My Dog Has Soft Stool, Is That Normal?

We always keep an eye on our dog's health, and that's why when we notice changes in the consistency of their stool, we wonder whether it could be a sign of some condition, or just something temporary.

You've surely wondered at some point whether it's normal for a dog to have soft stool, so let's look at the main causes and whether or not we should worry.

What should a dog's stool look like?

A healthy dog's stool should have a firm consistency and hold its shape. Normally, when this stool first passes, it's softer than after it's sat for a while and dried and hardened. This isn't a problem at all; however, very soft, shapeless stool points to some kind of disruption, usually digestive.

Is it bad for a dog to have soft stool?

Studies and general theory usually say diarrhea is defined by a change in daily bowel movement frequency (more often than normal) along with a change in consistency (which can also affect volume).

Soft stool (normal right after passing, if it then hardens) isn't the same as mushy stool. As odd as it may sound, there's a wide range of consistency, and this will give the vet clues about what process may or may not be occurring.

Depending on the diet given, a certain stool consistency can also be normal. With dry kibble (conventional), stool tends to be firmer, since it's not a food with a high water content. However, with other diets, such as wet food (canned) or the BARF diet, stool tends to be softer than with dry kibble.

We should also weigh this consistency against whether the animal seems listless or has any other symptom, since in medicine, things aren't always black and white.

Reasons a dog has soft stool

Here are some of the reasons that can cause a change in your dog's stool consistency.

A change in diet

Changing a dog's food can be a fairly routine thing, and we should especially do it when our pet transitions from puppy (quality diet) to adult, and from adult to senior (or geriatric), since each stage has different requirements. That said, an abrupt diet change can cause softer stool than usual, or diarrhea.

We should switch food gradually over three days, slowly adding in the new kibble mixed with the old one. Each day, we'll add a bit more of the new food, so it gradually becomes part of their diet (25%, 50%, and 75% over three days). This way, we'll prevent gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea or soft stool.

If, despite making a gradual change and allowing a few days to adjust, your dog still has gastrointestinal issues, it may be that this food doesn't agree with them, and it might be a good idea to go back to their previous food or look for a new alternative.

Intestinal parasites

Did you know it's necessary to deworm a dog internally at least once every two to three months? Many people forget that dogs spend the day eating things off the ground.

Dogs are very prone to different types of intestinal parasites, which is why we need to keep them properly dewormed. The presence of parasites in their digestive tract can cause softer-than-usual stool or even worms visible in the stool.

Stress

Stress is a key factor in our dog's health, and soft stool can sometimes be a symptom of it. Have you ever traveled by car with a dog who doesn't like the car? The stress they experience is such that when the car stops and they're let out, the first thing they do is have a softer bowel movement than usual.

That's why, if we suspect our dog may be experiencing stress, we should take action to address it. These are usually temporary episodes.

Eating things they shouldn't

Dogs are dogs, and by that we mean that if they find anything appealing out on the street, they'll eat it. Their animal instinct means they're not rational when it comes to eating — they don't stop to think whether it'll agree with them or not, they just eat.

Eating grass treated with pesticides can cause softer stool, as can eating expired or spoiled products. Even eating non-digestible things can cause inflammation of the digestive tract, as can feeding them leftovers from our own food that they're not used to, or that are high in fat.

Underlying diseases

There are certain conditions affecting a dog's digestive system that are often mistaken for simple digestive issues or poor nutrition. Some diseases in dogs that can cause soft stool or even diarrhea are:

• Pancreatitis.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Parvovirus.
• Giardia sp.
• Kidney failure.

There are actually more. Before getting scared and thinking your dog might have one of these, watch for other symptoms they have, since soft stool is just one of them, and ask your vet if you have any doubts.

Should I worry if my dog has soft stool?

If the stool is soft but holds its shape, we should note whether this is a one-off occurrence or a regular thing, along with any other possible symptoms. If their stool is soft and shapeless — that is, more liquid — you should see the vet so they can be examined and possible conditions ruled out.

My dog only has soft stool sometimes

Generally, this is because they've eaten something outside their usual diet that may or may not agree with them. That said, there are conditions such as Giardia sp. (an intestinal parasite) that show soft stool as a symptom sometimes, and firm stool other times. Similarly, conditions such as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) can cause chronic diarrhea as a symptom.

So it's worth staying alert and checking with the vet if it happens often, in case it turns out to be one of these (or other) conditions.