Guest ArtysPeople Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 We've been feeding the "new and improved" Canidae for almost a whole bag now, and I've given up hope that Arty's poops are going to firm up any more than they already have. When he goes first thing in the morning, it more-or-less holds its shape, but it's all soft serve from there. Here's the thing, though, and why I put this in "Health and Medical" instead of "Food and Dietary": is having soft poop necessarily a bad thing? If the dog's overall health, coat, and energy level are all great, and if the food is of good quality, is poop consistency alone an indication that something is "wrong"? I just wonder how much it has to do with health and how much it has to do with marketing to consumers who are picking up the poop. I'm not asking for additives or food suggestions, I just want your opinions: does long-term soft poop = an unhealthy dog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SoulsMom Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 (edited) Well, I'm no canine expert so I don't know. But I've often wondered the same thing. Because as a person and a vegetarian, I feel worse when it's too firm. Ok, TMI . . . . Edited November 12, 2008 by SoulsMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerlinsMum Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Very good question, and great idea for a thread, Christie... I find myself wondering about this all the time. Merlin's poops have been consistently soft (too soft) and light for several months now. I worry about it because loose poops are less efficient poops and also because as I understand it, it means that the dog's anal glands aren't expressing themselves the way they should. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong! On the other hand, Merlin's coat is the shiniest, softest it's ever been, his energy levels are normal for his temperament and age, his appetite is healthy, etc. So maybe I should stop worrying about this constantly? Not sure. Hoping for an expert opinion on this. Quote Kerry with Lupin in beautiful coastal Maine. Missing Pippin, my best friend and sweet little heart-healer 2013-2023 Also missing the best wizard in the world, Merlin, and my sweet 80lb limpet, Sagan, every single day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschultz Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 omg i think for the last month all i do is talk poop..lol. i can ask my vet. I will be talking to him AGAIN tomorrow regarding Lexie's poop. Quote Lexie is gone but not forgotten.💜 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 It's not good for the anal glands Stop & think about people poop: would you like that consistancy? Would it be considered healthy? I think not. A good question! Off to research Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Well I'm no expert, that's for sure, but Wayne has always had rather soft poop and according to my vet, he's very healthy. His weight is good, allergies are gone and his coat and skin are in great shape. Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SoulsMom Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Along the same lines . . . .with Soul's sickness lately he's developed a sore on his rectum. Is it ok for me to spray Bactine on that? I've been wiping him with doggie wipes after #2 . . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ArtysPeople Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 It's not good for the anal glands Stop & think about people poop: would you like that consistancy? Would it be considered healthy? I think not. A good question! Off to research Well, see, the thing is that I've never tried to pick my own poop up off the grass, so I can't say if it's that consistency or not. Seriously, it's been a while since I've seen my poop in any context other than underwater, so I can't really say how it compares to Arty's. OK, who wants to apply for the federal grant money to find out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Well I'm no expert, that's for sure, but Wayne has always had rather soft poop and according to my vet, he's very healthy. His weight is good, allergies are gone and his coat and skin are in great shape. Same with my Beau. His poop has been loose for years. I have brought in sampe after sample convinced there was something wrong. Finally, I switched to Proplan sensitive stomach/ salmon and it's MUCH better. Soft, but very formed. The glucosomine and missing link I add to their food keeps it on the soft side. Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieProf Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I don't have an answer to the soft poop issue overall (and am looking forward to what others have to say on it) BUT I have read that the anal gland thing is a myth -- that it's the muscles that express the gland, not the firm poop itself. Can't vouch for the correctness of that, however (and would never have guessed a few months ago that I'd be opining on such matters in a public forum!!) Quote With Cocoa (DC Chocolatedrop), missing B for Beth (2006-2015)And kitties C.J., Klara, Bernadette, John-Boy, & Sinbad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerlinsMum Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I also think it depends on HOW soft it is. We should remember that the looser the stool, the greater the chance of dehydration. That cannot be good. Quote Kerry with Lupin in beautiful coastal Maine. Missing Pippin, my best friend and sweet little heart-healer 2013-2023 Also missing the best wizard in the world, Merlin, and my sweet 80lb limpet, Sagan, every single day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyDoodle Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 (edited) Along the same lines . . . .with Soul's sickness lately he's developed a sore on his rectum. Is it ok for me to spray Bactine on that? I've been wiping him with doggie wipes after #2 . . . . . I wouldn't use Bactine, it's got alcohol (and probably other things) that burn. I use Pledgets. Pledget Linky Is that the brand of doggie wipes you're using? ETA to respond to original question--Daisy is otherwise healthy, but has soft poo and she does have trouble w her anal glands. We just express them every once in a while and she's okay. She did have one bad infection where the vet wanted to remove her anal glands, but I decided that the risks of side effects (loss of rectal control) wasn't acceptable. We treated w antibiotics for several weeks and they finally cleared up. Unfortunately, Daisy is allergic to most dog foods, so we feel like the poo is as good as it's going to get and she isn't itchy, so we're ahead overall. DD Edited November 12, 2008 by DaisyDoodle Quote DonnaMolly the Border Collie & Poquita the American-born Podenga Bridge Babies: Daisy (Positive Delta) 8/7/2000 - 4/6/2115, Agnes--angel Sage's baby (Regall Rosario) 11/12/01 - 12/18/13, Lucky the mix (Found, w 10 puppies 8/96-Bridge 7/28/11, app. age 16) & CoCo (Cosmo Comet) 12/28/89-5/4/04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 OK this is for humans Stool Analysis Stool analysis Normal: The stool appears brown, soft, and well-formed in consistency. The stool does not contain blood, mucus, pus, harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. The stool is shaped like a tube. The pH of the stool is about 6. The stool contains less than 2 milligrams per gram (mg/g) of sugars called reducing factors. Abnormal: The stool is black, red, white, yellow, or green. The stool is liquid or very hard. There is too much stool. The stool contains blood, mucus, pus, harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. The stool contains low levels of enzymes, such as trypsin or elastase. The pH of the stool is less than 5.3 or greater than 6.8. The stool contains more than 5 mg/g of sugars called reducing factors; between 2 and 5 mg/g is considered borderline. The stool contains more than 7 g of fat (if your fat intake is about 100 g a day). Many conditions can change the results of a stool analysis. Your doctor will talk with you about any abnormal results that may be related to your symptoms and medical history. Dogs: A site that discusses mainly diarreha, and lists other ailments: Ron Hines, DVM and here Hickory Vet Hospital Normal dog and cat feces vary widely in character, consistency and frequency. It is normal for the last part of a dog’s stool to be soft or semi-soft, especially if the dog is fed dry dog food. It is important for the client to note the color of the feces, the presence of frank blood, black tar-like material, mucus or fat. The client may observe urgency, flatulence (gas) or straining after defecation. This information is helpful to the veterinarian in diagnosing and treating the animal other than dog food companies, I haven't yet found a good description! Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahicks51 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 More information than you ever, ever, ever wanted to know about poop quality. Quote Coco (Maze Cocodrillo) Minerva (Kid's Snipper) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ArtysPeople Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 (edited) More information than you ever, ever, ever wanted to know about poop quality. Ah, yes, the good old Bristol scale. So Arty's starting point these days is a Bristol-4, and then gets softer (but not watery) from there. The hardest I've ever seen him have were a 3. Edited November 12, 2008 by ArtysPeople Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethGPAPS Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 More information than you ever, ever, ever wanted to know about poop quality. "Fluffy"? Quote Rugrat's Rebel (Simon) 09/03/1995-03/22/2010, Silly Savannah 05/14/1995-02/13/2009, Isabella de Moreau the Sloughi 05/15/1993-10/14/2008, Hammy the IG 06/11/04 and ChiChi the Chihuahua 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytluck Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Well Hobbes has always been kinda on the soft side of thing when on kibble. When on raw it was the opposite extreme. Now that he is recovering from lepto which has caused acute kidney disease his poop is perfectly formed. It's actually the best I've ever seen it, I even told the vet I was so amazed. So