
Bizarre as it may sound, but a dog poop can tell you many stories.
Especially about what’s happening inside your furry friend’s tummy.
So what does it mean when your dog’s poop changes consistency?
Is this a cause for concern?
More importantly, what can you do to help?
Keep reading to discover:
- What’s a bland diet.
- What makes a dog poop start solid then runny.
- 11 vital tips to make your dog’s poop go back to normal.
- And much, much more…
Table of contents
- Why is my dog’s poop normal and then runny?
- My dog poop starts solid then runny: 11 vital tips
- #1: Take note of the poop
- #2: Check your pup after they poop
- #3: Trace your dog’s whereabouts
- #4: Find out if your dog has a food allergy or intolerance
- #5: Check for toxic plants or items
- #6: Avoid giving table scraps
- #7: Feed them right
- #8: Temporarily stop feeding your pooch
- #9: Introduce Bland Diet
- #10: Over-the-counter medication
- #11: Seek help from your vet
Why is my dog’s poop normal and then runny?
This means that your dog’s gut wasn’t able to absorb water properly. The solid stool has a longer time to pass the gut, allowing full water absorption. While the loose part of the poop means water is absorbed poorly. This is caused by factors such as physical activity, diet, food allergies, etc.
My dog poop starts solid then runny: 11 vital tips
#1: Take note of the poop
This may seem weird. But it can be useful.
With just their poop, you can learn a lot about your dog’s health.
What should you observe?
First, you can look if there are traces of other materials in your doggo’s poop. Some examples are:
- Blood.
- Mucus.
- Worms.
- White bits.
Those can give you more clues as to what caused the abnormality of your Fido’s feces.
For example, mucus on your doggo’s stool can mean an inflamed colon.
While white bits indicate the possibility of a tapeworm.
If you find grass or fiber residue with the poop, it can mean stress or gastric upset.
Moreover, you should also take note of the poop’s color.
Always remember…
Normal dog poop should be chocolate brown.
However, if your pup is eating a lot of food with added color, it may also reflect in their stool.
Some of the poop colors you should look out for are orange/yellow, green, gray, and black.
Note: If you see your Fido’s poop having these colors, it’s best to immediately take them to the vet.
#2: Check your pup after they poop
Check their condition immediately once you see your dog having a solid then runny poop.
But if your dog is acting normal, then it must be something minor.
The reason your dog’s poop turned out that way might be because of physical activities.
Exercise or running can accelerate the movements of your Fido’s tummy.
And those can cause fecal matter to exit their body quicker.
As a result, water absorption wasn’t completed by their digestive tract.
On the contrary, if your doggo is displaying abnormal behavior after pooping…
Then, it can be the start of full-blown diarrhea.
Falls Road Animal Hospital listed down symptoms of diarrhea in dogs:
- Vomiting.
- Weakness.
- Lack of appetite.
- Unusual Drooling.
When those show, you might need to do some home remedies or ask the help of your vet.
Another equally important thing is to check your Fido’s pooping frequency.
Find out if they suddenly poop more often. Then, also note if they’re straying from their normal pooping schedule.
You might also like: Help, My Dog Hasn’t Pooped In 4 Days! 15 Reasons + 5 Tips
#3: Trace your dog’s whereabouts
Is your Fido running around the neighborhood all day?
If yes, there might be a chance that your playful pup contacted some parasites.
And this has caused their stool to go from solid to runny.
Microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses cause problems in your pooch’s tummy.
The same is true for parasites such as:
- Giardia.
- Coccidia.
- Hookworms.
- Roundworms.
Your Fido could’ve eaten some garbage or infected food outdoors. And that’s how they got parasites.
Some of them can also be found in the soil, other dogs’ poop, or directly passed on from other dogs.
Knowing your Fido went off can be very useful, especially when consulting your vet.
#4: Find out if your dog has a food allergy or intolerance

If you still haven’t done this, I highly recommend that you do.
Why?
That’s because food allergies or intolerance can cause your dog’s abnormal bowel movement.
The same problem could repeat several times if you don’t take some action.
What is the difference between food intolerance and food allergy?
Food intolerance doesn’t involve your pooch’s immune system.
It happens when your Fido eats something that their body can’t digest easily.
In contrast, food allergy is the overreaction of your pooch’s immune system.
Both of these can cause gut irritation.
There are several causes of food allergy in your Fidos.
Research on food allergies in pets showed that most dogs are allergic to beef and dairy.
This can be attributed to the protein found in these products.
Dogs are also prone to lactose intolerance.
