my dog has excessive stool movements 10-12 a day. poor food quality or health issue?

Question

1 year old lab

Answer 1

Please take your dog to the vet. This is absolutely not normal. it could be worms/parasites, poor food, or a major health problem. Take a stool sample to the vet appointment. make sure your dog is getting plenty of liquids to help keep hydrated. As far as the food, you didn't mention the brand, but here are some tips:As a rule of thumb, avoid all foods that contain any of the following: corn, wheat, soy, sorghum, and any type of by-products.They are very hard on the digestive system. Chances are anything sold at walmart or the grocery store are bad for the dog. Pet Smart and Pet Co are good places to find healthy food. But if you don't have one local try to find something such as Natural Life at Walmart. They are more expensive, but your dog will actually eat less because they will be getting all the good nutrients.

Answer 2

I would say get to the Vet,because it sounds like a health issue.While poor quality foods can increase the amount of stool,and cause more bowel movements per day,I have never heard of it causing that many.10-12 per day is a very excessive amount,and it's very unlikely it's caused by the food.

Answer 3

I would not make a snap judgment & label someone a bad owner based on the brand of food they feed their dog. If an owner is providing their dog with the best food they can reasonably afford, it is far better off being in a home where its basic needs are being met, than being placed in a rescue. After all, rescues have finite resources so have to be pragmatic when deciding which food to purchase & cannot afford premium kibbles & are supplemented by donations from the public. If however the owner is feeding the dog a low quality food but could afford a brand with a superior nutritional content, that is when it becomes a problem, a low end kibble are too high in bulking ingredients & too low in protein. It is anything but food snobbery to be take an interest in the nutritional content of the kibble you are feeding your dog. I purchase the kibble that suits my dog, based on the ingredients & irrespective of the marketing.

Answer 4

Could be poor quality food.
Another consideration is, do you free feed? A dog's system works on "food in - food out". Dogs that free feed will have more stools than one who is fed only once a day.
As long as the stool is solid, I don't think that you have a problem.

Answer 5

That's not right in a lab so young. It could be both. But take a stool sample to your vet so they can check it for worms or whatever. I'd make an appt as well to have the vet check him out.

Answer 6

Sounds like a health issue to me. At the very least call you vet and ask them over the phone about this situation. They might tell you to bring your dog in for a check up or tell you what food to get for him.

Answer 7

I would talk to your vet about that, it could be a health issue. Perhaps some kind of intestinal problem, you should not procrastinate in checking into this. Bowel problems in dogs are a serious matter they can lead to long term issues.

Answer 8

What in the world are you feeding your dog? This just ain't right. How often are you feeding your dog? My dog ate a whole powdered can of slim fast and didn't poop that much. Seek a vets opinion. Good luck

Answer 9

It could be a health issue or the food, I would discuss this with my vet. Good Luck.

Answer 10

Sounds like diarrhea... perhaps he has ascaris or some sort of parasite that causes excessive needs to poop. Like someone else said, take a sample and take it to a veterinarian for an examination.