it can't be a great indicator of health in my opinion, because the boy is far from healthy at this point. Quote Hobbes-Ricard Hatch09/23/99-12/21/09 Always loved, never forgotten. Wally TNJ Boy Howdy, GLS Genuinerisk Corinna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytkidsmom Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Along the same lines . . . .with Soul's sickness lately he's developed a sore on his rectum. Is it ok for me to spray Bactine on that? I've been wiping him with doggie wipes after #2 . . . . . What about a diaper rash ointment? Something that will protect his skin from the poopage. I think bactine would hurt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreytHoundPoet Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I've been told that soft but well formed is fine. Some dogs never get hard stool. NOt sure if it's true, but I've had a vet tell me that... OUt of my 4...2 are hard stool and 2 ae soft but well formed....all are healthy. Quote Masquerade Hounds & The Hounds of East Fairhaven & Ibizan Hound Club of the United States Member Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sweetpea Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Here's my poop philosophy: While I have never had the opportunity or inclination to inspect the fruits of my own labor, I know that diarhea makes me miserable, ergo diarhea must make my dog miserable. When Sweetpea and I were searching for the perfect food for her, it wasn't just a question of soft-serve versus formed little turdlets. Her poo was a barometer of how well a food agreed with her, and for 9 months, there was a lot of disagreement! And it wasn't just pudding poo, there was usually also a lot of gas, so virulent you could taste it. After 1 evet visit with a bag of bloody pudding poo plus 3 regular vet visits (with tests and cultures and flagyl prescriptions) and still no medical explanation, the quest for the perfect food began. We found it, and thanks to Ahicks clever little Bristol scale we can tell you that Sweetpea regularly produces "3"s and "4"s. (Although they lost me at fluffy as well.) Sometimes the proof is in the poop. Buzzy and the lovely and proud-producer-of-3-graded-poo Sweetpea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragsysmum Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Personally I think there is far too much fuss about the 'quality' of dog poop particularly where greys are concerned.I have found with all our dogs that the more exercise they get through the day the softer their poops become after the first one whatever food they are on. As long as they do not have the big D, show no signs of anal gland problems and are otherwise healthy looking and fit, I don't worry about it. To be honest I think many people only care because it is easier to pick up solid poops and the constant owner concern and food changes and 'firming up' additions actually upset the dogs and make the situation worse. Quote Sue from England Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vahoundlover Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Along the same lines . . . .with Soul's sickness lately he's developed a sore on his rectum. Is it ok for me to spray Bactine on that? I've been wiping him with doggie wipes after #2 . . . . . I'd use Neosporin. That's what our vet had us use for Bossy's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SoulsMom Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Along the same lines . . . .with Soul's sickness lately he's developed a sore on his rectum. Is it ok for me to spray Bactine on that? I've been wiping him with doggie wipes after #2 . . . . . I'd use Neosporin. That's what our vet had us use for Bossy's. Actually, I've been using bag balm since in worked so well for his "Tufts rash" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FrostyBottoms Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Vinny's poops went south after the new Canidae, i switched to Kirkland....and they got worse.....I went to the doggy health food store by me and they gave me NutriLife for him. It is made in Wisconsin with WI animals and birds......he is finally getting firm...like drop and roll firm, after being on it for about 1 1/2 months. He also doesn't have nearly as much gas. While he was on the Kirkland food, I had to get his anal glads drained for the first time. So I know it affects the anal glands for sure if they don't have a solid poop to naturally drain them. Good luck! I am finally enjoying a gassy free house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilDog Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Wow. Well Roscoe is always a 3, so i guess I'm not going to worry about it any more. I think when the scale referred to #6 as 'fluffy', they were referring to what we call 'pudding poo'. I know Roscoe has gotten 6 from time to time and i can see why it might be called so. Quote Lisa with Finnegan (Nina's Fire Fly) and Sage (Gil's Selma). Always missing Roscoewww.popdogdesigns.net pop art prints, custom portraits and collars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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