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.
Compare
OVERALL BEST  1. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Formula Dry Dog Food | RUNNER UP  2. The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Whole Food Clusters Dry Dog Food | BEST FOR SMALL BREEDS  4. Lotus Wholesome Chicken Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food | BEST FOR PUPPIES  5. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food | |
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
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Formula Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 23.0% Min
- Fat: 10.5% Min
- Fiber: 2.0% Max
- Calories: 3,826 kcal/kg, 399 kcal/cup
- Has moderate fat and low fiber, along with prebiotics and minerals to help dogs with digestive problems
- Very palatable
- Low carbohydrates
- Pea-free
- Requires a prescription from your veterinarian
- Expensive
Available in 6-lb, 18-lb, and 32-lb bags.
The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Whole Food Clusters Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 26.0% Min
- Fat: 14.5% Min
- Fiber: 5.0% Max
- Calories: 3,836 kcal/kg, 422 kcal/cup
- 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
- Expensive
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.
Dr. Gary's Best Breed Holistic German Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 25.0% Min
- Fat: 12.0% Min
- Fiber: 4.5% Max
- Calories: 456 kcal/cup
- 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
- Dr. Gary’s Best Breed isn’t well-known everywhere
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.
Lotus Wholesome Chicken Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 24.0% Min
- Fat: 12.0% Min
- Fiber: 3.0% Max
- Calories: 3,456 kcal/kg, 388 kcal/cup
- 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
- Pea fiber is the 9th ingredient which shouldn’t be a big concern
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 27% Min
- Fat: 16% Min
- Fiber: 5% Max
- Calories: 398 kcal/cup
- 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
- Contains various pea ingredients
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
If your dog is producing huge piles of poop—not diarrhea, but poop—it might be time to change foods. Here are some things to look for when shopping for dog food so your dog will produce less poop.
- Avoid cheap dog foods. Nobody likes to overpay for dog food, of course, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Cheap dog foods often include lower-quality ingredients, such as high amounts of fiber and carbohydrates that your dog passes as waste. There is lots of waste.
- Look for more meat protein in the diet. Meat protein produces less waste than carbs and fiber.
- Digestibility is important. Your dog will produce less waste if he eats food that is more digestible. Some dog foods will note their digestibility rating, which should be a high percentage, such as 70–90 percent.
- Choose a food with a moderate amount of fat. Dogs need fat in their diet for a variety of reasons, but too much fat can upset their digestive system.
- Look for foods with lower fiber. Dogs usually do well with a fiber percentage between 4-6 percent, but some foods today have very high fiber percentages. Look for foods that have a lower fiber percentage.
- Kibbles are generally preferable to canned foods for dogs producing lots of stools.
- Consider feeding a “low residue” dog food. Low-residue dog foods are made for dogs that poop a lot. They contain highly digestible ingredients, moderate fat, and low fiber. Expect these foods to be at least 85–90 percent digestible, leaving very little for your dog to produce as waste. These foods can also be a good choice for dogs with flatulence and dogs that have health problems 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.