#5: Check for toxic plants or items
Pooches like to chomp on some grass or plants when they’re outside.
But some plants are toxic and can cause an upset stomach.
You can check this list from ASPCA on plants that can be toxic to animals.
Your Fido might have eaten one of those resulting in a runny poop.
Most of these plants have mild effects. But some trigger something more serious.
Also, consider other toxic food and non-food items that your dog might have ingested.
Examples are:
- Onions.
- Vitamin D.
- Rat poison.
- Chocolates.
- Grapes/Raisins.
Read Next: Fact Check: Are Calibrachoa Poisonous To Dogs?
#6: Avoid giving table scraps
Aside from developing a bad habit in your Fido, giving them table scraps has another effect.
It can also make assessing your pooch’s health problems difficult.
This is because your doggo’s food isn’t the same every day.
Moreover, the risk of giving your pooch something harmful like an onion is greater.
As I’ve previously mentioned…
There are human foods that your Fido can’t eat.
But sometimes, you can unconsciously mix it in the table scraps you’re about to give your pooch.
Doing so can cause your fur baby to have diarrhea or GI infection.
That’s a big no-no!
#7: Feed them right

Your doggo’s diet and feeding habits can be why their stool turns runny.
You see, low-quality dog food and dog treats can cause stomach issues.
Many fur parents suggest Nature Balance’s LID dog food.
They said that it helped their pups who had solid-runny poop.
Similarly, if you recently changed your Fido’s diet, the same problem could arise.
Why?
Dogs have sensitive guts.
And they can have a hard time adjusting to the proteins in new dog foods.
So, switching dog food mustn’t be sudden.
AKC suggests that you have a 5-7 days transition period.
During this time, you’ll gradually introduce the new food to your pooch’s diet.
Another thing is to avoid overfeeding your Fidos.
Their digestive system can’t fully achieve total absorption if there’s too much food.
As a result?
You guessed it right…
It’s none other than a poop that is partially solid and runny.
Editor’s Pick: 21 Dog Breeds That Are Prone To Have Sensitive Stomachs
#8: Temporarily stop feeding your pooch
Fasting your pooch for 12 to 24 hours can return their poop to normal.
This way, their gastrointestinal tract can recover and rest.
However, this isn’t an option for all dogs.
Puppies and small dogs may not have the capacity to do fasting.
You should consider your dog’s age and size before trying this method.
But, continue giving your Fido water during fasting. Doing so would keep them hydrated.
If they won’t drink water, try giving them ice chips to chew on.
#9: Introduce Bland Diet
Sometimes the treatment your Fido needs for his loose bowels is a home-cooked meal.
It’s time to give your pooch a special diet, called a bland diet.
It might not sound as appetizing.
But trust me, a bland diet effectively firms up your doggo’s stool.
How so?
It’s easy to digest and very mild to your pup’s gut.
So what is a bland made up of?
There are only two components needed for a bland diet.
A protein source and a starch source.
The protein source can be from a skinless and boneless chicken.
And your starch can come from boiled sweet potatoes, rice.
Also, the chicken or other protein source must have no extra fat.
Fatty and greasy food isn’t good for a pooch with an upset stomach or diarrhea.
Most importantly, don’t season any of the ingredients.
Seasoning may cause more harm than good for your Fido’s guts.
You can also add plain yogurt to the mix as your probiotic and prebiotic source.
Purina Fortiflora is another probiotic supplement.
Like yogurt, it promotes normal intestinal microflora in your Fido’s guts.
Here is a simple bland diet recipe for your pooch that you can follow:
Other foods like pure pumpkin puree, fennel, and cottage cheese are also gut-friendly.
Those can help soothe your Fido’s tummy.
Weruva even made pumpkin puree made exclusively for dogs and cats.
#10: Over-the-counter medication
According to AKC, human medicine like Metronidazole can work for your doggo’s runny poop.
It’s a prescription-only antibiotic used for treating diarrhea.
Its famous brands include Flagyl, Metizol, and Metrogel.
Essentially, this antibiotic fights bacterial infection. But it’s also used to treat parasites such as Giardia.
However, a new study has shown that it can have some side effects.
So before giving any Metronidazole to your Fido, always ask your veterinarian first.
#11: Seek help from your vet
It may seem normal to have your doggo’s stool turn from solid to runny.
But there are still things that you should watch out for.
You can scoop out your dog’s poop and let the expert run some tests to be sure that nothing’s wrong.
Similarly, if your dog’s poop develops into a more runny consistency, it’s time to call the vet.
Last but not least…
If your pup is getting weak, take them to see a specialist immediately.