Poop question

[kshort49]

Hi-I know this is a gross subject, but I have a question about Maia's poops.
She is really well housebroken and I don't have any problems that way. Since she is one of those wonderful pups that tries to eat their own poops (yech), I am always right there to clean up after her. Well her bowel movements look wierd. The first part of it is normally formed but the rest of it is loose (not formed). As I never have had to see a dogs poop up close and personal like this before, is it normal? Am I feeding her too much food so part of it isn't digesting right? She is on Innova large breed adult food, so I thought this food would really make her movements more solid. She has been checked for worms, and is fine. I'm sorry this is so long (and gross) but I know you guys will let me know if there is something I'm missing here. Thanks for your help. Kathy and Maia

[fairlight]

First of all how old is Maia?...second, has her poop always been this way? Third.....we took about poop here all the time..it doesn't phaise us in the least.

[kshort49]

Maia is 1 1/2 years old. She has never had super solid poops, especially when we first got her at about 12 weeks-she was a rescue who had apparently been abused. She had a bad worm problem, but that was all taken care of and is fine. But it's so wierd-first part of the poop solid and fine, the 2nd part all loose. Well, she's a nutty dog, so maybe this is just her! Kathy and Maia

[fairlight]

You could be right. It could just be Maia herself. I have tried everything with Uma from changing foods, to adding rice, to adding canned pumpkin. Uma's starts off the same way Maia's does. It's solid and then turns into a cow paddy. I think it's just the dog! And you can't pick that stuff right up either!

[kshort49]

That is so true-and what I can't pick up, Maia makes sure she cleans up after me! Gross! Kathy and Maia

[Bellabianca]

Maia is a lab mix, right? In my experience labs tend to have kind of sensitive stomachs. Jett my lab mix-age 7) and Rucksack (my sister's late lab mix) take any changes in food very seriously, stomach-wise including extra tidbits that hubbies might sneak them. Jett has never had really really solid poops and if he eats anything in the woods or has more than x amount of treats (it depends on what they are) in a week, his poops are mushy. One thing that helps is that I divide his food into two feedings and try to make sure he gets very few-if any-extras. Once when he was very young he had garbage-gut from gorging on a deer carcass with Max (deceased golden retriever)-they actually hid it and then dragged pieces of it into the yard-it took about a week before we actually found it and got rid of it, but his poops at that time were hoorrible! He is very active and very, very healthy otherwise, so I try not to worry too much>

[borzoid]

Add a little bit of crushed pineapple (in natural juice) to Maia's food. this will maker her poop taste nasty (like it doesn't already LOL) and may break her of eating it. If she won't eat the pineapple there are products you can buy to put on her food that do the same thing.

[carrie79]

I have had same problem with Zorro. One thing to end poo eating is add pineapple juice to her food for a few days that worked well with Zorro. To fix the haf solid half not poo a change of food was in order. I had to try several brands to get him solid. After awhile I need to switch again as his stomach gets upset after awhile on the same food. Personally eagle holistic works the best for him.

[EmmaGirl]

Originally Posted by fairlight

You could be right. It could just be Maia herself. I have tried everything with Uma from changing foods, to adding rice, to adding canned pumpkin. Uma's starts off the same way Maia's does. It's solid and then turns into a cow paddy. I think it's just the dog! And you can't pick that stuff right up either!

Mine do that some of the time. I don't stress too much over it as they appear healthy, eat well and don't get into 'off-limit' things. If the entire stool was runny then I would certainly be more concerned. But ever dog is different in their pooing behavior.

[kshort49]

Thanks for all of your responses. I'll give the pineapple a try to see if it makes a difference with her eating the poops. I really hate to change her food. She's on Innova, and besides the problem poops, she is doing so well on it otherwise. She gets fed before I go to work in the am, and when I get home in the pm. I think what I'll try is giving her a little bit less at her meals, and use that excess food for her treats-maybe the treats, although she doesn't get a lot, are affecting her-at least this will let me know. Thank you all for responding so quickly-I'm very happy being a member of this forum and recommend it to all my friends with dogs. Kathy and Maia