Best Dog Food For Firm Stools
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Diarrhea, soft stool, and runs are common gastrointestinal issues in dogs. It’s crucial to identify the cause and manage it effectively.
Soft stools can indicate various issues, from minor to serious. If the dog is not ill and you suspect a rotten food issue, it’s essential to find the best dog food for firm stools.
Our team can provide advice on the best dog foods for firmer stools and help you address your dog’s potty issues.
At a Glance: Best Dog Food for Firm Stools
The comparison table below provides detailed information on each product’s features, and more detailed information about each product will be provided in the article.
Compare Best Dog Food For Firm Stools
OVERALL BEST  1. Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food | RUNNER UP  2. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Dry Dog Food | BEST FOR BUDGET  3. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal High Fiber Dry Dog Food | VET-RECOMMENDED  4. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Formula Dry Dog Food | BEST FOR SENSITIVE STOMACH  5. Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Formula Dry Dog Food |
Protein 17% Min | Protein 24% Min | Protein 21% Min | Protein 21% Min | Protein 26% Min |
Fat 9% Min | Fat 12% Min | Fat 14% Min | Fat 10% Min | Fat 12% Min |
Fiber 9% Max | Fiber 5% Max | Fiber 12.5% Max | Fiber 5% Max | Fiber 5.5% Max |
Calories 343 kcal/cup | Calories 344 kcal/cup | Calories 287 kcal/cup | Calories 350 kcal/cup | Calories 430 kcal/cup |
Causes of Soft Stools in Dogs
Soft stools in dogs can be caused by various factors, including poor-quality diet, food allergies, health problems, sudden changes in diet, eating human food, getting into the trash, poisoning, overeating, medications, parasites, dairy products, too much fat, too little fiber, and stress.
These issues can lead to an upset stomach and diarrhea, which can persist for a long time if the cause is not identified. It is crucial to address these issues to ensure your dog’s health and well-being.
Additionally, medications, even those prescribed by your veterinarian, can sometimes cause diarrhea, and parasites can also affect a dog’s digestive system.
It is essential to identify the cause of your dog’s soft stools to prevent any potential health issues.
Best Rated Dog Foods For Firm Stools Reviewed
Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 17% Min
- Fat: 9% Min
- Fiber: 9% Max
- Calories: 343 kcal/cup
- Designed to support the bacteria in your dog’s gut
- Uses Hill’s ActivBiome Technology which is a mix of active fibers to improve your dog’s regularity
- Encourages the release of “post-biotics” to support your dog’s G.I. tract and break down food
- Promotes healthy, regular stool and reduces future episodes of soft stool and diarrhea
- Formulated by veterinary nutritionists
- Requires a prescription from your veterinarian
- Expensive
This is a prescription diet with an exclusive recipe formulated by the nutritionists and veterinarians at Hill’s. According to Hill’s the food works with the bacteria in your dog’s stomach. The blend of active fibers in the food move through your dog’s body and encourage the release of “post-biotics.”
Since this is a prescription formula you might consider this food as a last resort but it does receive extremely favorable reviews.
Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 24% Min
- Fat: 12% Min
- Fiber: 5% Max
- Calories: 344 kcal/cup
- Easily-digestible proteins, carbohydrates, and fibers for good absorption
- Prebiotic fibers to support microflora in your dog’s gut
- Contains vitamins E and C, along with antioxidants for a healthy immune system
- Requires a prescription from your veterinarian
- Expensive
It has deboned chicken as the first ingredient with moderate fat. It also uses oatmeal and brown rice as carbohydrate/fiber sources. Prebiotic fibers help keep the digestive track healthy. This formula contains no corn, wheat, or soy.
This Blue Buffalo formula does require a prescription from your veterinarian.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal High Fiber Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 21% Min
- Fat: 14% Min
- Fiber: 12.5% Max
- Calories: 287 kcal/cup
- Formulated for several gastrointestinal issues, including stool problems
- Features highly digestible proteins and prebiotics
- Includes a blend of soluble and insoluble fibers
- Contains Omega-3 fatty acids, DHA from fish oil and EPA
- Requires a prescription from your veterinarian
- Expensive
The food combines highly digestible proteins and prebiotics to encourage a balance of good bacteria in your dog’s gut. It also has a blend of dietary fiber for healthy digestion and good stool quality. Omega-3 fatty acids, DHA from fish oil and EPA help soothe your dog’s G.I. tract.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Formula Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 21% Min
- Fat: 10% Min
- Fiber: 5% Max
- Calories: 350 kcal/cup
- Limited ingredient diet
- Fish is the single animal protein
- Sweet potatoes, a good dietary fiber, provides the carbohydrates
- Moderate in fat
- No corn, wheat, soy, and no peas
- Does not require a veterinary prescription
- Less expensive than veterinary formulas
- Does not contain probiotics (but you can add these to your dog’s diet)
It has no corn, wheat, or soy, and it’s pea-free. It’s also grain-free. It has no artificial flavors or colors. Salmon and menhaden fish meal protein the animal protein and sweet potatoes provide most of the carbohydrates and they are high in dietary fiber. Plus, this food requires no prescription and it costs less than the veterinary formulas.
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Formula Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 26% Min
- Fat: 12% Min
- Fiber: 5.5% Max
- Calories: 430 kcal/cup
- Formulated for dogs with food sensitivities
- Turkey is the first ingredient
- Has low-moderate fat content
- No grains or gluten
- Easily digestible formula with probiotics and prebiotics
- Prescription is not required
- Contains peas and potatoes which can be problems for some dogs
It features deboned turkey and turkey meal as meat protein. This formula is especially good for dogs with food sensitivities and it contains no corn, wheat, soy, glutens, artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. And, you don’t need a veterinary prescription to buy this food.
What to Look For When Shopping For Dog Food For Firm Stools
If your dog has diarrhea and your veterinarian has ruled out serious health problems, it is essential to find a good dog food that encourages firmer stools. To do this, choose dry kibble instead of canned food, as wet diets can add moisture and fat, while lower-fat meats like chicken, turkey, fish, and rabbit are preferable.
Choose carbohydrates like rice, oats, and barley, as wheat can be fermentable and cause soft stools. Avoid soy, dairy, and moderate-fat dog foods.
Add probiotics to your dog’s diet to help re-establish good bacteria in the gut.
Ensure your dog’s diet contains appropriate fiber, as soft stools may indicate a lack of fiber in the diet. Ideally, a dog needs both soluble and indigestible fiber, but avoid fermentable fiber like beet pulp and FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides) for large or giant breed dogs.
If you cannot determine what to feed your dog, consider giving them boiled chicken and rice. If your dog has an upset stomach and stool problem, consider adding a tablespoon of canned pumpkin to their regular dog food. Pumpkin is a great source of fiber and can help with constipation, but be aware that canned pumpkin is not the same as pumpkin pie filling, which contains harmful spices.
Final Thoughts
If your dog is experiencing soft stools or diarrhea, consult a veterinarian. If not serious, it may be food-related. Try a suggested food, but make changes slowly due to your dog’s sensitive digestion system. Introduce new foods cautiously to avoid upset digestion. Consult a veterinarian if necessary.
