Best Dog Foods For Less Poop

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Dog poop is an important topic for those of us who own dogs. This may be because we spend a lot of time scooping and inspecting dog poop or because we’ve been told that our dog’s droppings can reveal details about his health.

You might undoubtedly be concerned if your dog seems to be pooping more than you believe to be normal. A food problem can be the culprit.

If food is the issue, we can recommend the best dog food to reduce poop. As a result, you and your pup will both be happy.

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OVERALL BEST 1. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Formula Dry Dog Food View on Chewy Read Review	RUNNER UP 2. The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Whole Food Clusters Dry Dog Food View on Prf Read Review	BEST AFFORDABLE 3. Dr. Gary's Best Breed Holistic German Dry Dog Food View on Chewy Read Review	BEST FOR SMALL BREEDS 4. Lotus Wholesome Chicken Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food View on Chewy Read Review	BEST FOR PUPPIES 5. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food View on Chewy Read Review
Protein 23.0% Min	Protein 26.0% Min	Protein 25.0% Min	Protein 24.0% Min	Protein 27% Min
Fat 10.5% Min	Fat 14.5% Min	Fat 12.0% Min	Fat 12.0% Min	Fat 16% Min
Fiber 2.0% Max	Fiber 5.0% Max	Fiber 4.5% Max	Fiber 3.0% Max	Fiber 5% Max
Calories 3,826 kcal/kg, 399 kcal/cup	Calories 3,836 kcal/kg, 422 kcal/cup	Calories 456 kcal/cup	Calories 3,456 kcal/kg, 388 kcal/cup	Calories 398 kcal/cup

What to Look for in Your Dog’s Poop

When we say that dog poop is a big deal, we’re not kidding. In fact, both Purina and Waltham, two of the biggest pet food companies that devote quite a bit of money to pet food research, have developed their own scoring systems for rating dog feces.

The systems are based on things like quality, shape, consistency, color, and firmness. You can see the Waltham Centre’s scoring system here; and Purina’s scoring system here. You can compare your dog’s poop to these pictures and see where it rates.

Dogs are individuals, so some dogs can have feces that will always be a little different—maybe a little softer than ordinary or a little firmer. If you pick up after your dog regularly, you probably know what is normal for your dog.

What you don’t want to see is straining to poop or small, hard feces, which can indicate constipation.

And you don’t want to see diarrhea or blood in your dog’s stool. An adult dog can defecate anywhere from one to four or five times per day and still be quite normal as long as the stool quality is good. On occasion, a dog may even have a stool that is oddly colored.

This can be due to a change in diet. As long as this is temporary, it’s probably nothing to worry about, but if it continues, you should see your veterinarian.

Best Dog Foods For Less Poop Reviewed

OVERALL BEST

1.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Formula Dry Dog Food

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Product Info

• Protein: 23.0% Min
• Fat: 10.5% Min
• Fiber: 2.0% Max
• Calories: 3,826 kcal/kg, 399 kcal/cup

Pros

• Has moderate fat and low fiber, along with prebiotics and minerals to help dogs with digestive problems
• Very palatable
• Low carbohydrates
• Pea-free

Cons

• Requires a prescription from your veterinarian
• Expensive

If your dog has a serious problem with producing large amounts of feces, you may want to talk to your vet about a prescription diet such as Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Formula Dry Dog Food. This food is highly digestible and has moderate fat. It also has very low fiber content along with certain minerals that could help your dog.

Available in 6-lb, 18-lb, and 32-lb bags.

RUNNER UP

2.

The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Whole Food Clusters Dry Dog Food

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Product Info

• Protein: 26.0% Min
• Fat: 14.5% Min
• Fiber: 5.0% Max
• Calories: 3,836 kcal/kg, 422 kcal/cup

Pros

• Human-grade ingredients meet FDA human safety standards
• Made in small batches in a human food kitchen
• Minimally processed
• No corn, wheat, or soy; grain-free, high protein, gluten-free, GMO-free, and low glycemic
• No by-products, rendered meals, grains, artificial colors, or flavors

Cons

• Expensive

It’s not always easy to find dog foods that have low fiber so we were surprised to find that Honest Kitchen had a good low fiber dog food. The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Whole Food Clusters Dry Dog Food is kibble that comes in cold-pressed, slow-roasted, dehydrated form. There is minimal processing involved. This is human-grade food that is made to meet the United States Food & Drug Administration’s safety standards.

This food has moderate fat and low fiber so we think it could be a good choice for dogs that are producing a lot of stool.

Contains no corn, wheat, or soy and it’s grain-free with high protein. It’s also gluten-free, GMO-free, and low glycemic.

Available in 1-lb, 5-lb, and 20-lb bags.

BEST AFFORDABLE

3.

Dr. Gary's Best Breed Holistic German Dry Dog Food

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Product Info

• Protein: 25.0% Min
• Fat: 12.0% Min
• Fiber: 4.5% Max
• Calories: 456 kcal/cup

Pros

• Formulated for large breed dogs such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Dobermans
• Chicken and menahaden fish are the first proteins
• Contains a balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid for good skin and coat health
• No corn, wheat, soy, or peas
• Has quality fiber to help maintain gastrointestinal functions
• New Zealand green-lipped sea mussels support joint health

Cons

• Dr. Gary’s Best Breed isn’t well-known everywhere

Some people may not be familiar with Dr. Gary’s Best Breed dog foods but they have been making quality dog foods for many years.

