Is Soft Stool Normal for Dogs?

Dog poop isn’t just something you step in—it’s a window into your pup’s health! While color can tell one story, texture spills another. If your dog’s droppings have suddenly gone from firm to “meh, kinda mushy” (not full-on diarrhea, but not their usual solid masterpiece), here’s what might be going on.

Common Causes of Soft Dog Poop

The usual suspects? Diet and stress. But sometimes, allergies, illness, or gut issues crash the party. Let’s break it down so you know when to ride it out and when to call the vet.

Dietary Oopsies

• Your dog ate something weird – A trash buffet, mystery sidewalk snack, or even healthy-but-off-limits foods like grapes or citrus can lead to temporary tummy troubles. Usually, it sorts itself out in a day or two.

• Overfeeding – Even too much good food can overwhelm the digestive system. Check the food packaging for the right serving size, or ask your vet. A portion adjustment should firm things up within a couple of days.

• Too many table scraps – Rich, spicy, or fiber-heavy human food can turn their poop into a soft-serve situation. Cut back on the handouts and see if things improve.

• Not enough fiber – Canned food can be low on fiber. Adding a little canned pumpkin or cooked sweet potato (gradually!) can help—about 1 tbsp per meal for small dogs, up to ¼ cup for big ones.

• Sudden diet change – Switching dog food too fast can upset their stomach. Transition gradually over 5–10 days to avoid the mushy mess.

Other Potential Culprits

If food adjustments don’t help, other possible reasons include:

• Parasites

• Allergies

• Stress

• Gut bacteria imbalances

When to Call the Vet

If things don’t firm up with diet tweaks, or you notice any of these red flags, get your vet on speed dial:

• Lethargy

• Blood in poop

• Black, tarry stool

• Bloated belly

• Possible ingestion of a toxin or foreign object

• Diarrhea lasting more than a day

How to Pick Up That Unfortunate Pile

Soft poop is nature’s cruel joke, but cleanup doesn’t have to be a nightmare:

• Thick poop bag method – Use it like a glove, scoop, flip inside out, double bag, and move on.

• Absorb & scoop – Sprinkle sawdust or kitty litter on the mess, wait a few hours, then pick it up easily.

• Call in the pros – Let Scoopy Doog™ handle the dirty work! Our team will scoop the mess so you can focus on your pup’s tummy troubles.

Let Scoopy Doog™ Handle the Cleanup!

At Scoopy Doog Pet Waste Removal, we handle the dirty work so you can focus on belly rubs and fetch. Call us or contact us today for a cleaner, fresher yard!