when it needs to relieve itself.
You will recognize the sounds your dog makes after a while, which one is for attention-seeking and which one is for defecating.
2. Circling
If your dog starts to circle around a particular place, then it means that your dog found its place to defecate. Take immediate action and take it outside unless you want your favorite rug to be destroyed.
You can teach certain commands like “no” or “wait” to stop your dog from pooping in that place.
3. Pacing
If your dog is pacing around the house with agitation, then it is trying to find a location to poop in. You can know for sure that your dog wants to poop by seeing if your dog is sniffing the ground while pacing.
If you take your dog to defecate from the backdoor, then it will pace around the door, indicating that it has to relieve itself.
4. Squats
The squatting position means that you didn’t catch up on the other signs and now your dog is ready to poop there and then.
Just pick up your dog and take it outside in such situations or just put a poop bag under your dog if there is no time.
What Color Poop Is Bad For Dogs?
Any changes in the poop color of dogs are related to the changes in your dog’s diet. It is not a cause for panic most of the time unless you see blood in the stool with the color change. Let us have a look at what the different color stools mean in your dog.
- Brown: Normal Poop
- Red/ Bloody: Bleeding in the lower digestive system
- Black or Dark Brown: Maybe because of stomach ulcer
- Pink: Maybe a symptom of HGE(hemorrhagic gastroenteritis)
- Green: Your four-legged friend probably ate green food
- Grey/greasy: Maybe a sign of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
- Orange: Liver Problems
- Yellow: Intolerance of certain food
How Can I Firm Up My Dogs Stools?
1. Proper Diet
You should get dog food that is rich in protein and fiber and avoid food with more salt and sodium contents. Meat products like Real Meat Air-Dried Dog Food work best for binding your dog’s stool.
Also, avoid foods that are high in fats or processed food as they may contain irritants that affect your dog’s poop.
2. Reduce Fatty Food
The fats in store-bought food become rancid easily which makes your dog’s stomach upset. Avoid fried food, canned food, and food with more oil to avoid runny poop.
3. Lactose-free Food
Some dogs turn intolerant to products with lactose that can cause diarrhea or an upset stomach in your dog. Like a newborn puppy, your dog might not be lactose-intolerant but as it grows older, it can be allergic to milk products.
Avoid any lactose-rich foods to see if the reason for the loose stools is lactose intolerance.
4. Give Dry Food
Some foods are high in water content and that might be the reason for running poop in your dog. Try giving your dog dry food items or a raw food diet that can absorb the excess water for your dog’s body.
How Much Olive Oil Should I Give My Dog For Constipation?
You can add half a teaspoon of olive oil to your dog’s food if your dog has mild constipation. In case of diarrhea, it is best to get some vet-recommended medicine.
If your dog is on a fat-free diet then make sure that you give a very small amount(1/4th teaspoon) of olive oil to your dog.
Conclusion: How Many Times A Day Should A Dog Poop?
The answer to how many times a day should a dog poop is 1 to 5 times a day. Most dogs poop only twice every day after 8 hours of interval.
In case of any sudden changes, don’t panic but keep an eye out for your dog. If the situation does not get better, only then go to your vet.