They make foods based on nutrition and not fads. Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Holistic German Dry Dog Food is formulated for large and giant breeds that include German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers. This formula has animal protein from chicken, menhaden fish, and eggs.

New Zealand green-lipped sea mussels provide a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin for good joint and connective tissue health. This formula has moderate fat and low fiber so we think it could also be a good choice for dogs that are producing a lot of poop.

Dr. Gary’s Best Breed comes in other recipes for other breeds and dogs of other sizes.

Available in 4-lb, 15-lb, and 30-lb bags.

BEST FOR SMALL BREEDS

4.

Lotus Wholesome Chicken Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food

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Product Info

• Protein: 24.0% Min
• Fat: 12.0% Min
• Fiber: 3.0% Max
• Calories: 3,456 kcal/kg, 388 kcal/cup

Pros

• Fresh chicken is the first ingredient
• Has moderate fat, low fiber and it’s low in starch
• Oven-baked to help preserved nutrients
• Contains antioxidants from fruits and vegetables
• Contains optimized calcium and phosphorus
• Includes healthy grains

Cons

• Pea fiber is the 9th ingredient which shouldn’t be a big concern

A favorite of The Whole Dog Journal over the years, Lotus pet food may still be unfamiliar to some dog lovers. The company has a number of very good dog foods. We found that some of their foods had moderate fat and low fiber so they could be good choices for dogs that need to produce less poop. Lotus Wholesome Chicken Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food is an oven-baked kibble that combines real chicken, fish, brown rice and fruits and vegetables. Olive and salmon oils provide your dog with healthy omega fatty acids. This food is low in starch and less processed than many other kibbles. And, it has moderate fat and low fiber. Available in 5-lb, 12.5-lb, and 25-lb bags.

BEST FOR PUPPIES

5.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

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Product Info

• Protein: 27% Min
• Fat: 16% Min
• Fiber: 5% Max
• Calories: 398 kcal/cup

Pros

• Deboned chicken as a good source of protein
• Calcium, phosphorus and vitamins for strong bones and teeth
• Contains glucosamine for joint health and mobility support
• Chelated minerals are easier for your dog to absorb
• No corn, wheat, soy, or chicken/poultry by-product meals
• Moderate fat and low fiber

Cons

• Contains various pea ingredients

For fans of Blue Buffalo, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food contains moderate fat and low fiber. This food could be a good choice if you’re looking for a food to help your dog produce less poop. And it contains no corn, wheat, or soy.

This formula features deboned chicken as a protein source for healthy muscle development.

Available in 3-lb, 6-lb, 15-lb, 24-lb, and 30-lb bags.

How Can Diet Help My Dog Poop Less?

If your dog is producing lots of poop, even though he doesn’t have diarrhea or other digestive problems, it’s probably diet-related. Some dog foods can contain high percentages of fiber and carbohydrates that dogs can pass as waste.

Not all fiber and carbohydrates are “bad,” and some are easier for dogs to digest than others, but a lot depends on the formulation of these ingredients in the dog food. Cheap dog food is often a culprit because these foods tend to use low-quality filler ingredients that your dog can’t digest well, so they are passed as big piles of waste.

There are a number of things that can cause stool problems for dogs:

• Food digestibility
• Cheap dog food
• Gastrointestinal bacterial population
• Intestinal disease
• Toxins
• Medications
• Botanicals (herbs), Nutraceuticals, and Nutritional oils
• Vitamin supplements
• Food allergy or sensitivity
• Vaccination
• Exercise
• Emotional stress

If you suspect that your dog is producing voluminous stools because of his diet, we can recommend the best dog food for less poop.

There are a number of foods that should be able to help your dog with this issue. Many people report an almost immediate improvement in stool size and quality after changing their dog’s food.

What to Look For When Shopping For Dog Food For Less Poop

When shopping for dog food, consider the following factors to reduce poop production:

1. Avoid cheap dog foods, as they often contain lower-quality ingredients and high amounts of waste.
2. Increase meat protein in your dog’s diet, as it produces less waste than carbohydrates and fiber.
3. Choose foods with a high digestibility rating, such as 70-90 percent.
4. Choose foods with moderate fat content, as too much fat can upset the digestive system.
5. Look for foods with lower fiber percentages, between 4-6 percent.
6. Consider “low residue” dog food, which contains highly digestible ingredients, moderate fat, and low fiber. These foods are at least 85-90 percent digestible, leaving little waste for your dog.

Kibbles are generally preferred over canned foods for dogs producing lots of stools. Low-residue dog foods are also beneficial for dogs with flatulence and health issues with their colon and pancreas.

Final Thoughts

If your dog is producing more poop than seems normal, you can take a sample to your veterinarian to get his or her opinion. In most cases, if you rule out health problems, dogs produce voluminous amounts of poop or “fluffy” stools because of the food they’re eating. Changing your dog’s food to one that has moderate fat and lower fiber can often solve the problem and make both you and your dog feel better.